R & D

E-WASTE OPEN INNOVATION

Start year: 2020

Conclusion year: 2021

Partners: LG and Startup Lisboa

Description:

e-Waste Open Innovation is a training and mentoring program of ERP Portugal and LG, with the support of Startup Lisboa, which challenges startups to create solutions to encourage the recycling and reuse of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) – from the fluorescent lamp to the washing machine, televisions or sound systems, including small appliances and IT equipment, such as mobile phones, computers and tablets, cables and wires, and batteries.

The evaluation and selection of competing projects will be made by a jury composed of members of ERP Portugal, LG, Startup Lisboa and Exame Informática, based on the criteria defined in the regulation, and which have to do with the proposal for innovation, technology and practicality of solution.

The 3 winning projects will receive prizes of € 15,000, € 3,500 and € 1,500, according to their ranking.

Goals:

• Promote good habits and behaviors in the management of WEEE among the Portuguese;
• Promote the empowerment of the next generation of entrepreneurs to work in areas related to the environment and sustainability, with a special focus on training and supporting young entrepreneurs in these areas;
• Train entrepreneurs and startups in order to ensure that they have the best means to achieve their goals;
• Contribute to a greater promotion and visibility of the social and ecologically sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem;
• Promote a culture of innovation and social entrepreneurship, calling for the participation of companies and civil society;
• Promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals, namely those that cross the areas of impact of this program;
• Promote the commitments of the New Global Green Pact, recognizing the existence of a global climate emergency;
• Promote projects and initiatives in line with the objectives of Lisboa Capital Verde 2020 and other innovative initiatives and projects that reinforce Lisbon’s international position as a green and sustainable city.

More info here.

ESTRAEE

Project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) included in the Interreg V A España – Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 program.

Start year: 2015

Conclusion year: 2022

Partners: Diputación de Pontevedra, Lipor-Serviço Intermunicipalizado de Gestão de Resíduos do Grande Porto, Revertia Reusing and Recycling, Fundación Centro Tecnológico de Eficiencia y Sostenibilidad Energética (Energylab) and European Recycling Platform, ERP SAS, sucursal en España.

Description:

Prior survey of the current conditions of selected ecocenters in the North of Portugal and Spain for their suitability for receiving and segregating material from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) that can be recovered and reused. The project also includes an exhaustive study of product needs and potential resources and raw materials, as well as the definition of contents and functionalities for the creation of a digital traceability platform and the preparation of a manual of good practices.

Within this scope, results communication campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness of sustainable behavior are defined.

Goals:

  • Promote, in the cross-border area of ​​Galicia and Northern Portugal, the management of WEEE, both at the level of the citizen, local administration and producers, through mechanisms of extended producer responsibility (RAP), and at the level of managers, according to the legislation in force (Decree-Law no. 152-D / 2017, of December 11, 2017);
  • Boost the circular economy in the market of secondary raw materials;
  • Promote innovation, technological development and the generation of “green” jobs;
  • Improve collection systems and promote the adequacy of ecocenters to segregate recoverable material;
  • Identify the WEEE categories most susceptible to recovery and reuse;
  • Monitor and analyze the current status of WEEE reuse and its regulation in the national and international contexts.

CREW

Start year: 2018

Conclusion year: 2022

Partners: Lipor-Serviço Intermunicipalizado de Gestão de Resíduos do Grande Porto

Description:

Creation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste Recovery Centers (CREW), which function as training and capacity to build spaces for this practice. Thus, CREW embraces the training of repair technicians and events that promote the knowledge of these practices, encouraging them, namely through thematic exhibitions, Repair Cafés and training workshops for the population to increase the useful life of their equipment.

In order to feed this network of CREW centers, equipment delivery points with potential for recovery are promoted and partnerships with companies, associations, universities and local administration are established.

Goals:

  • Extend the life span of electrical and electronic equipment that can be recovered, avoiding its immediate disposal;
  • Empower the community with the necessary tools so that equipment recovery is possible and feasible;
  • Train professionals to repair and maintain this type of equipment;
  • Enhance youth employment;
  • Comply with national targets established for the recovery of collected material.

CHARACTERIZATION STUDIES

Start year: 2019

Conclusion year: 2022

Partners: SGS

Description:

The characterizations have been carried out, annually, using the services of an external, independent and impartial entity to monitor the functioning of the Integrated Management Systems, through the study of an adequate sampling. In 2022, in partnership with SGS, the focus is Batteries and Accumulators Waste (WBA).

Goals:

  • Actively study the evolution of the specific WBA flow;
  • Control the quality of services provided by ERP Portugal;
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses in the collection network;
  • Recognize the evolution of the chemical types of this waste, paying attention to its danger and the possibility of recycling / treatment;
  • To determine needs in the handling, collection and packaging of WBA;
  • Continuously improve the service provided.

WORKING GROUPS

In addition to the specific projects, ERP Portugal supports and is associated with the Young Professionals Group by APESB, in which various innovative themes of interest to the sector are developed, in order to keep up to date on the state of the art in the world of waste.

This group includes young people from all over the country who integrate working groups aiming at the investigation and research of the information necessary for the continuous improvement processes of the sector, as well as the development of small projects and initiatives for the dissemination of content at conferences.

O YPG da APESB encontra-se intimamente ligado à International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) e promove iniciativas em parceria com esta entidade.

The APESB YPG is closely linked to the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and promotes initiatives in partnership with this entity.

Currently, the themes being worked on by this group are: Urban Mining, Blockchain, Nature Based Solutions, Industrial Ecology, Artificial Intelligence and Accountability.