torsten berens, hamburg slide 1 waste management at hamburg wholesale market waste management

Torsten Berens, Hamburg www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.deSlide 1

Waste Management at Hamburg Wholesale Market

Waste Management


Owned and operated by: Build in: Area: No. of firms on site: Employees: Clients: Turnover of produce: Sales of goods: Catchment area: Range:

Waste Management

1. Hamburg Wholesale Market is the North‘s Centre of Fresh Produce and one of the biggest markets in Germany

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

1962

27 hectares

425

2,400

4,500

1.5m tonnes

2 billion euros

10 million consumers

Fruit, vegetables, other foods, flowers, plants

Hamburg Wholesale Market is certified according to DIN ISO 9001:2008, ISO 22000 (HACCP-compliant hygiene management) and ÖKOPROFIT


Implementing any functioning waste management system costs a lot of money

But to have an inadequate system (where waste is not sorted, for example) or no system at all costs far more

In these days of steadily rising energy costs and a difficult economic environment for fruit and vegetable wholesalers, it is every wholesale market operator’s job to help tenants by keeping costs in check

Another crucial aspect is that a properly functioning waste management system is especially important in the overall context of controlling hygiene at wholesale markets

Many of the companies trading at Hamburg Wholesale market are subject to strict certification requirements dictated by their food retail chain or discounter customers. In this context, hygiene requirements in general, together with effective waste management, play a huge part

2. A core task for wholesale market operators is to ensure the waste management system works effectively – Why?

Waste Management


The current waste management system employed at Hamburg Wholesale Market is based on the German Packaging Regulation of 1991. The object of this legal regulation is to reduce environmental pollution from waste packaging and to promote the re-use or recycling of packaging.

The Packaging Regulation obliged manufacturers or sellers of products to take back, free of charge, waste packaging returned to their business premises or to somewhere very close by

3. How is the waste management system organized at Hamburg Wholesale Market?

Waste Management


In the first year after the Packaging Regulation came into force, the market operator arranged to have packaging taken back on the wholesale market site as required by law. At the end of 1991 the costs incurred were apportioned to the companies renting space at the Wholesale Market. The result was a considerable increase in companies’ costs.


Waste Management

Traders at Hamburg Wholesale Market therefore decided to lower these costs by taking waste management into their own hands. This led to the founding in 1992 of the GHVG administrative cooperative, Großmarkt Hamburg Verwaltungsgenossenschaft e.G. This association currently represents about 95% of the market traders.


In 1992 a public-private partnership was set up whereby the operator of the wholesale market, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and the GHVG administrative cooperative formally agreed that responsibility for the waste management system should rest with the GHVG

The big advantage of making the traders responsible for waste management is that it encourages the members to maintain discipline in their ranks

In the ensuing years, the wholesale market operator, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, entrusted the GHVG with responsibility for site cleaning and sweeping, dealing with winter ice and snow and for security services at the entrances to the wholesale market

In 2012 the GHVG celebrated its 20th anniversary.


Waste Management


Number of employees: 6

Volume of waste for further processing per year: about 11,000 tonnes

In 2011 the following amounts were accepted:- Sorted packaging: 3,300 t- Perishable goods (loose): 2,700 t- Perishable goods (foil-wrapped/in nets): 1,250 t- Wood: 1,900 t- Cardboard: 1,000 t- Commercial waste: 700 t

4. The GHVG waste collection point

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Customers using the collection point:- Members of the GHVG (red chip card)- Retailers, street market traders (blue chip card)- Market-based non-members (red chip card)

Costs- Perishable goods (loose): 1 kg, 0.10 euros- Perishable goods (foil-wrapped/in nets): 1 kg, 0.21 euros- Transport packaging (sorted): 1 kg, 0.06 euros- Commercial waste: 1 kg, 0.35 euros

Please note: These are costs to GHVG members. The charges for retailers/street market traders and market-based non-members are slightly different.

