Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 12:13 PM AWST

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Identify and segregate waste

Identify and segregate waste

Unit of competency
National Code
CPPWMT3005A
State Code
WC180
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
10/01/2012
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/07/2012
Field of Education
039901 - Environmental Engineering
Original Release Date
06/07/2012
Nominal Hours
25
Description
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to sort and contain waste at a range of sites. It requires the ability to apply safe work practices while working with potentially hazardous waste products.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Organise for work.
  • 1.1 Waste management plan or waste collection requirements are reviewed to determine client requirements and segregation categories.
  • 1.2 Job requirement hazards and risks are identified and handled according to organisational requirements, occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations and other legislation.
  • 1.3 Supervisor and team members are informed of job requirements, hazards and risks according to organisational requirements.
  • 1.4 Equipment is used for segregation to maximise work effectiveness.
  • 1.5 Segregation containers are set up to ensure safe and effective segregation of waste according to organisational requirements and relevant legislation.
  • 1.6 Emergency and personal protective equipment is selected and fitted according to job requirements, manufacturer specifications, organisational requirements and relevant legislation.
  • 1.7 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is pre-checked to ensure it is suitable for the purpose.
2 Conduct identification and segregation activity.
  • 2.1 Waste is identified and hazardous and dangerous waste and non-conforming waste are handled according to organisational requirements and relevant legislation.
  • 2.2 Waste is segregated into categories according to waste characteristics and job requirements.
  • 2.3 Sorted waste is placed into correct waste category container to prevent litter in surrounding area and to avoid cross-contamination.
  • 2.4 Waste containers are monitored frequently to ensure adequate available storage capacity and secure containment of waste.
  • 2.5 Full waste containers are emptied and replaced promptly to minimise disruption to production according to job requirements, organisational requirements and OHS procedures.
  • 2.6 Segregated waste is labelled according to job requirements, organisational requirements and relevant legislation.
3 Conduct quality control inspection.
  • 3.1 Segregated waste is inspected to ensure compliance with segregation requirements.
  • 3.2 Quality control inspection details are documented according to job and organisational requirements.
4 Clean up area.
  • 4.1 Sorting site and equipment are cleaned to ensure safe and effective future operation according to organisational requirements.
  • 4.2 PPE is checked for damage prior to ensuring that clean and undamaged equipment is stored.
  • 4.3 Damaged or faulty PPE is reported according to organisational requirements.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Waste collection requirements typically include:
acceptable waste types
collection times and schedule
observing contamination requirements
OHS requirements
pick-up locations
unacceptable levels of contamination.
Client may include:
all forms of business enterprises in this context, including:
government agencies
internal customers
local governments and councils
private and public companies
residents and ratepayers.
Segregation categories may include:
chemical waste
construction and demolition
dangerous goods
green waste
hazardous waste
municipal waste
prescribed waste
putrescibles
quarantine
recyclable liquid
regulated waste
solid inert.
Job requirement hazards and risks may include:
biological waste
compaction equipment
confined spaces
contamination
dust
fire
gases and fumes
hazardous waste (e.g. sharps)
injuries resulting from manual handling and repetitive work
narrow driveways
other vehicles and equipment
overhanging signs
projectiles
spark-producing equipment
unguarded conveyor belts
weather.
Equipment may include:
barriers and warning signs
compactors
conveyors
generators
hoses
loadshifting equipment
pumps
sorting tables
vacuums
waste containers.
Organisational requirements may include information found in:
briefing papers
job sheets
letters
memos
operations manuals
quality assurance documents
tender and contract documents
verbal or written instructions
work procedures.
Emergency and personal protective equipmentmust include:
communications equipment
eye protection, such as goggles and protective glasses
eyewash kit
fire extinguishers
first aid kit
footwear
gloves
overalls and protective clothing.
Emergency and personal protective equipment could also include:
breathing apparatus
emergency procedure guides
face shields or masks
hard hats
hearing protection
MSDS
spill kit.
Personal protective equipmentmust be:
cleaned and fitted according to organisational requirements, manufacturer specifications and OHS requirements
worn when required according to organisational requirements
stored according to organisational requirements.
Hazardous and dangerous waste may include:
all waste depending on the condition, environment and personal exposure
biological products
blood products
broken metal
chemicals
electrical wiring
gases and fumes
glass
hospital waste
leaking containers
medical waste
needles and syringes
oil and petrol.
Non-conforming waste may include:
contamination
hazardous or dangerous waste
inferior quality and unacceptable waste streams.
Waste characteristicsmay include:
density
level of contamination
quality
shape
size
volume
weight.
Label may include:
amount of waste
date
location
sign-off by sorter
type of waste
waste source.
Quality control may include:
checklist
environmental compliance
inspection details, such as date, time, location and process compliance level
non-conformances
quality grading
recycling compliance
regulatory compliance
sign-off by inspector.
Sorting site may be located within:
composting facility
landfill site
materials recovery facility
transfer station
treatment site
waste generator site.
Cleaning may include:
shovelling
sweeping
using cleaning products
using decontamination products
vacuuming
water-hosing.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed by observation of practical demonstration in the workplace or in a simulated work environment.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge specified in this unit.
In particular the person should demonstrate the ability to:
organise sorting containers in designated areas
select emergency and personal protective equipment
identify potential risks and hazards to waste sorting and waste non-conformances
observe OHS requirements.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
work plans and approved specifications
results of sampling
forms and procedures manuals.
Method of assessment
The process of identifying and segregating waste must comply with industry expectations in the particular client environment. If the environment is narrowly defined or is not representative of industry needs, it may be necessary to refer to portfolio case studies to assess competency in the identification and segregation of waste.
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
Guidance information for assessment
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function, for example:
CPPWMT3014A Manually sort waste
CPPWMT3044A Identify wastes and hazards.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
S4375 PRMWM05B Identify and segregate waste Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OBO60 CPPWMT3001 Identify and segregate waste Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
D764 CPP30711 Certificate III in Waste Management Qualification