Teejay Lanka achieves 81% emission reduction from sludge disposal

• Invests Rs.90mn in SL’s largest steam-powered paddle dryer
• Reduces GHG emissions by 2,326 tCO2e in one year

Sri Lanka’s largest textile manufacturer Teejay Lanka PLC has announced the achievement of an 81 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the disposal of sludge waste, after one year of sustained operation of industry best practices.

This milestone in eco-friendly waste disposal was made possible by the investment of US $ 450,000 (approximately Rs.90 million at current exchange rates) in a steam-powered sludge dryer at Teejay’s factory at the Seethawaka Export Processing Zone (EPZ) that enables the company to convert a daily output of wet sludge into dry powder, which is then incinerated at a cement manufacturing facility. 

Working with Sri Lanka’s pioneer cement manufacturer in this process, Teejay Lanka had eliminated an independently-verified 1,744.57 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions (tCO2e) between November 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021, which translates to an annual emissions reduction of 2,326.09 tCO2e.

The Sustainable Future Group (SFG), which was appointed by Teejay Lanka to verify the reduction of GHG emissions from the switch in the company’s sludge waste disposal method has issued an Independent Greenhouse Gas Verification Statement covering the first nine months of the sludge drying and incineration procedure, using auditing practices as specified in the ISO 14064-3:2019 standard.

“Sustainability will always be one of our top priorities and we are delighted that we are disposing of solid waste in a 100 percent sustainable manner,” Teejay Lanka CEO Pubudu De Silva said.

“We have installed the largest steam operated paddle dryer in Sri Lanka in a demonstration of our commitment to best practices in the industrial context and we continue to look for ways to minimise the ecological footprint of 
our operations.”

Wet sludge is generated from the wastewater pre-treatment process of Teejay Lanka. Prior to the switch in the disposal method, significant GHG emissions occurred from disposal of the sludge. The gases included carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).

The sludge dryer installed at the Teejay Lanka manufacturing complex at Block D8-D14 of the Seethawaka Export Processing Zone in Avissawella occupies an area of 200 square meters (more than 2,150 square feet) and is capable of drying up to 12 tonnes of wet sludge per day. It uses excess steam available from the company’s 
manufacturing process.