4. The GHVG waste collection point

Waste Management


Access to the waste collection point is outside the Wholesale Market entrance gate, to prevent waste spilling onto the market site

Immediately before it drives into the collection point, the vehicle is weighed

Only then does the barrier open to let it pass

4. What happens at the waste collection point?

Waste Management


Waste is sorted and dumped into separate containers for different types of waste


Waste Management


Before the vehicle leaves the collection point after unloading, it is weighed again, in order to determine the volume of waste collected

Firms with chip cards are invoiced monthly, others pay in cash on the spot

The vehicle can then drive out of the collection point onto the wholesale market site or back onto the road


Waste Management


Everyone using the wholesale market is bound by his/her contract to dispose of all waste at the GHVG collection point

The current system of waste management just described has proved effective. There are of course a few “black sheep” who try to socialize their disposal costs by dumping their packaging waste or perishable goods on the wholesale market site.

5. What happens if there is unauthorized dumping of waste on the wholesale market site?

Waste Management


CCTV monitoring and increased checks by the market supervisors should reduce the number of such cases to a minimum

If the person responsible can be identified, he is liable to be prosecuted for illegal dumping and fined heavily

5. What happens if there is unauthorized dumping of waste on the wholesale market site?

Waste Management

Just recently, someone was fined 2,500 euros for illegally dumping half a pallet of perishable goods. On top of that, he must pay disposal costs at a higher rate


Hamburg Wholesale Market has a functioning waste management system that has proved its worth and has steadily evolved over the years

Of course, things can always be made that little bit better, and we shall continue to strive for the optimum

Therefore regular talks are held between the market director and the traders' cooperative

Increasingly demanding hygiene standards are forcing traders to exercise even greater self-discipline and this will help ensure that the waste management system works even more effectively

6. Summary

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The wholesale market directors, the traders’ cooperative and individual traders have been active supporters of the free food charity Hamburger Tafel for several years

7. What happens to goods that are still fit for consumption but find no trade buyers?

Waste Management

Some 1,300 homeless people live in Hamburg, and 190,000 people receive benefits. The Hamburger Tafel gives the surplus produced by our society to some of its poorest members. Before edible food is thrown away, the Hamburger Tafel channels it to the needy via a network of social facilities in the city. The Hamburger Tafel loads the food collected onto a delivery van and takes it to where it can help many people in Hamburg by alleviating hunger and hardship.

There are similar free food charities in many other German cities too


The EHEC crisis in spring 2011A challenging time for many, including management

at Hamburg Wholesale Market

Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011


Germany suffers world’s biggest known EHEC outbreak

4,000 cases, 700 HUS complications and 51 deaths

Suspicion falls on“staples” such astomatoes, cucumbersand leafy salads

Bean sprouts are finally identified as cause

Long-lasting damage to businesses and consumer confidence

1. The EHEC crisis in Germany




The epidemic EHEC bacterium in Germany: E. coli type O104:H4 (also HUSEC41)

Very dangerous, very aggressive

Especially severe complication= HUS haemolytic-uraemic syndrome

Very serious effects: acute kidney failure, anaemia and neurological damage

Can result in death



Political circles, public authorities and offices

Severe criticism of political management of the EHEC crisis

Several different bodies involved in the search for the source of infection

Germany is a federal state

The scale of the problem was recognized too late

Doctors complain that reporting and receipt of information takes too long

Politicians do not see any problems with competences

A reorganization of competences is due




The “suspects”

Many types of vegetableand many growers

Local growers feel they have been unjustly pilloried

Rumours: vegetables are sprayedwith liquid manure




The media

The media produce the news themselves “Low-fact catastrophe hype” say critics

Fear sells




Consumers

Steadfastly boycottedcucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce

Stocked up again as soon asthe all clear was given




2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected

Macrosphere

Industry/trade: warning against consumption leads to difficulties and threatens livliehoods

Microsphere

North Germany is the epicentre of the outbreak

Growers in North Germany fall under blanket suspicion

Factors that affect the Wholesale Market> the discovery of 4 cucumbers from southern Europe, allegedly contaminated with EHEC> enormous media interest




