Presentation on WEEE TRACE made by Jose Ramon CARBAJOSA; MD of ECOLEC, at IERC 2014 Conference in Salzburg (January 2014)

1. WEEE Trace Project
RFiD based system to ensure full traceability
of WEEE flows
José Ramón CARBAJOSA (Fundación ECOLEC)
“13th International Electronics
Recycling Congress IERC 2014 "
Salzburg, January 22-24 2014
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

2. Fundación ECOLEC
(www.ecolec.es)
• Collective compliance scheme
•
Wastes from Electrical and Electronics Equipment
(WEEE)
–
•
•
•
•
•
Market share based on POM
(Spain, 2012)
All 10 caregories
Wastes from batteries
ISO9001:2008 and 14001:2004 certifications.
WEEE Forum active member
Committed to WEEE LABEX
Adhered to Global Compact United Nations Social
Responsibility Principles
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)
Ecolec
55,6%

3. WEEE TRACE
Purpose
Use of advanced ICT and sensor-based technologies (RFID,
optical identification, image capturing, geo-positioning, etc.)
to:
• Ensure traceability of complete waste from electrical and electronics
equipment (WEEE) management chain.
• Provide real time management and control of reverse supply chain
flows for wastes and of recycling networks:
• Minimize leaks to uncontrolled systems
Potential Applications :
- Take-back compliance schemes
- Enforcement agencies
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

4. WEEE TRACE
Expected Objectives
CIP Eco-Innovation Program (Eco/10/277256 )
Objectives
• Increase (39%) volume of WEEE legally recycle reducing leaks to
uncontrolled channels
• Use of ICT to characterize and locate/funnel/sort/recycling different
types of WEEE
• Track and control incidences like scavenging, leaks, presence of
free-riders, etc.
• Facilitate enforcement and reporting
• Identify and address replication opportunities
Duration: 36 months (Jul 2011  Jul 2014)
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

5. Project Partners
Full life-cycle coverage: 6 partners and 4 associates covering whole life cycle of
EEE products and waste management
6 Partners:
 Technology Solutions provider (Coordinator):
 Customers: WEEE compliance schemes
 Manufacturer of household appliances:
 Logistics operator:
4 External Associates :
 Treatment plant:
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

6. ES: Market needs / key
features
•
•
Improve WEEE collection & Reduce WEEE leaks
Use of sensor applications to ensure traceability through whole reverse
supply chain, featuring:
– Tagging and tracking (RFID + BC)
– Identification and characterization through RFID readers
– Sorting and Channeling to appropriate treatment facilities
– Traceability by unit  picture and video included
– Automation of incidence management, certification and invoicing
– Simplification of reporting
– Standardization of information
– Integration in Company’s ERP system
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

7. ES: Scope of Project
Full scale commercial system to manage whole WEEE
flow (>70.000 tons/yr) and all associated information
Feasibility
Tests
1T2012
Definition of
Solutions
Selection of
Supply Chain
Real Scale Piltos
(2 flows/ 2 treatment
plants)
2T2012
3T2012
Deployment in
“production”
4T2012
Integration in
old “ERP”
1T2013
Q3’2012
1T2014
Integration in
new ERP
Supply Chain
Formation
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)
Q4’2013

8. WEEE TRACE
scheme
> 150 actors:
79 Collection points
25 Logistics partners
59 Treatment facilities
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

9. Technological infrastructure
Treatment Plants
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

10. RFID Mobile Readers
 Approx. 200 mobile readers
 RFID + BC and alphanumeric
 Remote controlled
 Information on status and usage
 SW updates
 Metrics and indicators re usage,
statistics
 Reporting
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

11. On-line management and
monitoring of deployed
infrastructure
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

12. WEEE TRACE:
Tracking WEEE in practice
Tracked information:
 WEEE type, weight
 Origin, destination,
 Certificates and proofs (e.g. signatures,
videos)
 Picture and status e.g. scavenging
 “track and trace” Location and travel
 Management of incidences: “missings”, idle
times, inconsistencies (i.e. weights), potential
frauds
 Brand and model (optional)
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

13. WEEE TRACE
WEEE Management
13,500 tons of WEEE managed
(22/12/2013)
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

14. WEEE TRACE
Reality Check
Issues and barriers faced
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

15. Reality Check
WEEE TRACE:
Code Standard
Lack of standard of reference for wastes
 Worked with GS1 Spain to develop SSCC
standard code  incorporated to Project
 Able to link with future RFID tags in
products using SGTIN code
SSCC
SGTIN
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

16. WEEE TRACE
Barriers faced/addressed
• Not a single solution  needs to be adapted
• Adjustments required to guarantee reliability
and reading levels
• Shielding problems faced and addressed
• Privacy protection considerations
• Traceability means control:
– Segmentation of Supply Chain
– Adoption/Assumption push-back problems
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

17. Features of interest
• Stakeholders engagement critical to address barriers
• Compatible with Producers’ future tagging initiatives.
• Selected by Motorola and Vodafone ICT “green” programs.
• Highlighted in EIP for Raw Materials
• Instrumental in efficiency improvement program in
Ecolec
(> 10% reduction in costs of management)
• Expects to achieve significant reduction and simplification
of Administrative tasks
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

18. Some testimonials
“WEEE TRACE actually simplifies the work by the
waste management ” (José Gómez, Emaús)
“I see value in enforcement agencies
using WEEE TRACE principles and systems
to make controls of shipments” (Stephane
Arditi, European Environmental Bureau )
“This system justifies the role of collective
take-back schemes as guarantors of Producers
compliance responsibilities” (Ängel Lasunción,
Recytel recycling facility)
“Very interesting. This tracing system if
harmonized could be a way to trace eWaste shipments to its origin” (Junya
Kikuhara – Basel Asian network)
“We reduced time required for the management of
load from 45 to 5 mins. It is just a way to do our work”
(Camino Ostériz, Ecointegra Recycling facility)
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

19. Future
developments
• Expanding upstream to control collection from
origin (Carrefour pilot on-going)
• Connection with EEE Producers’ programmes
– Product life cycle management
– Design for Recycling
• Identification and recovery of Critical Raw
Materials
• Address replication opportunities
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)

20. Thanks for your attention!
www.weee-trace.eu
In case of questions, feel free to contact Project
info@weee-trace.eu
WEEE TRACE (IERC’2014, Salzburg)