Waste Management
Waste Management
at Hamburg Wholesale Market
Slide 1
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
1. Hamburg Wholesale Market is the North‘s Centre of Fresh
Produce and one of the biggest markets in Germany
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Owned and operated by:
Build in:
Area:
No. of firms on site:
Employees:
Clients:
Turnover of produce:
Sales of goods:
Catchment area:
Range:
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
Slide 2
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
2. A core task for wholesale market operators is to ensure the
waste management system works effectively – Why?
 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
Slide 3
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
3. How is the waste management system organized at
Hamburg Wholesale Market?
 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
Slide 4
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
3. How is the waste management system organized at
Hamburg Wholesale Market?
 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.
 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.
Slide 5
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
3. How is the waste management system organized at
Hamburg Wholesale Market?
 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.
Slide 6
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
4. The GHVG waste collection point
 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
Slide 7
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
4. The GHVG waste collection point
 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):
 Perishable goods (foil-wrapped/in nets):
 Transport packaging (sorted):
 Commercial waste:
1 kg, 0.10 euros
1 kg, 0.21 euros
1 kg, 0.06 euros
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.
Slide 8
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
4. What happens at the waste collection point?
 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
Slide 9
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
4. What happens at the waste collection point?
 Waste is sorted and dumped into
separate containers for different
types of waste
Slide 10
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
4. What happens at the waste collection point?
 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
Slide 11
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
5. What happens if there is unauthorized dumping of
waste on the wholesale market site?
 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.
Slide 12
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
5. What happens if there is unauthorized dumping of
waste on the wholesale market site?
 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
 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
Slide 13
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
6. Summary
 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
Slide 14
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management
7. What happens to goods that are still fit for consumption
but find no trade buyers?
 The wholesale market directors, the traders’
cooperative and individual traders have been
active supporters of the free food charity
Hamburger Tafel for several years
 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
Slide 15
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
The EHEC crisis in spring 2011
A challenging time for many, including management
at Hamburg Wholesale Market
Slide 16
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
1. The EHEC crisis in Germany
Germany suffers world’s biggest known EHEC outbreak
 4,000 cases,
700 HUS complications
and 51 deaths
 Suspicion falls on
“staples” such as
tomatoes, cucumbers
and leafy salads
 Bean sprouts are finally identified
as cause
 Long-lasting damage to businesses
and consumer confidence
Slide 17
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
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
Slide 18
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
1. The EHEC crisis in Germany
Political circles, public authorities and offices
 Severe criticism of political management
EHEC crisis
of the
 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
Slide 19
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
1. The EHEC crisis in Germany
The “suspects”
 Many types of
vegetable
and many growers
 Local growers feel
they have been
unjustly pilloried
 Rumours:
vegetables are
sprayed
with liquid manure
Slide 20
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
1. The EHEC crisis in Germany
The media
 The media produce the news themselves
 “Low-fact catastrophe hype” say critics
 Fear sells
Slide 21
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
1. The EHEC crisis in Germany
Consumers
 Steadfastly boycotted
cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce
 Stocked up again as soon as
the all clear was given
Slide 22
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
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
Slide 23
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
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
Slide 24
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
Economic fallout
 The Federal government put the losses
for German vegetable growers
at 16m euros
 EU Commission will spend 210m euros
to compensate European growers
(50% of their income losses)
 No compensation for
wholesale companies
Slide 25
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
Damage to consumer confidence
 Consumers have lost trust and this must
be regained
 Image campaigns are needed
 The industry was unable to raise the
co-financing for the EU programme
Slide 26
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
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 on
all 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
Slide 27
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
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
Slide 28
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
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
Slide 29
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
External communications
 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
Slide 30
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
External communications
 Meeting the media in open, trusting manner, offering full access
 Rustic, colourful statements
Slide 31
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
2. Role of the Wholesale Market and how it was affected
Large-scale produce sampling
 Traders immediately send
hundreds of samples away for
voluntary testing for EHEC
 Analysis results are published
in a dedicated section of the
Wholesale Market website
 The traders prove that the
produce examined is perfectly
safe
Slide 32
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
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 determines
how long the damage lasts
Slide 33
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
3. Experiences, lessons, recommendations –
what makes crisis management a success?
Be active
 Active, systematic crisis management
Before 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-house
During 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
Slide 34
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
3. Experiences, lessons, recommendations
Accept irrationality!
 A sober look at some figures
Cause of
illness
Victims
Yearly
Daily
Hospital bugs
30,000
80
Flu viruses
16,000
40
EHEC 2011
51
 Hype, scaremongering and prejudgments bear no relationship to
the significance of the cause
 Naturally, when people die, the matter becomes emotional
Slide 35
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
3. Experiences, lessons, recommendations
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 the
topic of food safety
Slide 36
Lebensmittelsicherheit
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Disaster Management - EHEC crisis 2011
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
Slide 37
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de
Waste Management / Disaster Management
Thanks for your attention!
Slide 38
Torsten Berens, Hamburg  www.wholesalemarket-hamburg.de