Waste seeks proven skills !
Waste management is now recognised as a key sector, playing a major role as a stakeholder in the ecological transition. From the outset, it has contributed to environmental preservation by preventing pollution caused by fly-tipping. Then by developing recycling and recovery channels, he transformed waste into resources, thereby initiating the first circular economy circuits.
Not enough training for a booming industry
For several decades, the waste management industry, and particularly its recycling activities, has been experiencing strong growth, resulting in a constantly increasing need for human resources. For example, in 2018, the CHIMIREC Group surpassed the 1,000-employee mark. By the end of 2024, it had 1,600 employees working in France and abroad.
At the same time, the technologies implemented required ever-increasing technical qualifications. However, training programmes preparing students for a professional career in this sector are virtually non-existent for technical and management positions. Apart from the recent creation in 2023 of En2r, the first national recycling school, which aims to help job seekers, employees, work-study students, people who are distant from the job market, or those in integration programmes. This initiative was led by the Federation of Recycling, Reuse and Circular Economy Companies (FEDERREC), in partnership with Afpa and other specialised training organisations, to meet the need for skilled labour.
Expertise acquired through in-house training
Like most companies in the sector, the CHIMIREC Group provides a great deal of in-house training, except for certain specific courses, most often of a regulatory nature (safety, driving, etc.). Skills and expertise are mainly acquired in the field, through mentoring and the sharing of experience.
In particular, for the manufacture of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), teams from CHIMIREC Socodeli Beaucaire and CHIMIREC Javené the Group's long-standing producers of this alternative fuel are assisting other subsidiaries in setting up production lines and training employees.
As Łukasz Włoszczak, chemist and head of the CHIMIREC Poland laboratory, explains, “The CHIMIREC Javené site is well equipped and has an experienced team, which enabled me to gather a considerable amount of information in a short time. I came to understand that the production of alternative fuel is one of those processes that is easy to understand but difficult to master!”
Development dynamics and recruitment difficulties
As is the case in France, international subsidiaries face the same recruitment challenges as they expand. As the CHIMIREC Group plans to open new operating sites in Turkey, Morocco and Poland, the search for qualified employees is already underway for positions such as site managers, maintenance managers, chemists and sales representatives.
As a sector with a promising future, our industry is undoubtedly open to talented professionals who are curious and eager to invest themselves and act in favour of sustainable development for our planet.
Published : 2025-07-23