Resource management, waste and circular economy

From reducing waste and increasing recycling rates to encouraging and enabling organisations use resources more efficiently, working in this sector offers the opportunity to help build a more sustainable economy. Careers can be found in local government, environmental consultancies, industry, manufacturing, retail and the non-profit sector. Graduates may work on waste reduction, resource recovery, recycling, environmental compliance, sustainable procurement and circular economy initiatives that aim to keep materials in use for longer and minimise environmental impact.

Circular economy refers to designing systems that reduce waste and make better use of resources. Rather than disposing of materials after use, organisations seek to reuse, repair, refurbish and recycle products wherever possible, helping to conserve natural resources, reduce environmental impacts and create more sustainable ways of producing and consuming goods.

Explore job roles

These are some of the job titles you will find in this career area:

  • Circular Economy Consultant
  • Resource Efficiency Adviser
  • Environmental Compliance Officer
  • Resource Recovery Manager

Use the job profiles below to find our about skills, entry routes and experience

Tip: Use the information about skills in the profiles to help you build a tailored CV.

Building skills and experience

Getting an understanding of how waste is managed will be valuable whether in a local authority setting or in industry (this could be within a business that needs to manage waste or a specialist waste management company). Look for projects and opportunities to volunteer to gain insight into the waste lifecycle as well as communication skills to engage with stakeholders.

(Copilot) Employers in the waste management, waste minimisation and circular economy sector look for graduates who can think creatively about environmental challenges and identify practical ways to use resources more efficiently. Strong analytical skills are valued, as many roles involve interpreting data, measuring environmental impacts and improving processes. Employers also seek good communicators who can work with a range of stakeholders, from businesses and local authorities to community groups. Commercial awareness, teamwork, project management and an understanding of sustainability issues, such as resource efficiency, recycling and net zero, are increasingly important as organisations adopt more circular and sustainable ways of working.

Gain relevant experience and skills while you study

Use the job profiles above to check which skills are normally needed for the roles you are interested in.

  • Volunteer as a UoM Sustainability Champion Sustainability Champions | The University of Manchester
  • Get involved with Student Union initiatives like the Want Not Waste shop and community fridges.
  • Recycling volunteer with Biffa
  • Clean-up drives / litter picks (volunteering hub) / student action
  • Get involved with community recycling initiatives e.g. Emerge recycling Volunteering | Volunteer Opportunities | EMERGE Recycling (look on the Hub!)
  • Societies
  • Energy Advice Champion (Hub)
  • Improve your data analysis skills by taking courses on Excel, GIS and data visualisation. Current students can access free courses on LinkedIn Learning but these may also be developed in your programme.
  • Join relevant professional institutions as a student member, particularly if you are aiming for future Chartered status e.g. Chartered Institute of Waste Management student membership is free.
  • Keep up to date on waste management, sustainability, Net Zero and ESG e.g. https://www.carbontrust.com, https://www.edie.net

Finding and applying for jobs

Large waste management companies like Biffa and FCC Environment have graduate schemes with a range of technical and business roles. FMCG, manufacturing and food companies need to be mindful of resource use. Sustainable product design and packaging.

Find vacancies

Further resources

  • CIWM link
  • link

Next steps

When planning your next steps, you may have additional questions or want to explore certain aspects in more detail: