INSEE Ecocycle initiates waste mgt. solutions for used electrical, electronic equipment

Nandana Ekanayake (right), Chairman, INSEE Cement and Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, (center) marking the first consignment of processed electronic waste to be exported to Japan

INSEE Ecocycle Lanka (Private) Limited, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Siam City Cement (Lanka) Limited, and part of the INSEE Group initiated a vital programme recently to provide the nation with sustainable waste management solutions for used electrical and electronic equipment.

INSEE Ecocycle understands that increasing levels of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and its improper and unsafe disposal through inferior methods of open burning or in dumpsites are creating significant risks to the environment and human health, in addition to presenting several challenges to the country’s sustainable development goals.

INSEE Ecocycle is geared towards creating awareness and minimising the potential environmental impact associated with disposing decommissioned electrical and electronic equipment in the country.

The organisation is engaged in dismantling and separating parts based on material types such as plastic, metal, rubber, wire, printed circuits boards etc., at its state-of-the-art electronic waste dismantling pre-processing facility in Katunayake. The remaining materials components are sent to INSEE’s Puttalam cement kiln or recycled through proper partnerships.

Based on INSEE Cement’s partnership with OuseiKankyo Shoji Co. Ltd Japan, a reputed organisation undertaking e-scrap recycling to preserve the environment, all dismantled printed circuit boards are exported to Japan for reprocessing. The agreement also enables long term partnering for the country’s sustainability and 
international cooperation. 

The auspicious event marking the export of the first consignment of processed electronic waste to OuseiKankyo was held amidst a distinguished gathering. Gracing the occasion was Chief Guest, Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Environment, Siripala Amarasinghe, Chairman of Central Environmental Authority, P. B. Hemantha Jayasinghe, Director General of Central Environmental Authority, Ranjith Ariyaratne, Postmaster General, M. K. D. Lawrance, Executive Director (Zones), Board of Investment, Ajith Weerasundara, Director, Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Management Unit, Central Environmental Authority and Nandana Ekanayake, Chairman, INSEE Cement. 

Commenting on the occasion, Sanjeewa Chulakumara, Director INSEE Ecocycle said, “We are committed to play a vital role towards curbing the country’s WEEE crisis by extending our collection capacities from local councils in the Western and North Western provinces. INSEE Ecocycle is also planning to ensure the collection of electronic waste from other provinces too. 

“INSEE continuously works to support the waste management and disposals needs at national level which include disposal of contaminated milk powder, confiscated Cocaine, etc. The company is engaged in providing this service in disposing e-waste too to prevent it becoming an environmental burden.”

For nearly two decades, INSEE Ecocycle has paved the path for sustainable waste management in Sri Lanka through its circular economy-based solution of cement kiln co-processing. 

Established in 2003 INSEE Ecocycle introduced responsible waste management solutions to Sri Lanka by initially co-processing 297mt of tyre waste. Gradually establishing the ‘polluter pays’ concept within local industries, Ecocycle expanded its co-processing capabilities to serve wide range of hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste. 

The rapid rise in the demand of sustainable waste management has led to the vigorous expansion of Ecocycle. 
Utilising strategic investments of more than Rs. 3 billion, INSEE Ecocycle exceeded its annual co-processing capacity by 100,000 metric tons and getting closer to achieve of 1,000,000 metric tons of total co-processed volume millstone.