Institute of Waste Management University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna ABF-BOKU Challenges in the collection of bulky waste Solutions

Institute of Waste Management University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

ABF-BOKU

Challenges in the collection of bulky waste

Solutions to integrate the informal sectorwithin the Framework of legal Issues and

potential loss of resources

Gudrun Obersteiner

Roland Linzner

ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop Bukarest 9.10.2014

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest

• Waste types that are too large to be accepted by the regular waste collection.

• Usually picked up regularly from the streets or pavements of the area (provided free of charge or fee has to be paid).

• Bulky waste items include discarded furniture (couches, recliners, tables), large appliances (refrigerators, ovens, tv`s), and plumbing fixtures (bathtubs, toilets, sinks).

• A large amount (30-60%, depending on area) of bulky waste is picked up by scavengers before it is collected.

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Definition of Bulky Waste

10.10.2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulky_waste


– Recycling centre (with or without fee)– Regular Kerbside collection– Collection via call– Large containers placed regularly (e.g. twice a year)– Regularly collection from designated areas (often

directly next to the containers for household waste) esp. in high rise areas

– Kerbside collection at public places

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Collection of Bulky Waste

10.10.2014


• waste collection centres from municipalities (as bulky wastes)

• collection centres from producers, which are established for private households

• Collection together with bulky waste• Collection similar to bulky waste:

– Door to door collecting – Collection by call– Collection in special containers

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Collection of WEEE

10.10.2014

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 5

Collection in different countries

10.10.2014


Structure of Informal BW Collection

© ABF-BOKU

© ABF-BOKU

© ABF-BOKU

© ABF-BOKU

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TransWaste

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Informal Waste Collection is Common Place in Central Europe!!!

•What: – WEEE, bulky wastes, clothes transported to and sold in

countries with less developed waste management and lower GDP

•Effect:– Financial: Negative for waste collection and fiscal authorities,

Positive to waste pickers– Social: Negative conditions for waste pickers (deteriorate due

to EU directives)– Ecological: Negative: Littering, no guarantee for adequate

waste processing, Positive: Re-Use

•Illegal?10.10.2014


Dimension of informal waste collection

n = 266Status quo: 2010

Austria19%

Bulgaria3%

Czech Republic2%

Hungary69%

Slovenia2%

Slovakia4%

unknown0%

Romania1%

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Estimated amounts

Collected quantity in Austria by informal collectorsTriangulierung density: 125

kg/m³density: 150 kg/m³ density: 175 kg/m³

Traffic counting 79.112 t/a 101.535 t/a 125.466 t/a

In dephts interviews

88.258 t/a 105.910 t/a 123.562 t/a

Waste fraction

Official collected amounts [t] (Source: BAWP)

bulky waste 248.600

wood waste 160.700

WEEE 61.400

metal waste 76.800

sum 547.500

Compared to the official collected amounts about 14 to 23 % are collected in an informal way!

Estimated yearly transhipped quantity from AT to HU 70.000 t

© ABF-BOKU

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Composition of transported goods

© ABF-BOKU

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Used item markets in Hungary

Source: Kovács, 2009

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• Activity „unwanted“ because:– Not legal (Re-Use, Preparation for Re-Use, End of

Waste)– Loss of resources and money (esp. Metals)– Possible environmental burdens

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Need for Action?!


• Re-use is a measure for waste prevention, as the product is re-used in its original form and for its primary purpose, e.g. a washing machine is reused as washing machine and not recycled to metals

• Re-Use takes place outside the waste context

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Re-Use

10.10.2014


• “checking, cleaning or repairing recovery operations, by which products … that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing” (WFD, Art.3, p.16).

• These actions are within the waste context and therefore all waste related regulations have to be applied

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Preparing for re-use

10.10.2014


• According to the Austrian Waste Management Act 2002 (AWG 2002, § 2, Par. 1, 2) wastes are moveable objects

• Which the holder intends to dispose of (wants to get rid of it = subjective waste term) or

• for which treatment is required if the collection and treatment is of public concern (objective waste term) e.g. hazards to human health or environment.

