G l o b a l S t a n d a r d s a n d S o l u t i o n si n W a s t e M a n a g e m e n t

2 0 0 6

Waste Management Project launched by GS1 in Europe in 2006

Implementing GS1 Solutions to Meet the Producers’ Responsibility Regarding Production and WasteTraceability on the Basis of the European Union Legislation

Scope:• GS1 solution for WM sector• Extension of automatic and electronic data capture and communication technologies (GDSN, eCom, EPC)• Waste of electrical and Electronic Equipments, Batteries and Accumulators, Vehicles, Packagings defined

as emphasized material streams by EU directives

Participating GS1 member organizations: GS1 Austria, GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg, GS1 Germany, GS1 France, GS1 Hungary, GS1 Ireland, GS1 Romania, GS1 Croatia, GS1 Sweden as active project members and GS1 Czech, GS1 Estonia, GS1 Lithuania, GS1 Poland, GS1 Slovenia, GS1 Slovakia, GS1 Switzerland, GS1 Nederland, GS1 Russia, GS1 B&H, GS1 Armenia as observers

Edited by GS1 HUNGARY H-1139 Budapest, Fáy u. 1/b 2. em. T 412-3940 F 412-3949 M info@gs1hu.org www.gs1hu.org© GS1 Hungary 2006

3 2

Table of content

Introduction 3GS1 in Europe 3GS1 in Europe Waste Management Project 4

1. GS1 ID Keys 41.1 Global Location Number (GLN) 51.2 Global Trade Item Number 51.3 Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) 61.4 Asset identification 6

1.4.1 GRAI 61.4.2 GIAI 6

1.5 Global Service Relation Number (GSRN) 61.6 Refund Receipts 6

2. Latest technologies in waste management 73. Successful traceability with GS1 standards 84. National Case Studies 10

4.1 Austria 104.2 Germany 114.3 Belgium and Luxembourg 114.4 Hungary 124.5 Ireland 134.6 Croatia 144.7 Romania 14

Summary 15

IntroductionThis brochure is to introduce the suitability and the potential of GS1 Standards and Solutions inthe field of Waste Management. It aims to provide a proper and common solution for all thosecompanies, organizations and public administration sectors which are affected by the EU Decrees.As always, GS1 offers a solution by implementing that each affected parties operating either in thetraditional supply chain (e.g. producers, retailers, etc.) or in the inverse supply (e.g. co-ordinationorganizational, waste handlers etc.) chain will be able to fulfill the European legal requirements and beyond that will be able to realize economic benefit as well. GS1 also strives to develop such a solution which is capable for supporting ministries in charge of waste management in theMember States. In order to be more practical this brochure gives you a short insight into several national initiatives using GS1 Standards and Solutions in waste management.

This document does not intend to explain the technical methods and parameters of displaying data content. GS1 General Specifications 7.0 contains this kind of information.

GS1 in Europe

Europe is a reality! Many companiesconsider Europe as one market. The European Union has grown to25 members. The influence of theEuropean Union on the legislationof her member states increases.European legislation also has animpact on neighbouring countriesand countries exporting to the EU.Divergences should be banned!Users want to be sure that investments made in Supply ChainManagement solutions can be usednot only in one country but rather in a whole region or in the wholeworld. GS1 Europe, containing now41 MOs, aims to build up a strongco-operation in order to combine allthe initiatives and inputs of the MOsin Europe to provide the bestSupply Chain Management tools forGS1’s members across Europe.Within the frame of GS1 Europemany projects have been running inorder to develop and implement the best solutions for all our members in the supply chain.

5 4

GS1 in Europe Waste Management Project

GS1’s aim is the development of a global, standardized identification system in order to spread the solutions provided by the GS1 system in more and more fields of life. GS1 standards and the global reach and universal acceptance of these standards in other sectors predestine GS1 in Europe to play an important role in the field of production and traceability of waste which are essential in the environmental protection. By implementingGS1 standards, identification of products and traceability of waste can be carried out in an adequate and global way. GS1 in Europe Waste Management Project was launched in the beginning of 2006 with 19 European participating Member Organizations.This broad interest proves the increasing importance of waste management in Europe.

