Presentation made by Enrique Redondo (Ecolec) and Martin Fišer (ASEKOL) at Cluster Workshop organized by EACI in Aachen (Germany) on April 19

1. WEEE-Trace Project
Full Traceability of the management of WEEE
CIP Eco-Innovation Program (Eco/10/277256 )
Cluster Workshop on
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and
Applications"
Aachen, 19th April 2012
Page 1 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

2. WEEE TRACE: Project Vision
Use of advanced ICT and sensor-based technologies
(RFID, optical identification, image capturing, geo-
positioning, etc.) to:
1. Ensure traceability of complete waste from electrical
and electronics equipment (WEEE) management
chain.
2. Identify WEEE by Producer in support of Producer
responsibility principle.
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)
Currently in month 10/36:
Page 2 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

3. WEEE-Trace: Project partners
Full life-cycle coverage: 6 partners and 3 associates (more in queue) covering
whole life cycle take for pilot and commercial full-scale deployment
Partners
 Technology Solutions provider (Coord):
• Customers: WEEE compliance schemes
Different actions and objectives but
• complementary and
• in partnership
 Manufacturer of household appliances
3 External Associates (more in queue):
 Logistics operator:
 Treatment plant:
Page 3 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

4. WEEE TRACES’s two legs
WEEE-Trace
Page 4 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

5. WEEE TRACE in CZ
Business Need
Asekol as a collective take-back scheme for WEEE
needs:
• Report to Producers of EEE quantities /types of appliances
collected and recycled
• Report total weight of treated appliances
• Sort WEEE for proper treatment
This has to be achieved in a automated fashion.
Page 5 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
WEEE Trace Workshop Aachen 2012
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

6. WEEE TRACE in CZ
selected approach
The feasibility study has proved that combined
technology should be used and optical recognition
should be the primary technology.
Attributes which will recognized using optical sensors:
• logo of the producer
• descriptions on the device tag
(producer, model number)
• Barcodes
Page 6 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
WEEE Trace Workshop Aachen 2012
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

7. WEEE TRACE in CZ
General Steps of Image
Recognition
Conveyor belt
Page 7 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
WEEE Trace Workshop Aachen 2012
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

8. WEEE TRACE in CZ
Tag/Model Processing Example
Page 8 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
WEEE Trace Workshop Aachen 2012
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

9. WEEE TRACE in CZ
logo identification
Page 9 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
WEEE Trace Workshop Aachen 2012
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

10. WEEE TRACE in CZ
Preliminary pilot test results
Primary focusing on display devices (CRT and flat displays).
Main Challenges: Diverse dimensions of WEEE and of their optical attributes (logo, text on
tags, etc) along with the required pace of the treatment (up to 1 m/s)
!
and better results
expected in full
scale tests
*from tested group
Page 10

11. WEEE TRACE in CZ
Expected Outcomes of pilot
• Real time Identification of Producers and models of WEEE units
• Testing and validation of scanning devices for CRTs and FPDs
• Verification of HW in operating conditions – evaluation of operational reliability
• Method for generation and maintenance of database of EEE.
Current planning
2Q2012 3Q2012 4Q2012 1Q2013 2Q2013
Preparation of core Pilot at logistics Recognition SW
recognition Software centre finalization Implementation of
Database full scale system
generation
HW requs assmnt
Page 11 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
WEEE Trace Workshop Aachen 2012
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

12. WEEE-Trace in ES
Market need / key features
Improve WEEE collection / Reduce WEEE leaks.
Use of sensor applications to ensure traceability through
whole reverse supply chain, featuring:
- BC/RFID tagging and tracking
- Identification and characterization through RFID readers
- Sorting and Channeling to appropriate treatment facilities
- Traceability by unit – picture and video included.
- Automation of incidence management.
- Triggering of automated certification and invoicing processes.
- Simplification of reporting
- Standardization of information content and format
Integration of all information flows in Company’s IT
platforms
Page 12 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

13. WEEE-Trace in ES
Scope of Project
Full scale commercial system to manage
whole WEEE flow (>70.000 tons/yr) and all
associated information 2Q’2012
2-3Q’2013
80 WEEE collection points
15 logistic operators
Page 13
40 treatment plants

14. WEEE TRACE
Dissemination Activities (WP#5)
31 communication/dissemination actions so far (M10)
www.wee-trace.eu Target audiences
Page 14 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

15. WEEE-Trace
Status and progress
Current status (M10/36)
WP#2: Definition of solution • Opportunity to advance 6
• Sept’2011  June 2012 months Exploitation and
WP#3: Technical implementation Business Plan: M18  M12
• Pilots: Jan’2012  Sept2012 / Jun’2013
• Full deployment: Oct’2012  Dec’2013
Page 15 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

16. WEEE TRACE
Market replication and uptake – pipeline of contacts
Basel e-Waste European WEEE take- SIGRAUTO
Asia initiative: back schemes (4) ELV scheme
Brazil WEEE Logistics
compliance operators (2)
scheme
Opportunities arising  long take-off maduration period
Need to accelerate Actions and Business Plan (M18  M12)
Page 16

17. WEEE TRACE
Key stakeholders engagement
Critical to address
non-technical barriers
and in support of market
replication
Page 17

18. WEEE TRACE
Main conclusions (so far)
Still in month 10 of 36
- Challenging technical aspects
- Implementation barriers
always exist, and are addressed
But in many places we speak…
interest and potential replication opportunities arise  acceleration
of Business and Exploitation Plan (WP#4)
Enforcement WEEE schemes Other wastes Related fields
Standardization  key issue to address international market
opportunities and ensure life cycle approach.
- Content and format.
- Producer and supply chain info
Page 18 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”

19. Thanks for your attention!
www.weee-trace.eu
In case of questions, feel free to contact Project Coordinator:
Josu Rollón
jrollon@mcctelecom.es
info@weee-trace.eu
Page 19 WEEE TRACE (Aachen 19 April 2012)
"Sensor-based Sorting Technologies and Applications”