Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Friday, 28 March 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Geocycle wishes to create awareness and encourage professional waste management among all industrialists in Sri Lanka. This will be in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka, who will observe the entire process of evaluation and selection for Geo Responsibility Awards. First lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa graced the event as the Chief Guest. Winners will be recognised with gold, silver and bronze awards whilst others will be recognised with merit certificates for their commitment towards professional sustainable waste management.
Independent selection committee
With the Geo Responsibility Awards, Geocycle expects to give recognition to industries that practice best environmental management system amongst industries currently registered with them. Assessment and evaluation will be carried by an independent Technical Committee comprising of experts representing the Ministry of Environment, Central Environmental Authority, Ministry of lndustry and Commerce, Board of lnvestment of Sri Lanka, lndustrial Technology lnstitution, National Cleaner Production Centre, United Nations Development Program and University of Moratuwa.
Selection criteria
GRA is designed for industries that had implemented beyond compliance practices, which means complying with legal requirements is the basic requirement that make industries eligible for this award scheme. Hence, having Environmental Protection Licenses and Scheduled Waste Licenses, if required are considered as the basic requirements. After an initial screening, field inspections are carried out by Cp (Cleaner Production) trained auditors. After the field visit the Independent Selection Committee short lists industries and after that second field visit will be carried out. The selection criteria for GRA is environmental responsible waste management practices, green initiatives, CSR activities etc.
lntroduction to Geocycle
What makes Geocycle’s commitment and service exceptional in professional waste management solutions is its capacity and global expertise in disposing hazardous waste. Geocycle commenced providing this invaluable service far back as March 2003 while Geocycle has extended its services to more industries over the years.
Geocycle has disposed more than 350,000 MT of wastes for the last 11 years. lf not, this volume of waste would probably have ended up in landfills, water bodies or burning, causing severe damage to the environment. Today around 300 organisations from various industries obtain waste management services from Geocycle. Ship and boat building, FMCG products, pharmaceutical, agro-chemical and rubber to name a few.
Geocycle continuous to be the only institution to be official certified for disposing of hazardous waste in Sri Lanka, in addition to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OSHAS 18001.
The state-of-the-art analytical laboratory of Geocycle provides analytical reports for conventional and waste derived fuels. This too is the only laboratory in Sri Lanka of this nature and is probably one of the best laboratories within the region. Geocycle Analytical Laboratory is certified for ISO 17025 and is listed as a competent laboratory by the Central Environmental Authority.
The newly established pre-processing facility at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone has helped to extend its services to more industries bringing further convenience. This facility again is one of the best in the region and the only facility in Sri Lanka to pre-process hazardous wastes, whilst ensuring zero environmental contamination.
Geocycle has the capacity to dispose diverse range of waste in the most environmental friendly way. Non-hazardous waste such as rice husk and saw dust, as well as hazardous waste such as industrial sludge, ink, dyes, mineral oil and oil contaminated wastes, solvent, paints, lacquers, varnish, agro-chemicals, expired pharmaceuticals and PCB, PBB and PCT wastes could be disposed in through this environmentally sound waste disposal. Hence Geocycle has offered their customers “a peace of mind” ensuring that no future environmental liabilities resulted from waste generated from their respective industries.
Co-processing, the method used by Geocycle for waste disposal, is globally established best practice to dispose hazardous wastes. Co-processing is technically advance and superior to land filling and incineration, as no residue will be left out. Since co-processing is the most environmental responsible method to dispose hazardous waste, it is been recognised and encouraged international institutions such as the World Health Organisation, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Hazardous Chemical and Waste Conventions, the Basel Convention, The European Cement Association and GTZ (German Technical Corporation).