1. GS1 ID Keys

The GS1 System has different areasof application that include tradeitems, logistic units, assets and locations. These applications rely ondata structures by which all relevantitems and their data can be identified.The numbers, called GS1 ID keys, arethe keys to access databases and toidentify unambiguously items handled, in all messages of a transaction. The data structuresare used to ensure globally uniqueidentification and do not give anymeaning in the number. All informa-tion that describes a product or a service and its characteristics

are to be found in databases. Theyare communicated from a supplierto a user once, before the firsttransaction either by using standardmessages or by consultation of electronic catalogues. The numbers are represented in anykind of data carrier (bar codes,EPC/RFID tag) to allow automaticdata capture at each point where anitem leaves or enters a premise. The same numbers are also used inelectronic communication and solu-tion to allow all information on thetransaction of the item to be transferred to the relevant trading

partners. The data structures thatare provided guarantee world-wideuniqueness with in the relevant areaof application.

All GS1 ID keys are based on GS1Company Prefix and can be only allo-cated by GS1 Member Organization.

Note: Part of the international GS1Data Structures consisting of a GS1Prefix and a Company Number, bothof which are allocated by a GS1Member Organization.

Waste is becoming more and morevaluable. Nowadays the internation-al market and the trade of waste arebecoming more and more significantregarding its value. The sale and thepurchase of waste has become adaily routine in the global market. Inthis global market waste definitelyrepresents value which has beenincreasing continuously. Accordingto this aspect all the relevant traditional GS1 ID Keys can be andmust be used to identify the differentitems, logistics units, assets, locations and organizations.

1.1 GLOBAL LOCATIONNUMBER (GLN)

GLN is a number used to identifyuniquely and unambiguously a company or organization as a legalentity. GLNs are also used to identifyphysical locations. The use of location numbers is a pre-requisite for efficient electronic communication. Numerous players are involved inthe different processes of wastemanagement. Because of businessneed and legal requirements,imposed by the European Union, it is more than reasonable to implement full traceability in wastemanagement. This aspect results theunique and global identifications ofthe different parties (producers, co-ordination organizations, wastehandlers, etc.) and locations (placeof incineration, place of disposal,landfill, etc.).

Example: In the inverse supply chainthe identification of different organiza-tions, companies as legal entities andlocations is as important as in the traditional supply chain. Furthermorefrom the public administration pointof view it's maybe more important.For instance the identification of theco-ordinating organizations of wastetreatment using GLN number duringfulfillment of their data service commitment towards the Ministry(notifications, regular reports, applica-tions for registration and exemptionetc.) and identification of the organiza-tions dealing in waste product treatment (collectors, treatment operators, recyclers and disposers etc.)who are in contractual contact withco-ordinating organizations of wastetreatment using GLN number.

1.2 GLOBAL TRADE ITEMNUMBER

GTIN is a number used for theunique identification of trade itemsworld-wide. Note: A trade item is any item(product or service) upon whichthere is a need to retrieve pre-defined information and thatmay be priced, ordered or invoicedfor trade between participants atany point in any supply chain. As wedefined previously waste can bepriced, ordered and invoiced thus itis obvious to use GTIN for identifyingwaste as a special trade item of themarket. The identification and symbol marking of waste as trade

items enables the automation ofproducts receiving, inventory management, automatic re-ordering,sales analysis, traceability, reportand a wide range of other businessapplications.

Example: A co-ordination organizationwhich is responsible to collect PET bottles can assign GTIN in certaincases. After cleaning and sorting thecollected PET bottles the result (e.guncolored PET bottles without capand labels) of this process which isready to shipment in different wayscan be identified by GTIN.

Fixed or Variable MeasureTrade ItemFixed Measure Trade Items are thosethat are always produced in the sameversion and composition (e.g., type,size, weight, contents, design). Like aFixed Measure Trade Item, a VariableMeasure Trade Item is an entity withpre-defined characteristics, such asthe nature of the product or its contents. Unlike a Fixed MeasureTrade Item, a Variable Measure TradeItem has at least one characteristicthat varies whilst other characteristicsof the trade item remain the same.The variable characteristic may beweight, dimension, number of itemscontained, or volume information.The complete identification of aVariable Measure Trade Item consistsof both an identification number andinformation about the variable data.In most cases waste has to be considered obviously as a variablemeasure trade item.

