Waste Without Borders in the EU, a report produced by the European Environment Agency in March, outlined the level of illegal exportation of hazardous wastes to developing countries.
According to the report, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE or eScrap) is a particular problem and specifically WEEE sent to African countries. The authors of the report also stated that, “It is expected that reported cases represent a fraction of the actual number and that the number of illegal shipments is considerable.”Analysis of trade statistics in the report shows “that many discarded TV sets are shipped to Africa – their low prices are an indicator that some shipments are likely to be e-waste”.
The export of e-waste from the EU to African countries is prohibited, and non-governmental organisations report that disposal of this waste is damaging the environment and causing serious health problems for those employed in the disposal process, the report says. See here for a report of the journey of a discarded television from the EU.
EU member states must submit an annual report to the European Commission on the amounts of hazardous waste imported and exported. Coding of the waste is in accordance with the codes used in the Basel Convention, the aim of the Basel Convention is to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects caused by wastes, especially hazardous waste. Unfortunately there is no code that corresponds with WEEE and as a result more than one third of the waste notified is not classified.
See the full EU report here
The route to illegal disposal always starts with the person or company who discards the equipment in the first place and the supply of eScrap to illegal exporters can be cut off if companies or organisations make certain that the disposal company they use are properly licensed and operate to the highest standards.
The EU WEEE Directive of 2003 places responsibilities on member states and on producers regarding the collection and processing of WEEE. A more vigilant enforcement of the regulations and a willingness to comply with the spirit of the directive by producers would go a long way to preventing the less well off in the third world from having “solve” one of our waste problems.
One of the more interesting aspects of exporting WEEE in this way is the loss of valuable resources to the EU. See our earlier article “Wasting Valuable Resources by Exporting Electronic Waste from the EU”
Brendan Palmer MBA 22/04/09
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Moving Milk, Glass Bottles or Recyclable Packaging
From time to time we hear nostalgic regrets about the demise of the lowly milk bottle, the clink of the glass in the early morning, the washing of the bottles and putting them outside the door, as the last daily action before retiring for the night, a daily ritual that has been promoted as the ultimate in environmentally friendly consumption.
Or is it? The following numbers relate to large movements of milk using trucks capable of a 24 tonne payload.
To move 23,500 litres of milk using Tetra Pac Cartons or plastic bottles means transporting a total of 24 tonnes. 23.5 tonnes of outward payload and 500kg of packaging, . This packaging can be recycled in our green recycling bins
To deliver 23,500 litres of milk using glass bottles, each bottle weighing 0.35kg and containing a half litre of milk (1 pint), would mean an outward payload of 49,950kg (49.9t) and a return payload of 16,450kg (16.5t) of empty glass. We now need two trucks to do the delivery (if we are limited to 24 tonnes per truck, we can’t deliver all the milk) To simplify the calculation let’s just send an extra 24 tonne truck along with the delivery and then have it collect the empty glass for return to the refilling plant.
The above of course only gets the milk to the distribution warehouse or supermarket, the extra 16.5 tonnes of glass then has to be transported (although in smaller lots) to the end user and back again, once they have used the milk.
Once the glass is returned to the refilling plant, it must first be sent to a washing and testing line to be examined for contaminants or cracks and then transported to the filling lines.
Again for simplicities sake let’s just assume that the milk bottle moves four times for each usage. So for each pint of milk consumed we move 1.4 kg of glass.( 0.35kg per bottle X four movements.)
If each person in Ireland consumed 1 pint of milk per day there would be a need to transport 5600 (Five thousand Six Hundred) tonnes of glass about the place every day
To transport 2 million litres of milk in cartons or plastic requires 50 tonnes of recyclable packaging
In the UK it would be 80,000 (Eighty Thousand) tonnes of glass per day or 750 tonnes of recyclable packaging
Apart from the economic cost of moving all this extra weight around, perhaps the environmental consequences require that the lowly milk bottle be left consigned to nostalgia and the happy times when ignorance was bliss
Back-up numbers
Weight of 1 milk bottle = 0.35 kg
Weight of Plastic or Tetra Pak carton= 0.025kg
Weight of one litre of milk= 1kg
Brendan Palmer MBA
Or is it? The following numbers relate to large movements of milk using trucks capable of a 24 tonne payload.
To move 23,500 litres of milk using Tetra Pac Cartons or plastic bottles means transporting a total of 24 tonnes. 23.5 tonnes of outward payload and 500kg of packaging, . This packaging can be recycled in our green recycling bins
To deliver 23,500 litres of milk using glass bottles, each bottle weighing 0.35kg and containing a half litre of milk (1 pint), would mean an outward payload of 49,950kg (49.9t) and a return payload of 16,450kg (16.5t) of empty glass. We now need two trucks to do the delivery (if we are limited to 24 tonnes per truck, we can’t deliver all the milk) To simplify the calculation let’s just send an extra 24 tonne truck along with the delivery and then have it collect the empty glass for return to the refilling plant.
