OUTCOMES OF RECYCLING PROJECT LIFE GREEN BATTERIES
The main actions performed in the framework of the LIFE GREEN BATTERIES project are:
- Evaluation of the current situation. Towards this end, the following actions took place:
- - Analysis of the current situation in the EU
- - Development of a methodology for the inventory of batteries in Greece
- - Development of questionnaires. here
- - Analysis of the existing situation in Greece, analysis of the legislation in force and of the changes that took place.
- - Development of a database for the recording of batteries and accumulators
- Design of a collection at source system, organization and licensing of the transportation of waste to the appropriate recycling units.
- - Compilation of technical specifications for the development of batteries and accumulators collection system
- - Economical Analysis of the System
- - Environmental impact assessment studies and technical reports for the licensing of the waste transportation system
- - In the framework of the program and according to the national legislation in force, a collective system for the collection and management of accumulators in Crete was designed, founded and implemented. This system, organizing the alternative management of lead-acid accumulators in Crete, operates as an LTD company which was founded under the name "SEDIS-K - Collective System for the Alternative Management of Accumulators in Crete." This system was licensed by EOESDAP.
- - Development of a software tool for the monitoring and control of the alternative waste management system.
- Development and implementation of public information actions aiming to the successful operation of the recycling system, such as public information campaigns, seminars and discussions with the local stakeholders, etc.
- Posters of the program in order to inform the publicPOSTER (jpg)
- Poster at HELECO expedition POSTER (ppt)
- Publications PRESS (ppt)
- PATRIS,
- AUTOSERVICE,
- ECOPOLIS
- Photographs of meetings POSTER (ppt)
- Operation of the separate collection and recycling system for batteries and accumulators in Crete in cooperation with various organizations (AFIS, SEDIS K, ESDAK, etc). Within this framework the results of the pilot operation of the system were monitored. An inventory of the outcomes from the pilot operation of the system was developed.
- Finally, a Good Practice Guide for the Management of Batteries and Accumulators is developed. GUIDE(pdf)
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES OF PILOT PROJECT LIFE GREEN BATTERIES
1. Data concerning the operation of the pilot project for accumulators
In the framework of the LIFE project, an inventory of 226 companies dealing with car accumulators was performed. These companies included accumulator importers, electricians, car engineers, vertical units selling and repairing cars and gas stations. All stakeholders were informed on the aims of the LIFE GREEN BATTERIES project, and, aiming at the development of an integrated management system for accumulators in Crete. SEDIS-K was founded, with the participation and cooperation of all stakeholders involved.
During the implementation of the pilot project 195 pallet boxes were distributed to companies dealing with car accumulators in the whole region of Crete. The categorization of these companies per Prefecture is shown in Table 1, while the dispersion of the companies in Crete is shown in Table 2 and in the maps: map 1, map 2, map 3 At the majority of the collection points one bin was distributed, with a few exceptions where 2 bins were installed. As shown in Table 2, 67% of the collection points is located in the 5 larger cities, namely Chania, Irakleion, Rethymno, Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos. The remaining companies and collection points are dispersed in 35 different cities and villages throughout Crete, where in each of these places there is usually one such company operating. The division of the companies according to the type of their activities is presented in Table 3. The largest amount of companies participating in the program are the electrician shops, while the largest quantities are handled by the companies dealing with the import and merchandise of accumulators.
Table 1. Number of companies participating in the program per Prefecture
| Prefecture | Number of companies |
|---|---|
| Herakleio | 103 |
| Chania | 44 |
| Rethymno | 13 |
| Lasithi | 34 |
Table 2.Percentage of companies per city participating in the program
| City | Percentage of companies % |
|---|---|
| Herakleio | 37 |
| Chania | 16 |
| Ierapetra | 6 |
| Rethymno | 5 |
| Agios Nikolaos | 4 |
| Sitia | 4 |
| Kissamos | 3 |
| Tympaki | 2 |
Table 3.Number of companies per type of activity
| Type of company | Number |
|---|---|
| Electricians | 84 |
| Car service stations | 27 |
| Merchandise of spare parts, motor oils, tires, etc. | 31 |
| Gas stations, car wash | 25 |
| Importers – resellers of accumulators | 11 |
| Vertical units | 5 |
| Other companies | 8 |
The distribution of the bins started in 2005 and finished in 2006. The collection of the accumulators is performed by the appropriate truck, which possesses a pallet box and an electronic balance. The quantity of accumulators collected since October 2005 reaches the amount of 86 tons. This quantity was collected from 55 collection points, and the mean quantity collected per point during this time period reaches 1.7 tons. Of course, the quantities collected vary significantly according to the specific collection point. The largest quantity (57%) was collected from the Herakleio area.
The main outcomes that can be derived from the operation of the pilot system are:
- - The greatest number of collection points is located in large cities, where the collection cost remains low. Nevertheless, there is a significant number of collection points which demonstrate a wide geographical dispersion in the Crete region, thus resulting to considerable difficulties in the collection of accumulators from distant areas, with the existence of 35 different collection points where only one or two electrician companies are located.
- - Nevertheless, collection of accumulators from every possible point where accumulators are replaced is imperative, in order to incorporate in the alternative management system all companies involved in the accumulators business, thus hindering the illicit trading of spent accumulators, which still constitutes the main handling procedure of spent accumulators.