7 6

Example: A certain treated (collected,sorted) PET bottles identified by GTIN.It can be ordered and invoiced in bulkas a variable measure (weight) tradeitem. In course of the trade process theGTIN and the weight have to be given.

1.3 SERIAL SHIPPINGCONTAINER CODE (SSCC)

The SSCC is a number, which is usedfor the unique identification of logistic(transport and/or storage) units. Note: A Logistic Unit is an item ofany composition established fortransport and/or storage whichneeds to be managed throughoutthe supply chain. Waste is usuallytransported in containers and baledon pallets thus SSSCC is crucial inthe inverse supply chain and inWaste Management. SSCC marked (barcode or EPC) oneach Logistic Unit allows the physicalmovement of units to be individuallytracked and traced by providing a link between the physical move-ment of items and the associatedinformation flow. It also providesthe opportunity to implement awiderange of applications such ascross docking, shipment routing,automated receiving, etc.

Example: SSCC is the proper identifierregarding waste of paper collected incontainers ready for shipment back tothe paper factory.

1.4 ASSET IDENTIFICATION

The GS1 System provides a methodfor the identification of assets. Theobject of asset identification is toidentify a physical entity as aninventory item.

GS1 System asset identifiers can beused to identify any fixed assets of acompany. It is left to the discretionof the issuer to determine whetherthe Global Returnable AssetIdentifier (GRAI) or Global IndividualAsset Identifier (GIAI) is more suit-able for the application concerned.

1.4.1 GRAIA Returnable Asset is a reusable package or transport equipment ofa certain value, such as a container,a beer keg, a gas cylinder, a plasticpallet, or a crate. The GS1 Systemidentification of a Returnable Asset,the Global Returnable AssetIdentifier (GRAI), enables tracking aswell as recording of all relevant data.The GRAI is composed of the GS1Company Prefix of the companyassigning the asset identifier and ofthe Asset Type. The latter isassigned to uniquely identify,together with the GS1 CompanyPrefix, a particular kind of asset. The GRAI remains the same for allidentical Returnable Assets. The exact method used to allocatethe GRAI is left to the discretion ofthe issuing organization.

1.4.2 GIAIIn the GS1 System, an IndividualAsset is considered a physical entitymade up of any characteristics. GIAIidentifies a particular physical entityas an asset. It must not be used forother purposes and must be uniquefor a period well beyond the lifetimeof the relevant asset records.Whether or not, the assigned GlobalIndividual Asset Identifier (GIAI) mayremain with the physical item whenchanging hands depends on theparticular business application. If itremains with the physical item, thenit must never be re-used.The GIAI comprises the GS1Company Prefix of the companyassigning the asset identifier and anIndividual Asset Reference.

1.5 GLOBAL SERVICERELATION NUMBER (GSRN)

The GSRN is used to identify therecipient of services in the context ofa service relationship. It provides aunique and unambiguous identification number for the serviceprovider to store data relevant toservice(s) provided to the recipient.The Global Service Relation Number(GSRN) can be used to identify anyservice relationship. A separate,unique number can be issued, normally by the service provider, toidentify any given service relationship.

The Global Service Relation Number(GSRN) is a non-significant numberused to identify a database entry forrecording recurring services. Theseservices are activities carried out bya service provider for a service user,based upon a bilateral agreement.Consequently, the GSRN identifies aparticular service arrangement withreference to a particular serviceprovider and to a particular user. It may in some instances identify theuser as a participant (or member) ina programme or scheme.

The GSRN can be used to identifythe service relationships in:• A service agreement, where it

could be used to manage agreed

upon services, such as maintenanceservices for a television or computer.

• A membership in a frequent flyerprogramme, where it could be used to record awards, claims, andpreferences.

1.6 REFUND RECEIPTS

Refund Receipts are vouchers produced to automate payment forreturned empty containers. RefundReceipts automate and expedite the handling of empty containers (e.g., bottles, crates) that have a refund value in a retail store.(2002/96 EC Directive)When the returned electric and

electronic equipments have beenvalued, a Refund Receipt is printedand given to the customer. The customer presents the RefundReceipt at the store checkout, andthe corresponding amount isrefunded in cash or deducted fromthe customer's bill.

