Postgraduate Diploma in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling. 8 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Spanish Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils, and openLCA. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling — studying from South Africa
Two-wheeler transport is significant in South Africa, both for commuting and for delivery services, and the motorcycle and scooter market has grown steadily. Local assembly and distribution of motorcycles and scooters are supported by importers and manufacturers, and the sector interacts with road safety regulation and licensing. Engineers working on two-wheelers focus on chassis design, braking systems, emissions and rider safety. Growing interest in electric scooters and light mobility is also shaping demand.
Fees for South Africa: R 20 400 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Professional engineering registration runs through ECSA, and motorcycle-related standards and testing involve bodies such as the SABS. Whether a SEIUM qualification is recognised is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so check before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in the two-wheeler sector?
Motorcycle manufacturers, importers, dealers and component suppliers may value engineering depth in vehicle dynamics, powertrains or design. A private qualification can add to your profile, but it does not carry official status, so its impact depends on employer preference and your existing experience. Speak to potential employers to understand their view.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone expectations and weekly workload before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the materials and waste streams of two-wheeled vehicles.
Interpret the obligations of the European battery regulation and waste legislation.
Organise the collection, transport and safe storage of used batteries.
Compare pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and direct recycling processes.
Apply separation and recycling techniques for fairing plastics.
Integrate design-for-recycling criteria into new components.
Assess the environmental impact and economic viability of recycling routes.
Who it's for
- Waste management technician looking to specialise in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling.
- Battery recycling engineer looking to specialise in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling.
- Circular economy specialist looking to specialise in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling.
- Polymer materials engineer looking to specialise in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling.
- Life cycle assessment consultant looking to specialise in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling.
- Environmental compliance manager looking to specialise in 2R Battery/Plastics Recycling.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to join authorised waste managers.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
- Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soil
- Directive 2008/98/EC
- ADR 2025
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- ISO 11469:2016
- ISO 1043-1:2011
- UNE-EN 15343:2008
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Material composition of motorcycles and scooters1.2Lead, lithium and NiMH batteries1.3Technical plastics: PP, ABS, PC and PA1.4Composites and carbon fibre1.5Aluminium, steel and magnesium1.6Waste flows at end of life1.7Waste hierarchy and circular economy1.8Current recovery rates1.9Challenges of light electric vehicles1.10Practice: material inventory of an electric scooter
2.1European battery regulation 2023/15422.2LMT, industrial and starting batteries2.3Extended producer responsibility2.4Collective and individual systems2.5Battery digital passport2.6Mandatory recycled content2.7Spanish waste law2.8Cross-border waste shipments2.9Due diligence on raw materials2.10Case study: obligations of an electric motorcycle importer
3.1Collection at workshops and dealerships3.2Damaged or defective batteries3.3Packaging and transport under ADR3.4Temporary storage and fire risk3.5Safe discharge and deactivation3.6Diagnosis for second life3.7Traceability and records3.8Training and protective equipment3.9Management of thermal incidents3.10Workshop: collection procedure for LMT batteries
4.1Dismantling of packs and modules4.2Mechanical pre-treatment and black mass4.3Pyrometallurgy: fundamentals and limitations4.4Hydrometallurgy: leaching and extraction4.5Direct recycling of cathodes4.6Recovery of lithium, cobalt and nickel4.7Recycling efficiency and material recovery4.8Lead-acid battery recycling4.9European reference plants4.10Practice: mass balance of a hydrometallurgical process
5.1Polymer identification and marking5.2Density and near-infrared separation5.3Removal of paint and coatings5.4Mechanical recycling and degradation5.5Compatibilisers and additives5.6Chemical recycling: pyrolysis and solvolysis5.7Recyclate quality and traceability5.8Use of recycled material in new parts5.9Bio-based polymers5.10Laboratory: characterisation of recycled polypropylene
6.1Design for disassembly6.2Reducing material mixtures6.3Reversible joints and adhesives6.4Selection of recyclable materials6.5Marking of plastic parts6.6Modular battery design6.7Recycled content in specifications6.8Eco-design tools6.9Collaboration with suppliers6.10Case study: redesign of a front fairing
7.1Life cycle assessment of batteries7.2Carbon footprint of recycling7.3Credits for recovered material7.4Collection and treatment costs7.5Metal prices and viability7.6Circular business models7.7Circularity indicators7.8CSRD sustainability reporting7.9Market risks and opportunities7.10Workshop: comparative LCA with openLCA
8.1Selection of the waste stream8.2Material characterisation8.3Design of the collection chain8.4Selection of the treatment technology8.5Mass balance and yields8.6Environmental assessment of the route8.7Economic viability of the treatment8.8Regulatory compliance plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is openLCA, SimaPro, Sphera LCA for Experts, Ansys Granta EduPack, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practicals cover real procedures: mass balance of a hydrometallurgical lithium battery process, characterisation of recycled polypropylene from fairings, and comparative life cycle assessment of recycling routes. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify the materials and waste streams of two-wheeled vehicles.
Interpret the obligations of the European battery regulation and waste legislation.
Organise the collection, transport and safe storage of used batteries.
Compare pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and direct recycling processes.
Apply separation and recycling techniques for fairing plastics.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course works with openLCA, SimaPro, Sphera LCA for Experts and Ansys Granta EduPack. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in Motorcycle Communities and Brand Activation
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Motorcycle Communities and Brand Activation. 8 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), Law 34/2002 (LSSI-CE) and HubSpot. Dedicated tutor and open…
Postgraduate Diploma in TC/LC Based on IMU and Predictive Models
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in TC/LC Based on IMU and Predictive Models. 8 modules covering ISO 26262-12:2018, ISO 21448 and MATLAB/Simulink. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in 2R Sports Marketing and Events
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in 2R Sports Marketing and Events. 8 modules covering the FIM Sporting Code, Spanish Sports Law 39/2022 and Google Analytics 4. Personal…
More in Motorcycles & 2-Wheelers
All Motorcycles & 2-Wheelers programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships