A term paper for:
Engineering Management for Mechanical Engineering
EE1
UpCycle
A Waste Collection, Recycling, and Refurbishing Company
Written by:
CO, Ethan Matthew Chua
DOMILE, Zandrex Jan Garcia
HOLGADO, Sean Clyde Azuelo
MANGONON, Ethan Gabriel
RELLERA, Ralph Ian Uy
VILLAR, Adrian Ampo
INTRODUCTION
The Philippines ranks as the fourth top waste generator in Southeast Asia and one
of the top ocean polluters in the world. Moreover, waste generation in the country is
rising - there are gaps in waste collection, segregation, and recycling in many parts of
the country (Rebuelta-Teh, 2022). Additionally, due to the lockdown and extra
preventive measures brought upon by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the waste generation
rate has increased because of medical waste. In 2020, when COVID-19 cases started to
rise, pressure on hospitals and other medical facilities made them experience a surge in
the volume of medical waste they produced (Cabico, 2020). As of 2023, the World Bank
released a report on its assessment of solid waste management plans of Metro Manila
to determine the factors that hinder the effectiveness of recovery and recycling of
waste. The data from the National Solid Waste Management Commission states that
Metro Manila generated waste of up to 9,500 tons per day in 2020 which is expected to
increase to 10,400 tons per day in 2025. The World Bank assessed the limited resources
of Local Government Units and the small number of Materials Recovery Facilities as a
factor that hinders effective waste collection and recycling (Reyes, 2023).
UpCycle emerges upon the pressing need of the country. A company that
dedicates itself to addressing the urgent waste collection, recycling, and refurbishing
needs of the nation. The ever-increasing amount of waste generated by the Philippines
has been causing detrimental effects on the planet and the environment. UpCycle
aims to be at the forefront of sustainable solutions by collecting waste, recycling it, and
refurbishing materials to further expand their lifespan and usefulness. The growing
concern for environmental sustainability has shifted the general public’s attitude
regarding waste management. Making use of this shift in mentality, UpCycle aims to
contribute towards a greener and more sustainable future.
PLANNING
Mission of the Company:
UpCycle is a Philippine-based waste management facility that is on a mission to
promote sustainable waste management by collecting, recycling, and refurbishing
materials. We aim to help communities in the Philippines struggling with waste
management and collection to reduce the environmental impact and pollution in the
country.
Vision of the Company:
UpCycle envisions a country where waste is viewed as a valuable resource that
can be refurbished or recycled. Breathe new life into old materials by systematically
collecting, sorting, and transforming what others deem waste into new products or
materials. We envision a sustainable nation to minimise the depletion of natural
resources and pollution.
Strategic Goals:
●
Waste Reduction: UpCycle aims to reduce waste generation by promoting
waste minimisation techniques. Additionally, the company wants to establish a
systematic and effective waste collection and segregation system to divert
waste from landfills and promote proper waste management.
●
Government Collaboration: Collaboration with the government allows UpCyle to
promote waste management practices more effectively. Moreover, access to
local government units and communities would allow the company to have
more reach and the ability to contribute to society and accomplish its goals
effectively.
●
Resource Conservation: UpCycle commits itself to conserving natural resources
by repurposing, recycling, and refurbishing waste materials into quality products
that can be used commercially. The company aims to invest in research and
development to identify and implement better practices and processes to be as
efficient and effective as possible.
Objectives:
●
Establish a systematic waste collection and segregation system that collaborates
with the government to ensure effectiveness.
●
Raise awareness regarding waste management and its effects on society, the
environment, and the economy.
●
Implement innovative refurbishing and repurposing techniques that transform
waste into quality products and materials that can be used commercially.
●
Invest in research and development about waste management to identify new
techniques and develop new technologies that optimise resources and reduce
environmental impact.