Although GS1 provides proper solutions and a common global language for the open supply and inverse supply chain and for internal applications as well.

Uniform management of raw-materials, materials and features(concentration of heavy metals andhazardous materials) can be solvedthrough the synchronization of datamanaged by the GDD (Global DataDictionary). XML (Extensible MarkupLanguage) brings the global solution for the purpose of electronicdata communication. GDSN (GlobalData Syncronation Network) providesfor the global, structural datarecording and data retrieval by classification driven attribute handling in the field of waste management.

The abbreviation RFID (radio fre-quency identification) has come tosignify system solutions for trackingand tracing objects both globallyand locally using RFID tags. RFID isone of the several technologies col-lectively known as Auto-ID procedures – procedures for identifying objects automatically.

It bridges the gaps to IT systemsthat were previously bridged bymanual data entry. Recent GS1 standardization developments in the field of RFIDare internationally known as theElectronic Product Code (EPC) andEPCglobal. RFID based EPC is standardized way to carry GS1 identification keys on RFID tags.Considering the fact that the shipment of waste is usually carriedout in containers, EPC (ElectronicProduct Code) gives the long-termsolution for the purpose of traceability. EPCglobal standards areable to ensure the automatic datacapture and recording meanwhileXML and GDSN can cope with thechallenges of global electronic datacommunication. On the top of thatthis system ensures the necessarypublic data retrieval for the consumers and waste managementorganizations.

2. Latest technologies in wastemanagement

Production

ReturnCollection

Sorting

Disposal

Recovery

Identification and traceability of products in waste management supported by GS1 standards

GS1 symbols

GTIN, SSCC, GRAI, GIAI, GS1–128

GLN, EANCOM

GDD, BMS, GDSN

EWC

RFID, EPC, XML

9 8

3. Successful traceability withGS1 standards

As a consequence of legal and business requirements it is necessaryto have a global identification standard as a common languagewhen trading partners and other different actors in WasteManagement (e.g. publicadministration) want to communicate and manage materialand information flows in order toestablish a traceability system. The reason of the implementationand success of GS1 standards inwaste management is that it meetsthe challenges raised by the guidingprinciples of traceability:

Global and unique identification It means the unambiguous identification and marking of item-swhich must be tracked and tracedin the traditional and in the reversesupply chain as well. The systempowered by GS1 identification keys(GTIN, GLN, SSCC, SGTIN, SGLN, etc.)is designed to overcome the limitations of using company,organization or sector specific coding systems, and thus makingtraceability much more efficient andresponsive to system users.

Data communication and transmission Traceability requires capturing,recording and forwarding data andinformation agreed on before. Thetraceability information has to beshared between partners and/orstored by actor wherever relevantand applicable. In order to be ableto meet this requirement the recommended technology is the automated data capture (ADC)like GS1 symbologies (barcodes)and RFID/EPC tags. Radio frequency

identification (RFID) is a growingtechnology that utilizes electronictags to identify objects (containers,pallets, etc.) and/or returnableassets throughout the WM chain.

Traceability links managementand retrieval Links and retrieval have to be managed in a proper and adequateway along the supply chain.

Traceability data communication An essential feature of any traceability system is the exchangeof information. Traceability requiresassociating the physical flow ofproducts with the flow of information about them. A possibleand maybe the best option are combining automatic data capturewith electronic data interchange.For instance barcodes supportedwith EDI and GS1 XML messages.But nowadays RFID and EPC technologies (EPCglobal Network)have been improving so rapidly thatin a few years this method of automatic identification and communication system will bringthe final solution for real-time traceability. GDSN will play also a significant role in traceability. You might have been thinkingabout how all these solutions can be implemented in practice. In order to give you an insight about the possible applications andongoing projects throughoutEurope GS1 Europe gathered somecase studies from four differentEuropean countries. These initiativescan be an inspiring precedent whichcan help you to join our Europeaneffort to work out a common solution in waste management.