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Definition of Waste

10.10.2014


• USA: „The term ‘‘solid waste’’ means any […] discarded material, […] resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities […].“ RCRA (2002)

• Südkorea: „wastes means such materials as garbage, […], which have become no longer useful for human life or business activities“(Wastes Control Act, 2007)

• Australien: „waste means a substance or objects that: (a) is proposed to be disposed of; or (b) is disposed of; or (c) is required by a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Teritory to be disposed of“(DSEWPaC, 2012a)

Definitionen international

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(Preparation for) Re-Use

Source: Hammer et. al 2010

Waste Prevention

Waste

DonationFlea MarketSecond Hand

(Separate) Waste Collection

Prepararion for Re-Use

Declaration of End of

Waste

FirstUser

Second User

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• Donation: (not for Waste!) no waste management requirements apply. The items are subject to the free movement of goods.

• In the case of disposal (not necessary waste! Also products!), the collectors need at least collector permission according to national Waste Management Acts, and have to fulfil several provisions like the legal obligation to keep records of the type, quantity, origin and destination of wastes or the notification for transshipment of wastes.

• Re-Use: Based on the new hierarchy of the actual waste framework directive re-use comes to the fore, which could be an opportunity for the collectors (e.g. to work as a re-use company or together with re-use companies).

Legal Framework

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•Metall scrap loss of resources! ILLEGAL

•Fully functioning handcard no loss of resources is this illegal?

But:

•Stairwalker (fully functioning!!) loss of resources? is this illegal?

• If a new stairwalker in Austria is sold to a Hungarian and turns to waste in Hungary? Loss of resources?

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Loss of resources because of IS?


Results – Environmental assessmentCase Study results AT-HU

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• ISHS International Second hand Traders– establish an association of used item collectors and retailers

– outside of the waste system

– training to the members

– only items are collected where the function is proved by the former owner

– Transfer list

• Implementation of a “used product corner” in waste collection centres

– especially dedicated area

– All people get access to still re-usable items (Flea market concept)

– “brand concept”: goods are collected directly at the waste collection center AND they are checked and repaired (if necessary) and a guarantee is given on the items.

Formalisation ideas

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• Work Integrated Social Enterprise (WISE)– Establishment of re-use and repair centres and networks in

cooperation with the informal sector –using the concept of socio-economic enterprises

– Former informal collectors will be employed as transit workers with the goal of providing them with vocational training and education and preparing them for a successful inclusion into the general labour market.

– financed through subsidies

• Retourette (for bulky WEEE)– offer the possibility to bring WEEE items (in a complete state and

good condition) to a designated location (for citizens and informal collectors)

– economic revenue

Formalisation ideas

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•Collection and sale of more and different products at the Re-Use market. Unsalable things in one country have a market in another country

•Trade of huge amounts possible – almost no seasonal fluctuation

•Best case: cooperation between former informal collector and waste management authorities kerbside collection, sorting, repair…)

•Monitoring of former informal activities (Reuse quota)

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Opportunitiesof Re-Use cooperation through formalisation


•Every intervention needs an ADDED VALUE for IS, otherwise there is no motivation to change.

•Competitions with (existing or planned) national Re-use activities

•Less second hand products in „donating“ countries •Lack of understanding within the general public (waste/no waste) what are we allowed to donate

•Copycats (incl. Criminal activities)

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Challenges/Risks of Re-Use Cooperation through formalisation

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 25

© ABF-BOKU

© ABF-BOKU

Gudrun Obersteiner

Institute of Waste Management

BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences

A-1190 Vienna, Muthgasse 107

Tel: 0043 1 3189900 - 319

[email protected]

www.wau.boku.ac.at/abf.html

www.transwaste.eu/

Thank you for your Attention

Documents

Institute of Waste Management University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna ABF-BOKU Challenges in the collection of bulky waste Solutions