The above of course only gets the milk to the distribution warehouse or supermarket, the extra 16.5 tonnes of glass then has to be transported (although in smaller lots) to the end user and back again, once they have used the milk.
Once the glass is returned to the refilling plant, it must first be sent to a washing and testing line to be examined for contaminants or cracks and then transported to the filling lines.
Again for simplicities sake let’s just assume that the milk bottle moves four times for each usage. So for each pint of milk consumed we move 1.4 kg of glass.( 0.35kg per bottle X four movements.)
If each person in Ireland consumed 1 pint of milk per day there would be a need to transport 5600 (Five thousand Six Hundred) tonnes of glass about the place every day
To transport 2 million litres of milk in cartons or plastic requires 50 tonnes of recyclable packaging
In the UK it would be 80,000 (Eighty Thousand) tonnes of glass per day or 750 tonnes of recyclable packaging
Apart from the economic cost of moving all this extra weight around, perhaps the environmental consequences require that the lowly milk bottle be left consigned to nostalgia and the happy times when ignorance was bliss
Back-up numbers
Weight of 1 milk bottle = 0.35 kg
Weight of Plastic or Tetra Pak carton= 0.025kg
Weight of one litre of milk= 1kg
Brendan Palmer MBA
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Cutting Costs - The Role of Energy Management
In the current economic climate and the need to cut unnecessary costs, energy efficiency has never been higher on the business agenda and any business looking to its future competitiveness needs to look at energy efficiency.
A recent study commissioned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates that the commercial sector could save up to 25% of its current energy use through investment in economically viable efficiency opportunities. Typically, an initial expert assessment identifies immediate savings of more than 10% of current energy costs.
People ultimately determine how energy is used and energy efficiency is about much more than technology. The starting point is commitment from the top, supported by a systematic and structured approach to identifying and implementing opportunities for energy savings.
Often, a large part of a firm’s energy usage comes from a small number of users or pieces of equipment. It may be lighting, small process equipment, compressors, conveyors or IT equipment permanently switched on. By focusing on these key users and identifying priority actions, a company can achieve immediate results.
A recent study commissioned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates that the commercial sector could save up to 25% of its current energy use through investment in economically viable efficiency opportunities. Typically, an initial expert assessment identifies immediate savings of more than 10% of current energy costs.
People ultimately determine how energy is used and energy efficiency is about much more than technology. The starting point is commitment from the top, supported by a systematic and structured approach to identifying and implementing opportunities for energy savings.
Often, a large part of a firm’s energy usage comes from a small number of users or pieces of equipment. It may be lighting, small process equipment, compressors, conveyors or IT equipment permanently switched on. By focusing on these key users and identifying priority actions, a company can achieve immediate results.
BIG SAVINGS CAN BE MADE
BY SWITCHING IT OFF
OR UNPLUGGING IT
WHEN NOT IN USE
In the Office
- Switch off lights and heating in the office when they're not in use
- Take advantage of natural daylight as much as possible
- Turn computers off at night or if they are not going to be used for more than an hour.
- Switch off office equipment such as printers, scanners and photocopiers, when not in use
- Don't overfill the kettle
Computers and monitors account for half the electricity wasted in an office every day. According to UK government figures, if all your PCs were turned off overnight and at weekends, they would save £63 (€67) a year each. So, for a business with 100 computers, that’s an annual saving of £6,300 (€6,700)
Note that screen savers are not energy savers. In fact, using a screen saver may use more energy than not using one, and the power-down feature may not work if you have a screen saver activated.
Some employees might not turn off their computers because they forget or find it a nuisance to have to boot up every morning. To solve this problem, you can buy “Automatic Shutdown” software that will shut down PCs at a set time and restart them in the morning before their users arrive for work.
In the Plant
- Switch off lights, if safe to do so
- Turn equipment and machinery off when not in use
- Don’t leave trucks and fork trucks running when not in use or loading
- Keep warehouse doors closed to conserve heat
The greatest savings are made when energy efficiency is built in from the start. Whether it’s a product, process or building design, the best opportunities are those seized at the outset, before work has even begun. This should apply to all design decisions and equipment purchases. No amount of retrofitting can catch all the opportunities available at the design stage.
Some good news stories
Cork-based Musgrave Group’s new sustainable head office building delivered operating cost savings of around 40% a year. Throwing out a conventional office proposal and committing to an energy efficiency-led design approach allowed retail group Musgrave to bring energy costs down by almost 40% at its new Group Head Office in Cork. Not only is the 2000m2 building very energy efficient, it features solar-thermal water heating and a geothermal heating and cooling system that prevents the need for air conditioning. Instead, the primary energy source for space heating is the renewable thermal energy of ground water on site.
Other key features of the office building:
- Increased insulation of exterior cladding and high-specification glazing
- Intelligent lighting, including occupancy and daylight level sensors
- An energy management system to optimise energy use
- Alignment of the building to make the most of shelter from prevailing winds
- Central atrium and internal layout that maximise ambient daylight
At Shamrock Foods new lighting equipment has cut the company’s energy bill for lighting by over 70%. Shamrock Foods embarked on a project to reduce lighting energy use in its Dublin distribution facility. With lighting accounting for 60% of overall electrical energy consumption, it was a key user to target. The results could hardly have been better – a massive 70% cut in lighting energy use.
