Thursday, January 7, 2016
Thursday, December 17, 2015
An
Ateliere Fara Frontiere project, in association with the SINTEF group,
co-financed
by Norway grants through the Green Industry Innovation Programme for Romania,
operated by Innovation Norway
Today, there is more gold in people’s drawers
than in the world’s goldmines. At international level, experts talk about a
true war for resources and raw materials.
On the other hand, the vast and ever
increasing use of personal computers, laptops and tablets does and will create
a great amount of electronic waste (that’s W.E.E.E, Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment) with many critical and valuable elements, rare metals and
rare earth that are needed and can be re-processed in the industry (iron, copper,
gold, platinum, selenium, aluminium, nickel, palladium, tantalum, etc.).
Unfortunately,
adequate recovery of these elements from electronic waste is not achieved yet. Many
of the critical metals and rare earths are reported to have total end-of-life
recycling rates of less than 1%.
The W.I.S.E W.E.E.E project aims to prove that
it is possible and important to keep maximum value and engineering locally, to
support the local and labour market, not to send most of the value abroad. It
has two main objectives:
-
to improve the material efficiency and waste
management through the development of new products based on recycled e-waste at
Ateliere Fara Frontiere, and a more efficient and responsible use of natural
resources and the retrieval of valuable secondary materials. That’s wise.
-
To create new
positive and green jobs, organizing a new recycling work unit to provide social
added value along with economical value: a good support for empowerment, giving
basic skills and general abilities necessary for a sustainable professional
integration. That’s W.I.S.E, Work Integration Social Enterprise.
Within the project, Ateliere Fara Frontiere has provided SINTEF with
representative samples from separate computer parts. The samples have been
chemically analyzed and the content and nature of the valuable materials have
been estimated. Based on the results the most valuable parts have been
selected, and a thorough literature survey has been produced by SINTEF, describing
the most feasible and simple process to recycle those specific parts.
OUTCOMES
Results gained from the chemical analysis show that several components
of e-waste are interesting and represent a great potential for critical
materials recovery. The main focus here should be placed at dismantling of Hard
Disc Drives (HDD) for separate recycling of the consisting components which
include PCBs, magnet brackets, magnets, casing, cover, etc. and for extraction
of tantalum capacitors from other kinds of PCBs (motherboards, optical drives,
etc.).
To recover critical metals (precious metals, tantalum, rare earth
elements) protect resources it is recommended that PCs, laptops and tablets
should be manually disassembled to the greatest extent possible. Besides the
legally stipulated detoxification (removal of the display and batteries), the
assembled motherboard and potentially the PCBs for the drive and hard disks
should be removed and fed into a suitable recycling process.
STAKEHOLDERS
ATELIERE FARA FRONTIERE (AFF) is a romanian Non Profit Organisation, based on the Work Integration
Social Enterprise (WISE) model. The organisation's purpose is to create jobs
for disadvantaged people, and prepare them for social and professional
integration on the labour market. In the Bucharest Work Integration workshop,
launched in 2009, we have hired more than 150 people in difficulty who have
been working or still work within our three production units, which are all
related to waste management (WEEE, advertizing waste, organic waste).
The SINTEF Group is the largest independent contract research organization in Scandi
navia with more than 2000 employees, of which the SINTEF Foundation has approximately
1200. Our fields of research are technology, natural science, medicine and
social science. Contracts for industry and the public sector generated more
than 90%of the income. SINTEF collaborates closely with Norwegian University of
Science and Technology (NTNU).The co-operation is characterized by mutual use
of personnel, laboratories and equipment. SINTEF Materials and Chemistry - a
research division within the SINTEF Group - is heavily involved in, and puts strategic
emphasis on sustainable recycling and recovery of waste.
NORWAY GRANTS, INNOVATION NORWAY and the Green
Industry Innovation Programme
The WISE WEEE project is financed through the Norwegian Financial
Mechanism (Norway Grants), contributing to reduce economic and social disparities
and to strengthening bilateral relations between Romania and Norway. The grant
value amount for the project is of 175.000 euro, on a 199.533 euro overall
budget. The project duration has been 15 months, from september 2014 to
december 2015.
The objective of the Programme is to increase competitiveness of green
enterprises, including greening of existing industries, green innovation and
green entrepreneurship. The programme strategy is in line with Romanian
national policies. The expected outcome of the Programme is realisation of
business opportunities of greening the European economy.
The Green Industry Innovation Programme for Romania is operated by
Innovation Norway, a public company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade
and Industry and all the Norwegian County Municipalities. The Programme content
has been developed in consultation with the National Focal Point (ministry of
European Funds) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Programme Description
The Green Industry Innovation Programme for Romania will contribute to the overall objective of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 which is to contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and to strengthen the bilateral relations between Norway and Romania. The Programme complies with the Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union on the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, the Regulation on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and the Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism between Norway and Romania.
The objective of the Programme is to increase competitiveness of green enterprises, including greening of existing industries, green innovation and green entrepreneurship. The programme strategy is in line with Romanian national policies. The expected outcome of the Programme is realisation of business opportunities of greening the European economy.