- - Changing of trends and behaviors which are connected to the trading of accumulators by illicit scrap dealers and in an uncontrolled way is very difficult, taking into account that this situation was profitable both for the scrap dealers and to the companies dealing with the replacement of accumulators. On the other hand, transportation of the spent accumulators in accordance with the ADR provisions and following all legislative procedures (licenses, insurances, trained personnel) means the increase of the management cost, thus reducing the profit of the companies. Therefore, constant information of the companies involved and their active participation in the system are required in order to achieve the effectiveness of the accumulators’ collection system. The sole use of command and control instruments, such as civil, penal and administrative sanctions is inadequate in these cases and the use of communicative instruments is required.
- - The development of an alternative management system at a regional level, such as SEDIS-K, demonstrates considerable advantages, though time is required in order to achieve impressive results from the implementation of such systems.
The total quantity of accumulators handled by electricians and importers of accumulators in Crete reaches 650 tons, while the total quantity of accumulators handled in Crete is estimated at around 1,800 tons. The aims of the SEDIS-K system, as given also to the Greek Ministry of Environment, are, at the first stage, the compliance of importers in Crete with the relevant legislative obligations and, at a second stage, the coverage of the largest possible amount of accumulators handled in Crete. These targets are presented in Table 4. Naturally, these targets are way above the aims of the LIFE GREEN BATTERIES pilot project.
Table 4. Quantitative collection target of the SEDIS-K system
| Year | Quantity (tons) |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 50 |
| 2006 | 265 |
| 2007 | 480 |
| 2008 | 530 |
| 2009 | 580 |
2. Data regarding the operation of the pilot program for small batteries
The pilot system for the collection of small batteries in Crete was organized in cooperation with the national alternative management system “AFIS”.
In the framework of the pilot program 851 big collection bin (10 lt) and 43 small ones (3,5 lt) have been distributed and installed throughout Crete. The distribution of the bins was performed in the period between 3/2005 - 6/2006. In detail, the number of bins per Prefecture and per type of activity is presented in the Tables below and in the maps map 1, map 2, map 3. It is clear that 70% of the bins is located in two big cities while 92% is actually located in the 5 largest cities of the island. The dispersion of collection bins in other cities is not so wide as in the case of accumulators, since bins have been installed in another 20 points in the island.
Table 1.Dispersion of bins per Prefecture
| Prefecture | Number of collection points | Number of bins (3.5 lt) | Number of bins (10 lt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irakleion | 189 | 42 | 360 |
| City of Rethymno | 115 | 1 | 147 |
| Chania | 204 | 0 | 243 |
| Lasithi | 70 | 0 | 101 |
Table 2. Dispersion of bins per city
| Percentage% | |
|---|---|
| CHANIA | 34 |
| IRAKLEION | 34 |
| RETHYMNO | 19 |
| AG. NIKOLAOS | 3 |
| IERAPETRA | 2 |
| SITEIA | 2 |
Table 3. Dispersion of 10 lt collection bins per type of activity
| RETHYMNO | CHANIA | IRAKLEION | LASITHI | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public authorities | 22 | 30 | 14 | 11 | 77 |
| Educational institution | 56 | 95 | 129 | 26 | 306 |
| Hotels | 34 | 12 | 19 | 26 | 91 |
| Supermarket | 5 | 35 | 10 | 6 | 56 |
| Telecommunications – Photo shops | 15 | 23 | 45 | 24 | 107 |
| Shops – banks | 11 | 33 | 124 | 6 | 174 |
| Other | 4 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 40 |
| TOTAL | 147 | 243 | 360 | 101 | 851 |
The outcomes derived from the operation of the pilot program are:
- - The largest number of bins has been located in schools, where the awareness and interest for the collection of small batteries is greater.
- - Also, a considerable number of collection bins is located in shops which sell batteries such as various shops, telecommunication companies and photo shops.
- - The hotels in Crete have demonstrated considerable awareness and interest in the pilot program, especially since most of these hotels operate according to environmental standards (ISO 14001, ECOLABEL) and therefore consider recycling as an important parameter.
- - The first results from the operation of the program show that most calls for the collection of batteries originate from educational institutions as also from commercial shops, where bins seem to be filled quicker. Hotels present a smaller number of calls, especially due to the fact that the operation of the program was during the winter months.
- - Most collection points are located in big cities, fact which facilitates the collection of batteries. Namely, 50% of the calls originate from Herakleio while 12 % from collection points in Chania and 16% from points in Rethymno.
- The mean number of telephone calls for the collection of bins per month are 20, while the mean quantity collected per month reaches 550 kg, fact which means that, if the current collection rates continue, it is estimated that the annual collection of batteries will reach 7 tons, representing 4% of the total quantity of small batteries (with weight less than 1.5 kg) sold in Crete. This means that more communicative and public information actions are required in order to enhance collection and recycling rates.
- - According to the above data there are telephone calls for example for the collection of 4 bins from Chania, 1 bin from Neapoli, 1 bin from Ierapetra and 3 bins from Rethymno. This means that, taking into account the small size of the bins (each bin weighs approx. 14kg), the collection of bins on a monthly basis is not feasible, both from an environmental and from an economic point of view. Therefore, either the collection has to be performed on a three month basis, or the collector has to collect also other types of waste at the same time.
- It should also be stressed that considerable difficulties arise from the licensing procedure provided for the collection and transportation of small batteries. Because small batteries are considered as hazardous waste, the transportation cost is excessive, since a special license for the collection and transportation of hazardous waste is required, as also the use of special boxes and vehicles, implementation of the ADR provisions, registry keeping, special insurance of the transport vehicle, trained driver, etc.