Demonstrating competence by completing your WAMITAB Waste and Resource Management VRQ

Are you preparing for work in the waste industry? Or looking for a taught course that will provide you with the relevant knowledge, skills and understanding to work in the waste management/recycling industry and receive an industry recognised WAMITAB qualification?

Gain your Level 4 WAMITAB Waste and resource Management qualification to become a Technically Competent Manager (TCM) and demonstrate competence on-site to run your permitted waste facility effectively and efficiently.

With all waste sites operating under an Environmental Agency (EA) permit, there are many factors to consider, one which includes establishing the correct competency route for your operatives – traditional on-site assessments or our newly revised and most adaptable route - the Level 4 VRQ.

On-Site Assessment
The on-site assessment route may be more suitable for those working in a high-risk facility with experience and an underlying knowledge to working within the industry. However, in order to complete this method of learning, there needs to be access to a working site with the required resources to enable the assessment phase to be completed within the working environment. Those new to the industry would not benefit from this type of qualification - this is where our WAMITAB (Level 4 in Waste and Resource Management) VRQ comes into action!

Level 4 Waste and Resource Management VRQ
We have been working closely with our assessors and experts in the field to tailor our WAMITAB VRQ and make it as applicable and relevant as possible to those working within the waste and recycling field. This course is ideal for those seeking a route to becoming a TCM. 

This qualification can be tailored to meet the requirements of specific job roles both within the sector or within the organisation and also helps to support the sector to overcome significant skills gaps that have been raised over the recent years due to the increase in the production of waste.

Operators on site must have the knowledge to accept, validate, handle and load different types of waste whilst managing the equipment correctly to ensure maximum safety and efficiency.

But what are the benefits to choosing this ‘taught and tested’ method of learning?

Why chose a VRQ?
We see many sites (particularly high risk facilities) still completing on-site assessments in order to gain the required competence needed to operate safely which works well for those with a background working in the industry but how does this work for those who are new to the industry or those looking for a more systematic or academic approach?

It doesn’t! For those that are new to the industry (novices) with no prior knowledge to demonstrate competence on a waste facility, the VRQ route is ideal for you!

The VRQ is an academic approach which provides a full, in-depth overview on legislation, environmental permitting, and most treatment processes within the sector, and what’s more – it can be completed from the comfort of your own home and provides operatives with an all-round approach to formalising their knowledge without having to complete an onsite observation. 

Maintaining a Safe Working Facility
The correct knowledge combined with experience and effective thinking on site can promote good health and safety but there is still more to think about:

• Risk assessments
• Equipment maintenance
• Appropriate employer training
• Risk levels on Site

How do Risk Levels Work?
The EA classifies all waste under a waste risk tier table with all facilities falling under one of the following categories: low, medium or high risk.

Low risk sites typically include electronic waste storage, inert physical treatment of waste and the use of waste in construction and high-risk sites include open and closed landfill sites, hazardous clinical waste treatment and the recovery of hazardous waste.

The waste risk tier table, which can be found on the WAMITAB website, will allow you to see what qualification is needed for the operational environmental of your site or business and allow you to have the right competence on site. All WAMITAB qualifications are tailored to the risk and operational functions of your site.

If you are operating a low or medium risk facility; the VRQ is the recommended route for you.

And what’s more – for those moving into a high-risk facility or even looking for further progression opportunities, there is scope to continue from the VRQ – learners can advance their knowledge through several high-level qualifications such as FdSc Wastes Management and BSc Wastes Management.

Mentor provide a full remit of waste qualifications through their qualifications business, SERAC UK, including our recently refurbished Level 4 Waste and Resource Management VRQ to support and overcome the significant skills gap in the waste sector and help bring more qualified and experienced operators into the industry.