11 10

4. National Case Studies

4.1 AUSTRIA

In Austria the GLN identifies the producers/waste handlers by thecommunication with the competentauthority in the field of waste management. The GLN is part ofthemaster data, e.g.: notifications,reports, permissions, messages andalso part of an Austrian law in wastemanagement thus unavoidable.You need the GLN to take part in

EDM (Electronic Data Management– an Austrian e-government projectin the field of waste management).In EDM GLN´s are only for the conversation between the producers/waste handlers and the UBA (The Umweltbundesamt) respectively the Ministry of Life.

4.1.1 Electronic Data Management (EDM):

The EDM initiative reforms the current waste recording system.Waste data are currently sent by fax,mail or e-mail. The EDM initiativesets up an electronic data system tosimplify and standardise the wasterecording procedure. The initiativehas been developed for efficiencyand cost reasons.The aim of the project is the development of an electronic

register, electronic consignmentnotes, electronic reporting systems,and the electronic data transfer inaccordance with the notificationprocess of the EC- waste shipmentregulation (EUDIN). The Waste Management Act 2002provides the obligation to use theGS1-Standard for identification. TheAustrian ministry pursues with thissystem a global approach. The GLNused in this system are used for theidentification of participants, treat-ment plants and their relevant parts.GTIN is used for identification oftypes of waste, treatment methodsand types of treatment plants. The advantage of these numbers isthat it is a worldwide establishedsystem and that the distribution ofthese numbers is not bound by anyrestrictions or criteria.

4.1.2 European Data Interchange forwaste notification systems (EUDIN):

The EUDIN initiative constitutes anIT-based system intended to simplifythe, until now, fully paper-basedadministrative procedure to notifyauthorities of waste shipments within, into and out of the EU. With EUDIN, four countries Belgium,the Netherlands, Germany andAustria attempt to set up a systemthat facilitates a digital notification-process.

The basis for the functioning of theEUDIN-system is the uniform definition of data and of the data

transfer system. The same data areneeded for several business dealingsand several legal obligations. The ministry works together withthe UN/CEFACT (United NationsCentre for Trade Facilitation andElectronic Business) to developinternational standards (i.e. worldwidestandardised messages) and uniformdefinitions to avoid having to convert data on transfer from one system to another.

EUDIN will have the following benefits:• The initiative accelerates the

notification procedure andhelpssave resources (paper, etc.);

• The system needs to be fully developed and tested. It shouldthen be easy to introduce thedatabase to other Member Stateswho want to use it;

• The system takes advantage ofmodern communication equipmentand is therefore innovative; and

• As the notification procedure issimplified as a whole, the initiativeis beneficial for small and mediumcompanies. Small and mediumenterprises also take part in thepilot project.

The initiative is transferable to allEU-countries who are all bound bythe European Waste ShipmentRegulation (259/93/EEC).

Why using GLN and not national IDs?The answer is quite simple. The same GLN, which makes thecompany identifiable worldwide,can be used for identification inbusiness and for fulfilling legalreporting and recording obligationsas well. The incomparable ability toidentify companies uniquely andunambiguously in the international/global market irrespectively of thedifferent sectors and applicationsmakes GLN the ultimate solution foridentification purpose.

4.2 GERMANY

In 2004 a German Recommendationon GS1 Standards in WasteManagement was approved andpublished. It recommends the use ofGLN for all parties involved in thewaste management processesincluding waste producers, logisticsservice providers, carriers and companies executing waste treatment. Services are to be identified via GTINs. Moreover elec-tronic EANCOM messages areincluded in the GS1 portfolio to support efficient waste management.

METRO Group Asset Managementhas implemented the GLN andInvoice with about 20 partners.Internal GS1 Germany statisticsshow that about 70 WasteManagement companies use the GLN.METRO Group Asset Managementalso uses their own GTINs for theidentification of services but do alsoaccept GTINs of their partners whichare then matched in their internalsystem. In contrast to Austria,Hungary and Belgium there is no legalrequirement that makes the use ofGS1 Standards mandatory. Quite thecontrary, there is a national numberingsystem for the identification of WasteProducers, Waste Disposal Organiza-tions and Waste carrier. Numberingstructure defined by each province(Bundesland), length and first character are the same for allprovinces. But thanks to the businessneeds GS1 proved to be successfulsolution in the field of waste management in Germany as well.

