News & Events

The sustainable waste management arm of the INSEE Group, INSEE Ecocycle joined hands with the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) to responsibly dispose 928kg 229g of Waste Cocaine Hydrochloride through Cement Kiln co-processing for the first-time in Sri Lanka.

The event was held on the 15th of January at INSEE Ecocycle Pre-processing facility under the patronage of H.E the President Maithripala Sirisena, Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Hon. Minister of Ministry of Law & Order and Southern Development. Sagala Ratnayaka, Hon. Minister of Ministry of Justice. (Mrs.) Thalatha Atukorale, respective government agencies and industrial experts who are involved in the process of confiscated cocaine disposal through co-processing, at the outset of the operation.

The waste cocaine was recently confiscated by Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau, followed by the verification of the narcotic material under the guidance of Government Analyst Department (GAD), NDDCB and Attorney General’s Department. After the recommendation of Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni, advising to safely dispose the material
above 1,300℃ temperature, INSEE Ecocycle joined hands to provide safe and comprehensive narcotic material disposal solution.

INSEE Ecocycle has carried out the technical evaluation with the support of PNB and NDDCB on feeding mechanism and pre-processing activities for safe disposal of the dangerous drug whilst minimising the social and environmental impact. The technical evaluation included a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation action plan covering all the aspects of environmental, social, health and safety areas throughout the pre-processing, logistics and co-processing value chain to ensure safe and secure disposal

About the safe disposal process of the narcotic substance, cocaine hydrochloride

There are several ways of feeding mechanisms available at the Cement Kiln co- processing facility. The confiscated Cocaine Hydrochloride will be co-processed through liquid feeding channel, which enables closed feeding with minimum exposure to the environment.

The confiscated Cocaine will be liquefied in an aqueous medium at the INSEE Ecocycle Pre-processing facility in Katunayake. The pre-processing will involve a conversion of the chemical structure and the physical state of the material. As per the calculated ratios in pre-trials, material will be dissolved in water ensuring zero residual remains. For visual differentiation of the material, a colouring agent will be added.

The liquefied material will then be transported for final disposal to Puttalam Cement Plant, via intermediate bulk containers using GPS enabled, specially built hazardous waste transporting vehicle with secondary compartment to manage spillage. The entire operation will be escorted by the PNB officials. The disposal will take place through Cement Kiln Co-processing by using the existing temperature of 1800- 2000℃ with 4 – 6 sec, residence time. INSEE Puttalam Cement Kiln is technically proven to have the destruction removal efficiency of 99.999999 %. This will ensure zero residual remaining post disposal of the Confiscated Cocaine Hydrochloride. Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) will be carried out during and after the phase of final disposal to ensure no harmful emissions are exposed to the environment.