Insee Ecocycle signs key milestone agreement with Marine Environment Protection Authority

 Insee Ecocycle Lanka Assistant Manager (Industrial Services) Pinsara Fernando joins MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura and MEPA General Manager Dr. P.B. Terney Pradeep Kumara to provide a sustainable integrated waste management solution for MEPA’s Galle analytical laboratory

• To provide waste management solutions for Galle analytical lab

Insee Ecocycle, the nation’s pioneer in sustainable waste management has joined hands with the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the apex body established to prevent, control and manage pollution in Sri Lanka’s marine environment, to provide a sustainable integrated waste management solution for the MEPA’s Galle analytical laboratory recently.

Signatories to the agreement were MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura and MEPA General Manager Dr. P.B. Terney Pradeep Kumara and Insee Ecocycle Lanka Ltd. Director Sanjeewa Chulakumara together with senior officials from both organisations.

Prior to the agreement, no sustainable solution for analytical laboratory waste and chemical waste existed in the country. This hazardous waste was accumulated at laboratory premises or due to misconduct, was discharged into the open environment such as drains, soil or natural water streams, etc. As a result, possible environmental impacts such as soil acidification or soil alkalization, eradication of aquatic plants and animals, possible ground water contamination, acid rains and ozone depletion could have taken place. 

Similarly devastating human health impact such as skin cancers, liver damage, blindness, neurological disorders, adverse pregnancy outcomes and bioaccumulation were also a possibility.

Commenting on the agreement Chulakumara noted, “Insee Ecocycle is proud to partner with MEPA for analytical laboratory waste management and we highly appreciate the commitment and the passion of the senior management of MEPA for this collaborative sustainable initiative, which is a great example to other government institutions in the country as well.”

Lahandapura said: “This historic agreement with Insee for the waste management at the MEPA Galle laboratory begins a key milestone in the Authority’s history and the country since there was no sound solution for the chemical waste management available to-date. This agreement is also aligned to the Government’s manifesto ‘Vistas for Prosperity and Splendour’ which is cognisant that sustainable waste disposal can help maintain a clean and healthy costal and marine environment and contribute to economic growth in the 

country.” 

“MEPA firmly believes that this MOU with Insee would be the entry point in managing chemical waste, in addition to extending the scope of disposing of a wider range of marine and coastal litter thus reducing our negative environmental footprint,” 

she stated.  

MEPA is also planning on launching large-scale beach clean-ups and conservation and protection projects prioritising sustainable waste management. 

Insee Ecocycle’s integrated waste management solution has proven expertise for laboratories that includes but not limited to chemical waste management, solution for laboratory wash off and other analytical laboratory wastes, periodic training and consultancy for the laboratory staff on waste management and laboratory testing solutions.

Insee Ecocycle already provides sustainable solution for long accumulated chemical waste to other government institutes such as the Central Environmental Authority, Registrar of Pesticides, Consumer Affairs Authority, Coconut Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute, Government Analyst’s Department, Sri Lanka Standards Institution and almost all leading Government universities.

“As the main regulatory body for marine environment conservation in the country, we come across major environmental hazards within the costal and marines’ zones including ship accidents, waste oil discharge, chemical spills, sea dumping, solid waste, sewage and marine invasive, etc. In such instances, Insee Ecocycle has supported us by providing total environmentally friendly solutions mainly contributing to protect the country’s marine environment,” stated Dr. Kumara.

“MEPA has been working with Insee Ecocycle for a longtime on various occasions and we truly value and appreciate their professional service and scientific approach in waste management demonstrated through safe and compliance driven operations without any environmental liability,” he added.

Having paved the way for sustainable waste management in Sri Lanka, pioneering circular economy-based waste management solutions, today Insee Ecocycle supports more than 1000 enterprises in the country including public sector and private organisations. At present, Insee Ecocycle provides tailor-made waste management solutions such as Co-processing, total service solutions, resource recovery, analytical laboratory solutions, chemical waste management, industrial cleaning, waste electrical and electronic equipment management, emergency response, etc. Ecocycle also has a wider footprint in South East Asia, mainly spread across Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.