4.2.1 WEEE – Waste of electronic and electric equipments

EAR is the “Common ResponsibleInstitution” for all producers withinthe framework of the Elektro- undElektronikgerätegesetzes(“ElektroG”) which embodies theGerman legislation correspondingto WEEE. They allocate identificationnumbers to companies that putelectric or electronic products onthe market. Although GS1 Germany

tried hard to convince them of GS1standards they decided to stick totheir national proprietary system.Duales System Deutschland GmbH(Green Dot) offers in the fields ofimplementing the German “Law onthe putting into circulation, take-back and eco-compatible disposal ofelectrical and electronic appliances”,abbreviated to “ElektroG” (WEEE).Duales System Deutschland GmbHis a private enterprise handling disposal and recycling obligationsfor industrial firms and retailers.

The advantage of using a GLNinstead of the current national numbering system from the officialauthorities lies in its internationalapplicability and uniqueness. It istherefore suited for the establishment of an internationalidentification system in waste management. Using EDI makesprocesses more efficient and lesserror-prone which are clearlyunderlined by the WasteManagement Processes in Austria.

4.3 BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG

4.3.1 Legal and operation background of packaging

In Belgium the waste managementpolicy is among the spheres of jurisdiction of the regions. On the

30th of May 1996 the three regionssigned a cooperation agreementconcerning the prevention andmanagement of packaging waste.This cooperation agreement (whichimplements European Directive94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste into national law)was published on the 5th of March1997 by the three Belgian Regionsin the Cooperation Agreement onthe Prevention and Management ofPackaging Waste. The Cooperation Agreement aims to: • reduce packaging waste and

ensuring that any packaging wastethat is produced is as ecologicallyfriendly as possible.

• encourage the reuse of as muchpackaging as possible and ensuingthat the total weight of lost packaging is reduced.

Every company responsible for putting packaged products on theBelgian market is required to organize a waste collection systemin order to reach the targets mentioned above. However, it mayask an accredited body such asFOST Plus (non-profit organizationwhich performs the take-back andinformation operations concerninghousehold packaging) and Val-I-Pac(non-profit organization whichperforms the take-back and information operations concerningindustrial packaging) to fulfill itsindividual obligations in this respect.

13 12

4.3.2 Legal and operation background of Waste Electricaland Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Since July 2001, a take-back obliga-tion has been imposed by law onmanufacturers and importers ofelectric and electronic devices. A system has been in place sincethen for collecting and recyclingelectrical and electronic equipment.The manufacturers and importers ofelectrical and electronic equipmentfounded the not-for-profit organization Recupel with the support of the Belgian regional governments. Its remit comprisesthe organization of the collection,sorting, treatment and recycling ofWEEE in Belgium.The Bebat non-profit Association(Battery Collection Fund) was set upon 21.8.95 within the framework ofthe Belgian Law on “Eco-taxes”,dated 16.7.93 and its amendmentdated 7.3.96. The voluntary agreement involved that the batteryindustry is setting up a non-profitorganization called BEBAT to co-ordinate the collection and recycling of batteries and ensurethat the target percentages werereached. The financing of the 'col-lection and recycling contribution'was to be paid by members of theorganization.

4.3.3 GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg in Waste Management

GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg's inter-est in connecting the waste man-agement characteristics (attributes)

of a Trade Item to its GTIN was insti-gated by an explicit request from allBelgian retailers to their private labelmanufacturers, importers and brokersto communicate these packagingand product waste attributes viaCDB (the local data pool for Belgium& Luxembourg) and GDSN. In many perspectives it is imperativethat waste and packaging wastecharacteristics of trade items couldbe associated as extensions to theCore Item information that isexchanged between TradingPartners in their Data Alignmentand Data Synchronization activities.Since product waste can be associated with the product GTINand packaging waste with the hierarchy of product GTINs Belgianretailers asked to receive wasteinformation from their suppliers, viaboth the CDB and GDSN. Belgian retailers are interested inreceiving this information because:• they must declare and remit the

FOST Plus and Val-I-Pac tax fees fortheir own brand products and forthe importer products they bringon the Belgium market.

