How to become a Materials Recycler
Also called: Scrap Materials Buyer
Salvages materials from industrial, commercial and private establishments for resale.
Main tasks
- Identifies, collects and assesses quality of recyclable materials from industrial, commercial and private establishments
- Sorts and separates recyclable materials according to type and quality
- Cleans and prepares recyclable materials for resale
- Determines the market value of recyclable materials and negotiates prices with buyers
- Maintains records of materials collected, processed and sold
- Implements and maintains recycling programs in collaboration with local authorities and businesses
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Waste Management (CPP30719); Certificate IV in Waste Management (CPP40919)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $68,536 a year
- About 15,500 people work in this job group now, and about 16,800 are projected by 2035. (+8.5%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Materials Recycler?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Waste Management; Certificate IV in Waste Management.
How much does a Materials Recycler earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $68,536 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Materials Recycler a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 15,500 to about 16,800 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Materials Recycler?
Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Waste Management; Certificate IV in Waste Management.
Will AI change the work of a Materials Recycler?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04