The Green Industry Innovation Programme for Romania is a business development programme and the Programme vision is: Good for Business and Good for Environment. All supported projects should aim at a final result of improving the environment performance of enterprises. The Programme will implement the green industry concept in its overall practical understanding. No specific economic sector shall have priority.
Activities to be supported are development, implementation, investment and training related to environmentally friendly technologies, innovative green products and services, reduction and re-use of waste, initiatives related to energy efficiency and more use of renewable energy in business operations, as well as increased resource efficiency through system and process innovation in the business operations.
The total amount available for financing of projects (re-granting) is EUR 21,408,200 divided between one Individual Project Grant Scheme and one Small Grants Project Scheme. The target group for the Individual Project Scheme is the private sector in Romania and for the Small Grant Scheme the target group is enterprises and NGO’s/Civil Society involved in eco-innovative business development in less developed areas in Romania. For both schemes – donor partnership projects will be highly encouraged, prioritised and given extra points during project assessment. In addition, a Fund for Bilateral Relations, with a budget of EUR 215,000, will be provided to facilitate establishment of donor project partnerships. Both Norwegian and Romanian entities are eligible applicants for the Fund for Bilateral Relations.
The Green Industry Innovation Programme for Romania is operated by Innovation Norway, a public company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry and all the Norwegian County Municipalities. The Programme content has been developed in consultation with the National Focal Point (ministry of European Funds) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment.
March 2013 Innovation Norway
Supported by a grant from Norway through the Norway Grants 2009-2014, in the frame of Green Industry Innovation Programme Romania.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Olemic Thommessen, President of the Norwegian Parliament was a guest at Ateliere Fara Frontiere on Tuesday, 23rd of June during a special visit in regards to the WISE WEEE project.
The President of the Parliament was part of a delegation of 12 officials including Ms. Tove Bruvik Westberg, the Norwegian Ambassador in Romania.
The main purpose of the visit was a presentation of the WISE WEEE project, currently under development by Ateliere Fara Frontiere (AFF) in partnership with SINTEF, Norway's most prestigious research institute.
The project leaders from SINTEF were also present for the visit, with project manager Arjan Ciftja and research leader Eivind Øvrelid presenting the technical details of the project. At this stage, the research institute is developing an analysis of techniques for increasing the value extracted from Electric and Electronic Equipment Waste (WEEE) by AFF, the conclusion of which, will lead to new procedures and tools for dismantling PCBs, Hard Disk and Optical Drives and other scraps.
The final objective of the project is to develop a specialized working station for dismantling WEEE, comprised of 6 disadvantaged workers, equipped with state of the art tools, using scientifically proven methods and following the best Health, Safety and Environment procedures and therefore improve efficiency and work quality to a great extent.
The WISE WEEE project also functions as a pilot project for a large European program that shall foresee organizing an integrated system in Europe to efficiently collect valuable rare earth and metals from WEEE, given that Europe has no such natural resources but a very large amount of discarded electronic equipment. As such, SINTEF is willing to implement a multi partners project with major players, which can be a real opportunity in the context of resource scarcity and implementing a circular economy mindset, trying to avoid very costly waste through reuse and recycling in order to increase available resources.
This project will hopefully represent a best practice example that proves that the political and economic issues that are at the root of the problem can be solved with the help of the social economy as the potential jobs created are very suitable for work integration social enterprises. Currently, they are based on high intensity labor and don't require a high level of skill or experience. They can offer a sustainable career path given the changing economy as well as offer a positive outcome, helping the environment and rebuilding confidence and trust in society.
Speaking for the delegation, the President of the Norwegian Parliament, Olemic Thommessen declared himself impressed by the potential of the WISE WEEE project and its focus beyond the economic perspective, which has great potential, and towards social issues, mixing the two for the best use of resources (human and material) where they already exist, addressing on one hand the issue of unemployment and exclusion while also strengthening economic independence.
Olemic Thommessen, Presedintele Parlamentului Norvegian a fost oaspetele nostru de onoare la atelier marti, 23 Iunie cand a venit pentru o vizita speciala in cadrul proiectului WISE WEEE.
Presedintele a venit insotit de o delegatie de 12 oficiali printre care se numara si Ambasadoarea Norvegiei in Romania, Excelenta sa Doamna Tove Bruvik Westberg.
Scopul principal al vizitei a fost prezentarea proiectului WISE WEEE, care este in curs de dezvoltare prin parteneriatul Ateliere Fara Frontiere cu SITEF, unul dintre cele mai prestigioase centre de cercetare norvegiene.
Responsabilii de proiect din partea SINTEF au fost de asemenea prezenti pentru vizita. Managerul de proiect Arjian Ciftja si cercetatorul sef Eivind Øvrelid au prezentat detaliile tehnice ale proiectului. In acest stadiu al proiectului, institutul de cercetare este in curs de a dezvolta o analiza a tehnicilor pentru cresterea valorii extrase din Deseurile de Echipamente Electrice si Electronice (DEEE) de catre AFF, concluzia acestei analize fiind calea catre noi proceduri si unelte pentru dezmembrarea placilor cu circuite, hard discurilor si unitatilor optice cat si alte componente.