4.4 HUNGARY

4.4.1 Co-operation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection andWater Management – initial steps

The professional co-operationbetween GS1 Hungary PBC (formerlyknown as EAN Hungary PBC) andthe Ministry of Environmental

Protection and Water Managementin the field of waste managementbegan in 2002. Initially the co-operation was devoted solely to thequestion of identification of packaging materials and packagingcomponents. GS1 Hungary examinedthe standard identification systemsexisting within the field of thepackaging industry, also the waysand means of how these systemscould be integrated, and furthermorethe cases where it is possible, reasonable and necessary to identifyindividual packaging materials, andpackaging components with thehelp of the GS1 standards. As a second step of co-operationthe Ministry formally requested GS1Hungary to prepare an expert studyto create the conditions for theestablishment of a new – GS1 international standards based – dataservice and registration informationsystem, which will be capable ofidentifying and tracing all the parties, processes, and productsinvolved in waste management.

4.4.2 Agreement of cooperation forthe development of an ElectronicEnvironmental Protection and Product Fee System (eKT)

As a direct consequence of thisstudy and following intensive consultations by the experts anagreement of cooperation was-signed between the Ministry andGS1 Hungary in 2003, and withinthe framework of this agreementGS1 Hungary thus began the

creation of an ElectronicEnvironmental Product Fee (eKT)system. The initial step in the developmentof the eKT system was the establishment of the so-termed RTI Catalogue which begun it’s operation in December 2003. The electronic catalogue, apart fromthe identification and registration ofrecyclable packaging materials, and apart from fulfilling electronicreporting obligations on recyclablepackaging materials, contributes tothe meeting of registration and dataservice obligations of recyclablepackaging materials, furthermoreassists the environmental protectionauthorities with the creation of anopen information system related topackaging materials and packagingwaste materials. The organizationsusing the catalogue should be identified by GLN numbers whilstthe recyclable packaging compo-nents that have been uploaded in tothe catalogue should be identifiedby a GTIN number.

The eKT system is such a GS1 standards based system, where a GLN number (Global LocationNumber) is used for the identificationof an organization and the GTINnumber (Global Trade Item Number)is used for the identification of products, this system offers solutionsfor the fulfillment of administrativeobligations relating to waste management and environmentalproduct fee laws, in both the

European Union and Hungary, andprovides various services to businessentities, organizations co-ordinatingin waste management and as well as to the state administrationauthorities, involved. The eKT system also serves stateadministration goals likewise, is theprovision of an information technology background for theestablishment of a HungarianPackaging Database andInformation System, which will bethe foundation for preparing acountry report on packaging andpackage waste, that is to be submitted annually to the EuropeanCommission in compliance with theformat specified in the commission'sresolution number 2005/270/EK.

The eKT system is made up of threeseparate but coherent sectors (modules) that bear upon eachother and which are made up of thefollowing:1. State Administration Authority

Sector2. Business Sector3. GS1 Users Sector

The State Administration Sectorconstitutes the foundation of theeKT system based upon existingagreements. The legal backgroundof national and European Unionrules in effect always determine thetendency of development of theeKT system, on product output andwaste tracing. The Business Sectormakes up the eKT's profit oriented

solutions. Beyond fulfilling all it'sobligation as required by the law, itprovides additional informationtechnology services to businessorganizations. The GS1 User Sectorconstitutes the structural base ofthe eKt system and a potential usergroup whose organizations arebounded to be identified by a GLNnumber as in accordance with existing regulations.

Beyond the above mentioned GS1Hungary also achieved significantresults in the business community.By 2006 two co-ordinating organizations dealing in electric andelectronic appliance waste management joined the eKT system.The aforesaid co-ordinating organizations together with theirpartners depend on the eKT systemto fulfill a number of their administrative obligations regardingwaste management and environmental protection fees.

4.5 IRELAND GS1

Ireland and the Irish Farm FilmPlastics Group (IFFPG) have startedaproject to track film plastic wasteused in the Agricultural Sector inIreland.

Film Plastic is used extensively inthe Agricultural Sector to wrap grasscut to manufacture silage which is in turn used to feed cattle in thewinter season.

15 14

The volume of film plastic used isconsiderable and if not properly disposed of could have a considerableimpact on the environment. The Government in support of itsenvironmental policy determinedthat strict controls would be placedon this material and levies imposedto pay for its proper disposal. The material is manufactured bothlocally and internationally is supplied through distributors,agents and retailers. The IFFPG wereappointed to oversee the project.

