Hazardous Waste Logistics Coordinator

Impact: Protecting the environment and public health by ensuring hazardous waste is managed, transported, and disposed of safely and legally

Coordinate the collection, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste materials for industrial, healthcare, and commercial clients, ensuring full compliance with environmental and transport regulations. Arrange licensed waste carriers; complete waste transfer notes and consignment notes; manage waste disposal documentation; liaise with Environment Agency; and advise clients on waste classification and duty of care. Develop expertise in a specific hazardous waste stream such as clinical waste, chemical waste, or electronic waste.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Moderate
Team vs solo
40% Team / 60% Solo
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
20-30% travel to client sites
Schedule flexibility
Moderate
Remote work
Hybrid
Typical work hours
38-50 hours/week
Stress level
Moderate

At a glance

Median salary
$44,000
Entry-level
$26,000 - $36,000
Senior
$65,000+
Growth by 2033
8% (hazardous waste regulation increasing; industrial and healthcare waste growing)
Demand
Growing
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
High -- 80-170% growth from coordinator to hazardous waste manager or environmental director
Typical student debt
$0 - $15,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Waste classification (EWC codes)
  • Waste transfer notes and consignment notes
  • Environment Agency compliance
  • ADR dangerous goods regulations
  • Waste carrier licensing
  • Duty of care documentation

Soft skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Compliance awareness
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Reliability

Technical complexity: High

How to get there

Minimum education
Certificate or Vocational Training
Licensing
Yes
Years to mid-career
2-4 years
Years to senior
5-10 years
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Environmental Health Officer

Where you can go from here

  • Hazardous Waste Manager
  • Environmental Compliance Manager

Typical progression

  1. Waste Coordinator
  2. Hazardous Waste Manager
  3. Environmental Compliance Manager
  4. Environmental Director

Future outlook

Automation probability
15% -- hazardous waste compliance requires human judgment and regulatory expertise
AI disruption risk
Low
Demand trend
Growing

How people feel about it

Overall satisfaction
7/10
Meaning
7.5/10
Work-life balance
7/10
Prestige
6.5/10
Social perception
Moderate

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