Biocomp https://www.biocompnepal.com/ is a social enterprise in Lalitpur working in waste management and recycling. Our mission is to introduce sustainable waste management solutions and create new innovative products from recyclables for the local market. Biocomp will divert 9000 tons of plastic from the streets, rivers and municipal waste stream annually. These plastic recycling activities will be branded under the name Reclaim Nepal https://www.reclaim-nepal.com/ 

RIVER+

The RIVER+ project is funded by the World Bank and Parley for the Oceans, as part of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) https://www.please-project.org/ project. The aim of the PLEASE project is to catalyse actions that reduce the flow of plastic pollution into South Asian Seas. PLEASE is implemented by South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP). 

The RIVER+ project will reduce the plastic pollution in Nepal by establishing a complete value chain for the collection and recycling of Used Beverage Cartons UBCs, low-grade plastics, and Multi-Layer Plastics (MLP). The project adds value to waste to reduce plastics in the streets and rivers and to reduce the air pollution from burned plastics. Through this project Biocomp creates decent jobs for youth and women in waste management with active gender-responsive programming. The project will manufacture recycled plastic boards from the collected recyclables. The project will collect and process 10 tons of UBC and low- grade plastics per day at the end of the project and up to 25 tons per day, 9000 tons annually in year 3 (post project period). The project start date is February 1st 2024 and will be implemented in a 12 months period. Biocomp’s partners for this project are People in Need (PIN) and Clean Up Nepal. 

Scope of work

The ideal candidate should possess a comprehensive understanding of the plastic recycling value chain. This includes knowledge of the different types and qualities of plastics in the waste stream; processing and cleaning plastic recyclables; and the manufacturing of products from these recyclables. In the RIVER+ project, the candidate will be involved in processing various plastic types (LDPE, MLP, Beverage Cartons) using a hot and cold pressing cycle to create composite boards. While this technology is established in countries like India, its implementation in Nepal is novel. Hence, the plastic recycling expert must tailor the manufacturing process to suit the available plastics and their quality in the Nepalese market and consider the quality of the boards produced and their marketability. Responsibilities include experimenting with different raw materials, adjusting machinery settings, and exploring various parameters to produce high-quality composite boards for diverse applications. The plastic recycling expert will also oversee quality assurance. The plastic recycling expert will work in close collaboration with the mechanical process engineer and report to the project manager RIVER+. 

Objective of this role

• The objective of this role is to adapt plastic recycling processes to the Nepalese context and to optimise manufacturing processes of composite boards for the RIVER+ project

Key Responsibilities

Collection Value Chain

• Establish and enforce quality standards for collected and procured recycled plastics
• Develop and maintain documentation for quality assurance procedures in the collection value chain
• Implement quality control processes in the collection value chain
• Collaborate with partners to ensure adherence to quality requirements
• Monitor and evaluate the sorting and processing of recycled plastics
• Provide training to staff on quality standards and procedures
• Address and resolve quality issues in a timely manner

Manufacturing and Process Optimization

• Provide support with testing and commissioning of the plastic recycling line
• Collect data and analyse this data to identify patterns, variations, and potential areas for optimization within the manufacturing process
• Develop and implement strategies to optimise the efficiency of plastic recycling processes
• Establish and enforce quality standards for recycled plastic boards
• Develop and implement testing protocols to ensure the high quality and consistency of the recycled plastic boards
• Collaborate with production teams to integrate quality control measures into recycling processes
• Collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with standards
• Provide guidance to production teams on meeting regulatory requirements
• Identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising the quality of recycled materials.

Research & Development

• Investigate alternative recyclables, sources and methods to expand the range of recyclable plastics used in the production process
• Explore and develop new operating procedures to improve the quality and diversity of recycled materials
• Evaluate technologies and assess their suitability for integration into the recycling manufacturing process
• Work with end users to understand their requirements and adjust the specification of the boards accordingly
• Establish a comprehensive data collection system to learn about the quality of the recycled boards and their specific areas of application 
• Foster collaborations with academic institutions, research organisations, and industry partners for joint research initiatives

Life Cycle Analysis

• Conduct life cycle assessments to evaluate the environmental impact of different recycling processes
• Identify opportunities for reducing overall environmental impact of the collection and production process

Training and Knowledge Transfer

• Provide training to production teams on new technologies and process changes
• Facilitate the transfer of knowledge between R&D and production teams

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's Degree in fields such as Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Polymer Science, or a related discipline
• Familiarity with quality control processes and standards in plastic recycling to ensure high-quality recycled materials
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and standards related to plastic recycling and waste management
• Background in research and development, particularly in the context of plastic recycling innovations
• Excellent communication, and interpersonal skills
• Effective collaboration with Biocomp’s management team
• Strong attention to deadlines and budgetary guidelines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

Biocomp specifically encourages women to apply for this position