Economic fallout

Undifferentiated warning against consumption from 25 May to 10 June

> many experts say this period was too long> no definite findings regarding the threat from the produce existed> Growers, wholesalers and food retailers had thousands of voluntary tests performed in domestic and foreign laboratories which proved the safety of fresh fruit and vegetables

Consumers’ unwillingness to buy led to huge losses for growers and wholesalers> turnover was down by up to 90% at the height of the crisis> after the all clear, losses remained at 15-30%> even today, sales have not yet returned to their pre-crisis levels




Economic fallout

The Federal government put the lossesfor German vegetable growers at 16m euros

EU Commission will spend 210m euros to compensate European growers(50% of their income losses)

No compensation forwholesale companies




Damage to consumer confidence

Consumers have lost trust and this must be regained

Image campaigns are needed

The industry was unable to raise theco-financing for the EU programme




Crisis management

The discovery of 4 cucumbers allegedly contaminated with EHEC generated a huge amount of interest with the media, politics and the public

The situation made great demands onall in a position of responsibility

Active, systematic crisis management

External communications and ensuring that the Wholesale Market is “clean” and the market companies’ products are safe and reliable




The dropped crate theory

While tests are still being performed on the EHEC bacteria, a producer from outside Germany pours oil into the fire

“Dropped crate theory”: a pallet of cucumbers had become contaminated with the pathogen when it tipped over on the ground at Hamburg Wholesale Market

Allegation rapidly refuted> Pallet actually tipped over in a truck and fell against the side> Samples were taken from different parts of the load> Goods from one single pallet cannot possibly have caused so many primary infections with EHEC




External communications

Supplying proofs> Refuting the allegation that goods were contaminated at Hamburg Wholesale Market> Proof that the produce traded at Hamburg Wholesale Market is perfectly safe> Communicating information about losses sustained by growers and traders through no fault of their own





Strategy of transparency and opening up the Wholesale Market All well-known publishers and TV channels visit the Wholesale Market Enormous media presence, national and international reporting





Meeting the media in open, trusting manner, offering full access

Rustic, colourful statements




Large-scale produce sampling

Traders immediately sendhundreds of samples away for voluntary testing for EHEC

Analysis results are publishedin a dedicated section of theWholesale Market website

The traders prove that theproduce examined is perfectlysafe



3. Experiences, lessons, recommendations

Sensitizing

Precautions and follow-up action are important

The crisis can repeat itself, or reappear in a different form at any time, in any place

Post crisis is pre crisis

The length of the crisis determineshow long the damage lasts



3. Experiences, lessons, recommendations – what makes crisis management a success? Be active Active, systematic crisis managementBefore the crisis (prevention phase) Ongoing assessment of critical topics and risks, because risk

management is preferable to crisis management Establish early warning systems Form crisis staff units; Conduct crisis training in-houseDuring the crisis (intervention phase) Far-sighted, calm attitude; Recognize own limitations A key element – communication during the crisis!

> Active, open, full; Transparency and dialogue> Keep media at a healthy distance

> PR should supply convincing arguments and “undramatize” the headlines




Accept irrationality!

A sober look at some figures

Hype, scaremongering and prejudgments bear no relationship to the significance of the cause

Naturally, when people die, the matter becomes emotional

Cause of Victims illness Yearly Daily

Hospital bugs 30,000 80

Flu viruses 16,000 40

EHEC 2011 51




Crises show where there is room to improve

Precautions

Improving hygiene measures> shorter intervals between testing quality of drinking water> Alterations to cleaning and snow & ice clearing services

Improvements to processes for consultation and relaying information :experts’ workshops with authorities, analysis institutes and traders on thetopic of food safety

Lebensmittel-sicherheit



3. Experiences, lessons, recommendations – The value of hygiene certification Maintaining high hygiene standards is a key management task

Wholesale Market certification> DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 Quality management system> DIN EN ISO 22000 Hygiene management system according to HACCP > ÖKOPROFIT Hamburg corporate environment protection

This engagement was very valuable in the EHEC crisis and alone in terms of arguing our case to the media has been worth the effort



Thanks for your attention!

Waste Management / Disaster Management

torsten berens, hamburg slide 1 waste management at hamburg wholesale market waste management

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