Challenges in the collection of bulky waste

Solutions to integrate the informal sector within the Framework of legal Issues and potential loss of resources Institute of Waste Management

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

ABF-BOKU Gudrun Obersteiner Roland Linzner

ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop Bukarest 9.10.2014

Definition of Bulky Waste

• 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. http://en

.wikipedia

.org/wiki/Bulky_waste Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 10.10.2014

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Collection of 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 Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 10.10.2014

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Collection of WEEE

• 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 10.10.2014

4 Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest

Collection in different countries

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 10.10.2014

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Structure of Informal BW Collection

Place of Activity Waste Collection Centre

© ABF-BOKU

Inside WCC Household Official Collection Companies

© ABF-BOKU

Outside WCC Household induced

© ABF-BOKU © ABF-BOKU

Collector Induced

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 6

TransWaste

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?

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 10.10.2014

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Dimension of informal waste collection

Origin of the waste collectors

Romania 1% Slovenia 2% unknown 0% Slovakia 4% Austria 19% Bulgaria 3% n = 266 Status quo: 2010 Czech Republic 2% Hungary 69% Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 8

Estimated amounts

© ABF-BOKU

Collected quantity in Austria by informal collectors Triangulierung

density: 125 kg/m³ density: 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

bulky waste wood waste WEEE metal waste

sum Official collected amounts [t] (Source: BAWP)

248.600

160.700

61.400

76.800

547.500

Compared official to the collected amounts about

23 % 14 to

are collected in an informal way!

Estimated yearly

transhipped

quantity from AT to HU

70.000 t

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 9

Composition of transported goods

Not assigned 13,03% hazardous waste0,03% metalls 13,19% tyres 4,03% wood 0,86% clothes 2,90% Electric appliances 18,77%

(Vol-%)

Furniture, houshold articles etc.

47,20% Not assigned 11,03% Hazardous waste 0,03% metalls 22,33% tyres 5,12% wood 0,73% clothes 4,91% Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest

(Mass-%)

© ABF-BOKU Furniture, houshold articles etc.

39,97% Electric appliances 15,89% 10

Used item markets in Hungary

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest

Source: Kovács, 2009

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Need for Action?!

• Activity „unwanted“ because: – Not legal (Re-Use, Preparation for Re-Use, End of Waste) – Loss of resources and money (esp. Metals) – Possible environmental burdens Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 12

Re-Use

• 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 Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 10.10.2014

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Preparing for re-use

• “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 10.10.2014

14 Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest

Definition of Waste

• 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.

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 10.10.2014

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Definitionen international

• 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)

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 16

(Preparation for) Re-Use

Waste Prevention Donation Flea Market Second Hand (Separate) Waste Collection First User Waste Source: Hammer et. al 2010 Prepararion for Re-Use Declaration of End of Waste Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest Second User 17

Legal Framework

• •

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

permission

according to national

collector

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).

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 18

Loss of resources because of IS?

• Metall scrap  loss of resources!

 ILLEGAL • Fully functioning handcard is this illegal?

 no loss of resources  But: • Stairwalker (fully functioning!!) is this illegal?

 loss of resources?

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

 Loss of resources?

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 19

Results – Environmental assessment Case Study results AT-HU

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 20

Formalisation ideas

• •

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.

Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 21

Formalisation ideas

•

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 Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 22

Opportunities of Re-Use cooperation through formalisation

•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) Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 23

Challenges/Risks

of Re-Use Cooperation through formalisation

• Every intervention needs an

ADDED VALUE

otherwise there is no motivation to change.

for IS, • 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) Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest 24

Thank you for your Attention

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/ Gudrun Obersteiner, ISWA Bukarest © ABF-BOKU

© ABF-BOKU

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