ACCUMULATORS
Estimation of the quantity of
accumulators
The handling of accumulators in Crete is mainly performed by car service stations, electricians, gas stations and spare part shops and vertical car trading units.
The estimation of the total quantity of accumulators discarded in Crete was based on the following factors:
- Overall quantity of accumulators imported in Greece.
- Number of cars circulating in Crete
- Inventory which was performed at all importers and electricians in Crete, dealing with the replacement of accumulators.
According to the aforementioned the total quantity of accumulators sold in Crete is estimated to reach today 1800 tons/year.
Collection of accumulators
The collection of accumulators was performed until recently mainly by scrap collectors on an isolated and not controlled basis, without having the relevant licenses. The accumulators' collection system was actually based on the high price of lead, fact which constituted the collection and reselling of used accumulators to factories dealing with the production of lead a profitable business. Nevertheless, because of the fact that the price of lead is not stable, considerable problems were encountered at times when the price of lead was particularly low, and therefore the lead recycling companies would pay low prices to buy used accumulators. During these time periods, scrap collectors stopped their collection, thus leading to the excessive storage of accumulators at the car service stations (in many cases in outdoor places) or to their uncontrolled discarding. The management of accumulators constitutes a very fragile market, involving various - and many times conflicting - interests of the stakeholders involved (car service stations, electricians, recycling companies, collectors). Considerable complaints were expressed by most companies dealing with the replacement of accumulators regarding the non-regular collection of the accumulators, which led to the excessive storage of accumulators at their store.
Already, during the third year of the implementation of the LIFE GREEN BATTERIES project, a national system for the management of accumulators was licensed by the competent authorities according to the new legislation. At the same time, given the will of the local stakeholders and authorities for the development of a regional management system, the stakeholders, authorities and partners of the project decided to design and develop a local collection and management system for accumulators, which would collect and recycle the quantities of accumulators handled in Crete, thus fully covering the existing deficiency for the management of such waste in the island.
So, in the framework of the LIFE GREEN BATTERIES project, the alternative management system of accumulators in Crete was designed, funded and licensed, currently operating as an LTD. company with the name "SEDIS-K - Collective System for the Alternative Management of Accumulators in Crete".
The aim of this collective alternative management system is the management of used accumulators in the island of Crete.
SEDIS- K Collective Alternative
Management SYSTEM
Participants
The participants of the Collective Alternative Management System SEDIS-K are the importers of accumulators who handle accumulators in Crete and one recycler. Currently, the shareholders of the company are eleven accumulator importers and recyclers. Further on, more than 150 professionals have signed declarations stating their intention to participate in the SEDIS-K system.
Premises:Heraklion Crete
Aim of the system
In detail, the aims of the SEDIS-K System are:
- The environmentally sound management of used accumulators in Crete according to the provisions of the Presidential Decree 115/2004(OJ 80Á/2004) "Replacement of the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) 73537/1438/1995 "Management of batteries and accumulators containing hazardous substances" (OJ Â 781) and JMD 19817/2000 "Amendment of JMD 73537/1995" (OJ Â963). " Measures, conditions and program for the alternative management of used batteries and accumulators". The management of used accumulators is performed taking into account the main EU principles for waste management and environmental protection, namely:
- Prevention of waste
- Valorization - recycling
- The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)
- The principle of joint responsibility of all stakeholders involved in the management of these certain products.
- The compliance of the importers of accumulators in Crete with the provisions of the aforementioned Presidential Decree, according to which, the manufacturers, importers and recyclers of accumulators are obliged either to organize individual alternative management systems or to participate in collective alternative management systems.
- The compliance and harmonization of the local authorities with the provisions of the Presidential Decree 115/04.
- The information of the public and of the stakeholders involved in the accumulators' handling chain, regarding the problems and impacts arising from the uncontrolled discarding of these waste.
- Monitoring and control of the discarding of used accumulators in Crete.
- The separate collection and temporary storage of lead acid batteries based on the provisions of the national and EU legislation
At the first stage, the aim of the system is the achievement of the targets of the Presidential Decree, regarding the quantities of accumulators handled in Crete by the Accumulator Importers of Crete. These targets include the collection of at least 70% by weight of all used accumulators handled in Crete until the 31/12/2006 and the recycling of at least 80% of the used accumulators collected.
QUANTITATIVE TARGETS OF THE SYSTEM
The participants in this particular system cover a considerable percentage of accumulators handled in Crete. The aims regarding the collection rates during the first years of operation of the system are:
| Quantity (tons) | |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 50 |
| 2006 | 265 |
| 2007 | 480 |
| 2008 | 530 |
| 2009 | 580 |
The collection of accumulators will start from the selling and replacement points which are interested in participation, which are currently 200, thus covering gradually during the first 4 years about 300 points in the whole island, where 350 special bins will be installed. According to the signed declarations which state the intention to participate in SEDIS-K, 85 bins will be installed at a first stage in the Prefecture of Heraklion, 30 in the Prefecture of Lasithi, 15 in the Prefecture of Rethymnon and 70 in the Prefecture of Chania.
The predicted installation rate of bins per year is:
| Year | Number of bins |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 200 |
| 2006 | 100 |
| 2007 | 30 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| Total | 350 |