STEPS FOR WEEE - A PROJECT OF ECOTIC, CO-FINANCED BY NORWAY GRANTS

de ecotic | May 4, 2016 | Ecotic Projects

About the project

In 2015-2016, ECOTIC Association organized activities within the “Steps for WEEE” project, co-financed 90% by Norway Grants.

Innovation Norway (www.eeagrants.org; www.norwaygrants-greeninnovation.no) is a financing line of the Norwegian Government open in order to develop in Romania a series of projects dedicated to increasing competitiveness of the green economy, developing environmentally friendly technologies, creating jobs within the green industry and encouraging entrepreneurship in this field.

The empty hand of this project was the improvement of collection rates for recyclable waste and the reduction of the negative impact on the environment, especially for the waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The main planned result of the project is the building of a Municipal Waste Collection Center, for the collection of waste generated in the homes of the citizens of Iasi. This Center aims to become a local solution for Iasi and an example of best practices at the national level. The need for such an amenity dedicated to the citizens is generated by:

- Low national collection rates for WEEE, recyclable waste;

- Inefficient infrastructure of the municipal solutions for recyclable waste collection;

- WEEE is lost in the metal waste flows;

Objectives of the Project

The main objective was the set-up of a municipal waste collection center, the first of its type in Romania. At the same time, as part of the project, we have created a street collection system for WEEE, made up of 15 street containers for the collection of small WEEE (computers, radios, etc.). Another important activity of the project was the study on WEEE generated in Romania. Within the same project, ECOTIC's team is instructed on Lean Management.

Financing Source for the Project

Green Industry Innovation Program: www.norwaygrants-greeninnovation.no

The Green Industry Innovation Program for Romania contributes to the general objective of the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014, that aims at reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Space (EES) and consolidating bilateral relations between Norway and Romania. The Program is in accordance with the Accord between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union regarding the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014, the Regulations regarding the implementation of the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014 and the Agreement Memorandum regarding the implementation of Norwegian financial mechanism between Norway and Romania. The objective of the program is to increase the competitiveness of green enterprises, including greening the existing industries, green innovation and green entrepreneurship.

The Green Industry Innovation Program for Romania is a business development program. The vision of the program is: "Good for Business, Good for the Environment." The program implements the concept of the green industry in practical global understanding. The activities that are to be supported are: the development, implementation, investment and training of ecological technologies, products or innovative services, the reduction and reuse of waste, initiatives on energetic efficiency and the more efficient use of renewable energy in business operations, as well as the increased resource efficiency through the innovation system and process in business operations.

Partners

InErgeo: http://www.inergeo.com/

InErgeo's areas of expertise are:

Management consulting, improvement, LEAN training and LEAN benchmark analysis
Waste & HazWaste Management
Safety and quality assurance and control
Innovative Environmental Technology
Cooperation between Norwegian and other European businesses within the framework of the EEA Grants
Project management, turnarounds, innovation and R&D initiatives
International LEANexpertise network through our partner LEANMAP

InErgeo works in cooperation with:

LEANMAP AG
Athene Project Management AS
Hjellnes Consult AS
Mepex AS
Eco-Lighthouse Foundation
If Security Center

InErgeo is a member of the Norwegian Association for Hazardous Waste - www.nffa.no

RESULTS

MUNICIPAL COLLECTION CENTER IN IASI

In December 2014, ECOTIC signed a partnership with the Municipality of Iasi - HCL 395/2014 regarding the approval for the set-up of a Municipal Collection Center for Recyclable and Hazardous Waste coming from city households. The Center, located on 26 Gradinari St. in Iasi, is the result of the association between the Municipality of Iasi and ECOTIC http://www.primaria-iasi.ro/content.aspx?item=1628&lang=RO

The joint visit of representatives of ECOTIC, Iasi City Hall, SALUBRIS SA, ADIS Iasi in Norway; the visit was an opportunity to analyze best practices in municipal waste management.

Visited locations:

LINDUM DRAMMEN - http://lindum.no/;

- Company owned by the Municipality of Drammen, Norway.

- It manages collection flows of recyclable and hazardous waste in collection centers, it owns and operates a biogas installation, a composting plant, a final disposal land.

VESAR DRAMMEN - http://vesar.no/

- The company represents the interests of several municipalities in Norway in the field of selective collection and recycling of household waste.

- It organizes and manages collection flows of household recyclable and hazardous waste in collection centers.

- Collection centers are their own investments, and transportation and operation services are purchased from third party providers.

Oslo Waste Management Organization

- It organizes and manages collection flows of household recyclable and hazardous waste. It owns collection centers, the largest and most performant household waste sorting facility in Europe, a composting facility, an incinerator.

FRANZEFOSS - http://www.franzefoss.no/

- Private company that collects, pre-sorts construction and demolition waste

RFD DRAMMEN - http://www.rfd.no;

- It organizes and manages collection flows of household recyclable and hazardous waste.

- It owns collection centers in accessible city areas, as well as municipal collection centers for all types of household recyclable and hazardous waste.

On March 10th, 2016, the opening of the center took place. More information about the center is available on www.cmciasi.ro

LEAN TRAINING

On 14-15 May 2015, ECOTIC's team took part in the LEAN Training session, facilitated by InErgeo, a partner of the project. The main objective of the training session was the understanding of the LEAN main ideas and philosophy, applied to WEEE collection and recycling activities.

Results - acquired professional abilities:

Defining losses in running processes, implementing 5S in daily activities

Using visual management systems
Defining KPIs in order to measure and develop the objectives of the organization
Writing and reviewing procedures

SCHOOL CAMPAIGN

Between February 17 - March 14, 2016, 1350 students from 21 schools found out notions about selective collection and were informed of the municipal collection center.

STREET COLLECTION SYSTEM - District 3, Bucharest

ECOTIC, together with the City Hall of Sector 3, Bucharest and Rosa
l Grup, launched a street collection system for WEEE in Bucharest's Sector 3 within the project "Steps for WEEE". The initiative involves the development of a collection infrastructure of small WEEE (waste of electrical and electronic equipment), by placing 15 collection containers in easily accessible public areas.

Recipients can be found in the following locations: