Σεμινάρια

• Ms. Aida Szilagyi has opened the discussions presenting the objectives of the seminar and the RECDEV project (goals, specific objectives, partners, activities) and the works that has been undertaken so far. Before the project presentation and introduction, each participant presented themselves and the organisations they are representing. After presenting the project, Ms. Aida Szilagyi requested the feedback and inputs of the participants and responded to questions. (PPT presentation attached)

• Mr. Andrei Orban, President of ENVIRON Association,  presented the current situation regarding the WEEE in Romania, referring to the legal framework, figures and facts regarding the WEEE recycling system in Romania; ENVIRON objectives and activities, challenges and opportunities. (PPT presentation attached); also Mr. Orban expressed the interest of Environ Association to cooperate further with the project  partners for dissemination and testing of the RECDEV platform

• Mr. Sebastian Freiberger presented the legal framework, the evolution of WEEE system, the performance indicators and best practices in Austria. Mr. Freiberger highlighted the fact that as soon as the WEEE disposal taxes were removed in Austria, the quantities of WEEE collected from the population have raised significantly (almost triple) being a major contribution to the successful achievement of WEEE recycling goals in Austria. Mr. Freiberger presented a case study regarding the practices and technology for E-Cycling Park in Unterpremstätten (PPT presentation attached)
• Presentation of RECDEV training curricula (plastic materials) – University of Maribor 
• Prof. peter Glavic presented the specific issues to be addressed when considering the plastic parts in WEEE: types of plastics in WEEE, quantities of plastics to be found in WEEE, dangerous substances in plastics from WEEE, technology and processes used for the separation of plastic parts in WEEE. Prof. Glavic presented facts and figures based on several research studies and relevant literature. The structure of the training curricula has been presented and key inputs have been provided for each of the chapters. Prof. Glavic concluded his presentation with data and figures of WEEE recycling center in Slovenia – ZEOS (PPT presentation attached)

• Mr. Konstantinos Kotsopoulos presented to the audience the first prototype of the 3D training platform: the structure, the functionalities, the information and data provided and also described the technology used for the creation of the 3D training platform, highlighting the fact that the tool is a living platform which can be updated and adapted to the specific needs of different WEEE recycling operators. Mr. Konstantinos Kotsopoulos realized a live demonstration of the prototype and its interface, explaining the interaction dynamic and possible additional learning features (quiz gaming approach for the evaluation of the learning efficiency) (PPT presentation attached)

GreenWeee is the biggest WEEE recycler in Romania and is part of a the Green Group, a group formed from several other recycling companies: Genentech, GreenGlass, GreenFiber, GreenLamp.The company uses   high level of technology and recycles all types of appliances and was selected among other existing companies due to their good practices that were considered valuable for documenting the RECDEV training.   
Following the preliminary discussions between NCSPC and GREENWEEE International, the representatives of RECDEV project travelled to Buzau to meet the GREENWEEE representatives. The visit goals have been the followings: 
• Presentation of the RECDEV project (goals, partners, activities)
• Presentation of the 3D training platform prototype
• Identification of WEEE recycling companies needs regarding the 3D training platform 
• Identification of the WEEE recycling practices and techniques (especially dismantling techniques) to be included in the future structure of 3D training platform 
• Identification of the future piloting potential for the 3D training platform in GREEENWEEE International activities

Meeting minutes 
• The representatives of the RECDEV project have presented the project goals and activities to the GREENWEEE representatives: Mr. Costache Marius – General Director and  Mr. Viorel Neculai  - Technical Director  
• Detailed questions have been asked in order to understand the training method used presently to train the employees: there are dozens of work instructions that are describing the sequential   working steps for different types of appliances dismantled in the factory. After the theoretical phase when the new employees are taught in the class they go to the second phase of practical training being moved from one work station to another, supervised and evaluated. If they comply with the requirements after 4 months’ probation time they are finally hired. 

• Visit of the GREENWEEE premises (technical and production area). The following sections have been visited :

• Dismantling and treatment of frigorific equipments (fridges and air conditioning units): the company is realizing a primary manual dismantling of equipments including the extraction of frigorific agents and oils contained in the equipments. The fluids extraction is been realized using a vacuum pump and a closed collection system. The fluids are extracted mixed and sent to a separation facility where the frigorific agents are separated from the oil. After the preliminary dismantling and fluids extractions, the equipments are sent to a shredder. The shredding process is being realized in closed and controlled atmosphere in order to facilitate the extraction of additional fluorinated gases contained in the insulation foams of the equipments. The gases are being releases during the shredding process, captured, transported and stored under a strictly controlled process. The shredding process is producing 4 fractions: ferrous, non-ferrous, plastic and compacted foam 
• Dismantling of small household appliances. The dismantling process is manual and the appliances are separated in more than 10 different fractions, including plastics, cables, copper, iron, wires, glass, etc. The contaminated glass (from CRT equipments) is being treated separately and the lead (Pb) is being extracted using a special closed circuit vacuum pump, in controlled atmosphere 
• The washing machines are manually dismantled and separated in 4 different fractions (plastic, motors, iron and wires) 
• Cables and wires are also treated separately and the process includes a preliminary manual cutting and dismantling (separation of the exterior insulation) after which the cables are shredded. After the shredding, the remained material is being separated in two fraction (non-ferrous and plastic components) 
• Mercury lamps are being treated using special equipment which is cutting the metal edges, extracting the fluorescent powder and shredding the glass fraction. The mercury is being extracted out of the fluorescent powder by an evaporation process and it is being transformed in liquid using a 800 C atmosphere and condensation process   

• Following the visits, the RECDEV representatives have been discussing with the GRENWEEE General Director about the possibility that GREENWEEE is providing additional information regarding the manual dismantling procedures for different EEE and testing of 3D training platform in the internal training processes. GREENWEEE Director, Mr. Marius Costache has highlighted the fact that the specific dismantling procedures are confidential and the company could provide them only if there is no risk that the information would be used by the competitor. GREENWEEE General Director declared the company’s willingness to further analyze the possibility to decide a more direct involvement in the RECDEV project (information providing and testing of 3D training platform) after further analyzing the project activities, expected outcomes, intended dissemination of information and possible risks associated with the disclosure of own specific procedures. 
• Following the presentation of the 3D training platform realized by Mr. Kotsopoulos, GREENWEEE offered the following recommendations regarding the structure of the platform:  the platform should include the types of materials for each component of considered EEE and specific information on this material types, the possible utilization of such materials, the legal requirements associated with the each material types, market value.
• As stated by the General Director the tendency of the operation in GreenWeee is to become more automated; although  the value of the extracted materials is higher if the dismantling operations are manual, the automatic systems are preferred due to their capacity and financial advantages; another interesting feedback was related to the education level of the workers: sometimes not even elementary education and their capacity of interacting with a touch screen, tri-dimensional learning platform- from this perspective maybe would make sense to concentrate more on the second level of the platform that addresses the higher personnel and create a very good/suitable  structure for the training this category.  
• RECDEV Romania partner will provide all necessary information, the expectances of the RECDEV partners related to the involvement of GreenWeee in providing data and documents and also in testing the platform, the PPT presentation and leaflets, to GREENWEEE, in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the project and its goals and the degree of their required involvement. 
• The participants have decided to continue the communication and exploitation of future collaboration within the RECDEV framework.