The imposition of levy on producersto pay for its disposal opened upthe possibility of an illegal parallelsupply chain and a lack of accounta-bility. The IFFPG and GS1 Irelandhave worked together to developand implement a solution thattracks and traces the film plasticfrom the producer to the end user(farmer), and its collection and disposal in a controlled manner.The main issue was to supply an initial solution that caters for thevarying technical maturity of thestakeholders in the supply chain.The solution involves the followingGS1 components: • use of pallet level SSCC using

a data matrix;• use of scanning at different supply

chain points based on imagingtechnology;

• use of mobile communication techniques as well as the more traditional modes;

• use of a centralised databases based on SSCC indexing.

The plan is go live for the next season 2007 and to extend thescope to other similar materials in2008. Based on the results of thedevelopment to move to a morestandards based platform and anenhanced application of the GS1standards. This may include electronic messaging between parties including reporting to localand national authorities, RFID, anditem marking to individual rolls on a pallet.

The system is designed to calculatethe amount of material purchasedby each farmer, record the transaction, track the volume salesby each supply chain partner, andthen to calculate for each farmer theamount of plastic to be collected ateach farm after usage. There arestrict legal remedies for non-compliance and therefore the application has to be secure enoughto report all the supply chain transactions to prevent leakage ofmaterial to un-authorised partiesand to ensure the accuracy of thedata at the farm.

4.6 CROATIA

You may thing that waste management is a hot topic only inthe member states of EuropeanUnion since EU decrees are effectiveand force the parties to act. Croatiais a good example proving you arewrong.

The Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection, Physical Planning andConstruction and the Fund for environmental protection and energetic efficacy are the institutionsresponsible for waste management.Meaningful activities on the field ofwaste management started inAugust, 2005 by issuing regulationNN97/05. It defines the legal framework of collecting aluminium,plastic and glass bottles for milk,juice, water and alcohol products.Thanks to GS1 Croatia these institutions have recognized thepotential of GS1 standards and solutions like GLN, GTIN, SSCC andelectronic communication tools.GS1 System was mentioned as EANin two paragraphs of the regulationNN97/05. Unfortunately there weresome implementation problemsbecause the business model wasnot enough precise. GS1 Croatia has also introduced itsproject e-CROKAT (Croatian electronic catalogue based on GDSNand BMS specifications.) to the representatives of the relevant ministry. This project proved to be a very efficient tool for waste management project implementation and can supportthe ministry and the different business parties at the same time.

4.7 ROMANIA

At the present time GS1 Romaniahas advanced formal discussion-swith the Romanian Environmentand Water Management Ministryinorder to conclude a Co-operationAgreement. The aim is to set up,based on the Protocol, of a cooperation framework in order toinclude the experts of GS1 Romaniain the working team of the Ministryfor the design and development ofthe Integrated IT System, for thesub-component: e-RWMP (e-Romanian Waste ManagementPortal).

The basic idea of the protocol is thatthe portal will be build based onGS1 codification / identification /communication standards and willtake on board parts of the existing(implemented) solutions (Hungary,Austria etc) and, as well, the developments from the WasteManagement Project of GS1 Europe.One of the GS1 identifiers envisagedto be used for the portal management is GLN. According tothis conception all actors involved inWM processes will have at least a GLN assigned.

The proposal is to have an administrative requirement of theactors involved in the waste

management chain, in order to register on the portal (e-RWMP).The use of GLN will extend from theuse for internal purposes (such asinternal SAP/ERP IT applications)and limited use in EDI to extensiveuse for commercial documents inelectronic format and WM. The solution we propose for the e-RWMP, based, among the otherson the use of GLN will have embed-ded the ability to communicate withEUDIN and other national / fromother MS IT dedicated systems. GS1Romania intends to add to ournational implementation all the elements described / recommended /revealed as best practice as a resultof the WM of GS1 in Europe.

Summary The main reason and goal of launching the Waste ManagementProject was to work out and offer a common strategy on the method and field of application and implementation of GS1 Standards for those companies which are affected by EU Legislation regarding waste management and forced to meet the requirements specified in the decrees. Since there is no common international standard and solution related to waste management, and GS1 can offer such a global solution this sector might be open to implement GS1 system.