Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Wednesday, 18 April 2018 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
INSEE Ecocycle General Manager Sanjeewa Chulakumara
At a time when Sri Lanka is battling with the enormous problem of waste management at national level, INSEE Ecocycle, the sustainable waste management arm of the country’s premier cement manufacturer INSEE Cement, provides waste management solutions that would make a significant difference from a national perspective.
INSEE Ecocycle has been in the waste management industry for almost 15 years sharing its expertise and knowledge globally accepted technologies and management commitment to be the most preferred waste management service provider in the country.
INSEE Ecocycle is gearing itself to become a separate entity during this year, dedicated to proffer an extended range of “Ecocycle Environment Solutions” to the businesses and the communities in Sri Lanka.
With the current expansion, the company will make greater contribution to the national waste management, with its world-class resources of its parent company INSEE Ecocycle in Thailand specialising in industrial solutions of the region. The “INSEE Ecocycle Environment Solutions” arm includes services such as, laboratory services, training and consultancy, industrial cleaning, specialised logistics service, environmental remediation, emergency response services, e-waste disposal and many more.
INSEE Ecocycle is the only comprehensive industrial waste management solutions provider in Sri Lanka. With the annual capacity of 100,000 MT, it provides environment friendly solutions to the public and private institutions for managing hazardous waste, for over 400 corporates including government institutions in Sri Lanka. Thus far we have eliminated over 600,000 MT of industrial waste without leaving any environment liability. This year INSEE Ecocycle invested Rs. 345 million to expand its capacities while total investment for waste management amounting to more than Rs. 1.3 billion over the past 15 years.
INSEE Ecocycle General Manager Sanjeewa Chulakumara explained, “INSEE Ecocycle as a newly formed private company, will continue to operate in an expanded capacity to provide ‘peace of mind’ to all our stakeholders. While continuing to provide much needed waste disposal solutions to the industrial sector, using the expert knowledge we can draw from INSEE Ecocycle operations in Thailand and the wider region; we will develop our services to include solutions such as environmental remediation for contaminated areas, specialised logistics for hazardous waste materials, comprehensive end to end solutions to electronic waste through international partnerships and many more.
He further said, “Over the last decade INSEE Ecocycle has been seeking a sustainable solution for the municipal solid waste crisis in Sri Lanka. And now, through our public private partnerships we are happy to announce that we have been successful in providing effective solutions for sorted municipal solid waste for few municipalities.”
INSEE Ecocycle’s facilities satisfies all regulatory technical standards and is globally adopted for the management of waste and is considered a better option than land filling or incineration as it offers a complete solution with zero harmful emission to the environment. The facility has obtained all required licenses (Environmental Protection License and Scheduled Waste Management License) and certifications such as, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 17025 and OHSAS 18001.
INSEE Cement CEO Nandana Ekanayake commented, “INSEE Ecocycle is an integral part of our endeavour in building brighter futures for Sri Lanka. INSEE Cement will continue to support the responsible operations of INSEE Ecocycle and extend its innovative solutions to provide non-kiln based ‘Environmental Solutions’ that benefits the company, its stakeholders and the whole nation. We have set a global competitive benchmark in the industry aimed at living a responsible corporate citizen lifestyle in all what we do, especially in the spheres of sustainable waste management industry. We are committed to continuously provide sustainable solutions to the nation.”
An important milestone was achieved recently when INSEE Ecocycle joined hands with the Sri Lanka Narcotic Bureau (PNB) and National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) to responsibly dispose 928 kg of Waste Cocaine Hydrochloride through cement kiln co-processing for the first time in Sri Lanka.
Sanjeewa recalled the many instances when INSEE Ecocycle services were readily provided in times of a chemical-related national crisis. One was when there was a fire at the Colombo harbour resulting from a damaged container of hydrogen peroxide. In times of flood, it is INSEE Ecocycle that has the expertise and the equipment to step in and collect stocks of damaged medical products before they are surreptitiously and dangerously channelled into the market to be sold to the innocent consumers.
Among the most hazardous situation they could prevent was the distribution of contaminated containers from the National Cancer Hospital where empty containers of cytotoxic drugs were dumped and had to be collected and disposed of carefully. A chlorine leak from a burst pipe in Avissawella; and accidental liquid ammonia spill in Piliyandala; the list is endless, making it clear that the services of INSEE Ecocycle are essential for the life of the community.
“Our objective is to make the public understand and accept the “Polluter Pays” concept and educate people to safeguard the country from contamination and environmental pollution. INSEE Ecocycle will continue its Research and Development, Innovation and new technologies to expand the current portfolio of waste management and diversify the range of services through the new INSEE Ecocycle Environmental Solutions,” said Sanjeewa.
In the long term the INSEE Ecocycle will meaningfully contribute to reducing the volume of CO2 emissions preserving non-renewable fossil fuels and natural resources, taking advantage of the technology already used for the cement production process.