The solution was to replace 700 inefficient high-bay metal halide lights with half the number of modern efficient fluorescent lights (each consuming half the energy), all fitted with movement sensors. Spin-off benefits included a cooler building, as the old lighting generated significant heat, and maintenance savings because of the longer life of the new lights.
Government Energy grants for business
Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA)
The ACA, introduced by the Government under section 46 of the Finance Act 2008, offers a tax incentive for companies to purchase energy efficient equipment. The entire purchase cost of products on the list can be written off against corporation tax in the year of purchase. The ACA offers an incentive to companies who are planning to purchase equipment in 5 specific categories: Building Energy Management Systems, Lighting, Lighting Controls, Motors, Variable Speed Drives. More info aca@sei.ie
Renewable Heat Deployment Programme
Grants are available to help businesses, public and community premises fund the cost of switching to renewable heating systems. Financial support of up to 30% will be provided to install wood chip or pellet boilers, solar hot water heating systems and heat pumps. Applicants must carry out a feasibility or design study when applying for the grant and meet the technical criteria laid out by the SEI. More info here
Combined Heat and Power Deployment Programme
40% funding is available for the cost of qualifying feasibility studies and 30% investment grant support for small-scale fossil-fired CHP projects in industrial, commercial, service and public sectors. More info here
Start Saving Money Now
From the smallest to the largest, savings are available to any business that tackles its energy use. Any program should start with a look at current energy use – where is it being used and why. Action should start in the place where most energy is being used and where most savings can be found.
Action item:
Carry out an energy usage evaluation immediately
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) offers supports to all kinds of businesses interested in tackling energy costs. From free advice to advanced training, from where to start looking to how to reach the highest standard of efficiency. For information on any aspect of SEI's services for business. Contact the Industry team at: T: 01-8082100 email: business@sei.ie
Brendan Palmer MBA
http://www.electronic-recycling.ie/
Friday, April 3, 2009
Another school benefits from the Computers for Irish Schools program and the first "Sports Voucher for Mobile Phones" is handed over
Another school, St Cronan's Junior National School, in Swords Co. Dublin, has benefited from the Computers for Irish Schools program, receiving 10 Pentium 4 PCs to enhance their computer room. We hope that these computers go some way to help the pupils of St cronan's achieve their school motto "To be the best that we can be" more info in St Cronan's here
Scoil Mhuire in Marino has also benefitted from the CFIS mobile phone collection. The collection drive gathered 65 old mobile phones for which they received an Elvery’s sports voucher for €200.
Computers for Irish Schools, a not for profit division of Electronic Recycling, is in its infancy and we have quite a number of schools registered to accept Computers as they become available, hopefully as the word spreads, more companies will get on board the program to the benefit of our schools.
The purpose of the program is to re-route IT equipment, which is not quite ready for the recycling bin, to needy schools in Ireland.
There is no cost to the schools, CFIS carries the cost of preparing the equipment and delivering it to the selected school. CFIS also take the equipment back when it becomes obsolete, closing the recycling circle, again at no cost to the school.
For companies, the normal recycling charges apply and any equipment, which is not donated to schools, is recycled to the highest standards by Electronic Recycling.
This service combines guaranteed data security, recycling to the highest standards using the best available technology, combined with an opportunity to enhance Corporate Social Responsibility.
Getting involved means your IT equipment can make a difference to your local school. In a perfect world it would be possible to provide every student with individual access to a computer but in the current economic climate, this is realistically very difficult. Computers for Irish Schools can go some way to improve the situation.
To get involved log onto Computers for Irish Schools
Scoil Mhuire in Marino has also benefitted from the CFIS mobile phone collection. The collection drive gathered 65 old mobile phones for which they received an Elvery’s sports voucher for €200.
Computers for Irish Schools, a not for profit division of Electronic Recycling, is in its infancy and we have quite a number of schools registered to accept Computers as they become available, hopefully as the word spreads, more companies will get on board the program to the benefit of our schools.
The purpose of the program is to re-route IT equipment, which is not quite ready for the recycling bin, to needy schools in Ireland.
There is no cost to the schools, CFIS carries the cost of preparing the equipment and delivering it to the selected school. CFIS also take the equipment back when it becomes obsolete, closing the recycling circle, again at no cost to the school.
For companies, the normal recycling charges apply and any equipment, which is not donated to schools, is recycled to the highest standards by Electronic Recycling.
This service combines guaranteed data security, recycling to the highest standards using the best available technology, combined with an opportunity to enhance Corporate Social Responsibility.
Getting involved means your IT equipment can make a difference to your local school. In a perfect world it would be possible to provide every student with individual access to a computer but in the current economic climate, this is realistically very difficult. Computers for Irish Schools can go some way to improve the situation.
To get involved log onto Computers for Irish Schools
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