ORGANISING AND LEADING
Organisational Structure of the Company
UpCycle’s organisational structure is divided into several departments and
various roles. These departments are the management department, the operations
team, the sales and marketing department, the research and development team, the
human resources department, the IT team, and the finance department. Each
department or team would collaborate and carry out a defined set of duties to
achieve the business goals and objectives. Departments must interact and collaborate
to ensure that operations function smoothly and efficiently. The organisation will
prioritise employee training and development to ensure that every employee has the
necessary skills to contribute to the company’s success.
Human Resource Management
Human Resource Management (HRM) at UpCycle is responsible for finding,
hiring, training, and keeping personnel. The company aims to foster a healthy, inclusive
workplace encouraging employee growth and development. The HRM department
handles employee perks, salary, and performance reviews. The HR department
collaborates closely with other departments to ensure that the company’s goals are
realised and that employees are well-equipped to do their jobs. They also provide
assistance to employees by addressing their concerns and assisting them in navigating
any challenges that may arise. Overall, the HR department is critical in ensuring the
UpCycle company has a competent and motivated team to meet its objectives.
PRODUCT AND SERVICE DESIGN
Market Research and Demand Forecast
Recycling deals with a variety of materials including glass, plastics, and metals,
meaning there can be a wide range of products the company can output, although it
may be more economic to specialize in one area, since specializing in all may require
investing in additional equipment and facilities. Upcycle will conduct research on
different places in the Philippines necessary for implementation of their services in order
to
continue
spreading
sustainable
development
all
throughout
the
country.
Furthermore, Upcycle will continue to develop new methods/strategies on how waste
can be recycled to ensure that the services / methods they offer for promoting
sustainable development will be timeless.
PROCESS DESIGN
Control of Process, Risk Management
The goal of this process design would be to develop an efficient and effective
system for the business. Processes to consider would be the collection of items, sorting,
processing of materials, quality control, and distribution of finished products. Each step
in the process must be carefully thought out and designed, as these are essential when
keeping a company like this functional. Additionally, these steps must be reviewed to
ensure that they are done efficiently and environmentally sustainable. In terms of Risk
management, Upcycle will ensure that the methods they use for recycling are
completely safe and environmentally-friendly. Upcycle will hire the best professionals to
successfully carry out the services without hesitation to avoid any kind of risk.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Several logistical problems would be faced when operating such a
company. Primarily, the collection and transportation of waste products may
require a constant flow of trucks/ delivery vehicles to keep running smoothly.
Next, the company would need to have a good segregation and sorting system
to keep up operations reliably; the company would also need to anticipate
unsegregated waste items, considering that trash segregation is not popular in
the Philippines.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, UpCycle is a company dedicated to lowering trash
generation, promoting waste minimisation strategies, and establishing a
successful garbage collection and segregation system to support good waste
management. The company will be able to promote waste management
techniques more successfully through cooperation with the government. It will
be able to contribute to society and achieve its objectives effectively thanks to
its connections with local government agencies and communities. By reusing,
recycling, and refurbishing waste materials into high-quality products and
spending money on research and development to find and implement into
action better practices and procedures, UpCycle is also dedicated to resource
conservation. Overall, UpCycle's efforts to reduce waste, work with the
government, and save resources show its dedication to environmental
sustainability and ethical business practices.
REFERENCES:
Rebuelta-Teh, A. (2022, September 03). No Time to Waste: A Collaboration.
Inquirer.net.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/156624/no-time-to-waste-a-collaboration.
Cabico, G. K. (2020, August 27). In the Philippines, medical waste piles up as
COVID-19
cases
rise.
Earth
Journalism.
https://earthjournalism.net/stories/in-the-philippines-medical-waste-piles-u
p-as-covid-19-cases-rise
Reyes, M. A. LL. (2023, February 04). Worsening garbage problem. Philstar
Global.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/02/04/2242354/worsening-garbag
e-problem#:~:text=Based%20on%20data%20from%20the,to%2010%2C400
%20tpd%20in%202025