Obiectivul final al proiectului este de a dezvolta un punct de lucru pentru dezmembrarea DEEE-urilor compus din 6 lucratori defavorizati, echipat cu unelte de inalta performanta, folosind tehnici testate stiintific si urmand cele mai bune proceduri de protectie a mediului, sanatate si securitate a muncii, astfel imbunatatind eficienta si calitatea muncii in mod semnificativ.
Proiectul WISE WEEE functioneaza de asemenea ca proiect pilot pentru un program European la scara larga care va prevedea organizarea unui sistem integrat in Europa pentru colectarea eficienta a mineralelor si metalelor rare din DEEE-uri, in contextul in care Europa nu are astfel de resurse naturale si are o cantitate foarte mare de echipamente electronice de casat. Astfel, SINTEF doreste sa implementeze un proiect cu mai multi parteneri majori ceea ce ar putae fi o adevarata oportunitate in acest context al resurselor limitate si al dezvoltarii si implementarii economiei circulare in incercarea de a evita pierderea deseurilor costisitoare prin reutilizare si reciclare pentru a spori resursele disponibile.
Speram ca acest proiect va fi un exemplu de bune practici care demonstreaza ca subiectele politice si economice care se afla la baza acestei probleme pot fi rezolvate cu ajutorul economiei sociale mai ales prin faptul ca potentialele locuri de munca generate sunt foarte potrivite integrarii in munca prin antreprenoriat social deoarece aceste joburi se bazeaza pe un nivel sporit de intensitate in lucru si nu necesita un nivel inalt de expertiza sau experienta. Acestea pot oferi o cale sustenabila de dezvoltare in piata muncii luand in considerare schimbarile din economie si de asemenea ofera o perspectiva pozitiva prin protejarea mediului si reconstruirea increderii in sine si in societate.
Presedintele Parlamentului Norvegian a vorbit in numele intregii delegatii cand s-a declarat impresionat de potentialul proiectului WISE WEEE si viziunea sa dincolo de perspectiva economica, care oricum are un potential bun, catre solutionarea problemelor sociale, amestecand cele doua perspective pentru cea mai buna utilizare a resurselor (umane si materiale) unde acestea exista deja. Astfel, proiectul raspunde problemei somajului si marginalizarii in timp ce intareste independenta economica.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
On
Friday 12th of September 2014, the Kick-off Meeting of the bilateral
project W.I.S.E WEEE – Green Environmental Technology took place at Ateliera
Fara Frontiere (AFF) in Bucharest, Romania. Two research scientists from SINTEF
Materials and Chemistry in Norway, which is the project partner, participated
in the meeting to draw up the project and to set up the work plan for the
following 2 years.
The
main objective of WISE WEEE – Green Environmental Technology, led and
coordinated by AFF, is to strengthen the added local value of AFF's WEEE
recycling activity.
AFF is a Romanian Work Integration
Social Enterprise (W.I.S.E) founded as an
NGO in 2008, that has been operating in Bucharest since 2009. The main
goal of the AFF is to (re)integrate people living under undesirable social
conditions into the job market and finally into a normal life. Such people are
employed to carry out different economic activities. One of the activities is
collecting, dismantling and refurbishing the WEEE (Waste of Electrical and
Electronical Equipments), such as personal computers, printers, mobile phones and
tv sets.
The
SINTEF Group is the largest independent contract research organization in
Scandinavia with more than 2000 employees, of which the SINTEF Foundation has
approximately 1200. Fields of research are technology, natural science,
medicine and social science. SINTEF Materials and Chemistry – a research
division within the SINTEF Group – is heavily involved in, and puts strategic
empasis on sustainable recycling and recovery of waste.
Through „W.I.S.E WEEE - Green Environmental Technology” project and with
the help of the Norwegian partner SINTEF, AFF aims to raise the productivity
and value of the recyling activities and at the same time facilitate work integration of socially disadvantaged
people. It will help AFF to increase the value from the WEEE scraps they
dismantle and to employ more socially disadvantaged people, which will give
them better employment perspectives after the period in the workshop. The
project furthermore contributes to the improvement of the recycling chain in
Romania, preventing the export of valuable scraps abroad, as they can be
treated locally by a proper process targeting the critical raw materials as
specified by the EU directives.
The project is financed through the Norwegian
Financial Mechanism (Norway Grants), contributing to reduce economic and social
disparities and to strengthening bilateral relations between Romania and Norway.
Inspection
of collected electrical and electronic scrap during the kick-off meeting at the
workshop of Ateliera Fara Frontier by SINTEF researchers. (From left to right: Senior
Scientist Dr. Martin Bellmann from SINTEF, Director of Ateliera Fara Frontiere
Patrick Ouriaghli and Research Scientist Dr. Arjan Ciftja from SINTEF).
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