ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Incinerox and Ecuambiente are employing the most innovative waste recycling methods and working around the clock to ensure Ecuador can tap its natural resources in a sustainable way.
How would you describe Incinerox’s journey to becoming one of the main players in Ecuador’s green economy?
NATALIA HERMIDA Incinerox is part of a group of three companies that manage hazardous, special, and non-hazardous waste, including metals. Reciclar focuses on recycling paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal; Incinerox handles both hazardous and special waste, and was the first company in the country to do this type of waste management; and Reciclametal recycles metal. Incinerox has been in the market for 19 years, with operations in Quito, Shushufindi, Santa Elena, and Milagro, and commercial offices in Guayaquil. We have around 1,100 clients. We are an environmentally responsible company. In the last few years, we have been implementing new treatment systems. Apart from incineration, which has always been our strength, we also do security cells or final disposal. We also have a revaluation process, whereby the waste receives certain treatments so it can be used afterward. For example, we can use waste to create oils. We also revaluate solvents and filters. We are also working with the cement industry to create biomass and are carrying out research to implement this technology. The company has a special license to provide transportation services for hazardous and special waste. For non-hazardous waste, we work with composting, and if the waste is not organic, we do brand destruction. Our group manages around 15% of Ecuador’s waste. How has Ecuambiente diversified its offerings beyond a focus on oil to an increasing number of sectors of environmental relevance? MARÍA EUGENIA MORENO Ecuambiente was established around 30 years ago to provide environmental consulting services, mainly to the hydrocarbons industry. Over the years, we have expanded and diversified to new areas and client groups. We are now present in other strategic sectors such as mining and are also working with some medium- and largescale companies. We have considerable experience in developing environmental impact studies, as well as consultancy, audits, training, hazardous waste management, and environmental remediation. We have worked with a number of French and American companies that came to Ecuador, drafting some of the environmental regulations that control the hydrocarbons industry. We have been actively supporting the public sector in environmental strategic assessments and environmental licensing policymaking. In the oil sector, we have worked with both public and private companies, most of them located in the Amazon area. In 2005, we established the Integral Center for Ecological Engineering (CIIE), Ecuador’s first remediation center dedicated to supporting remedial efforts. At CIIE, we provide environmental solutions in the areas of hazardous waste management, waste recovery and valuation, and environmental remediation and restoration. How do you see the status of circular economy advancing in Ecuador?
NH The circular economy used to be informal but it has changed completely in the last few years. Previously, we only recycled paper, cardboard, and plastic, but now we work with other types of waste such as tires. The Ministry of Environment has worked on this issue and looked for alternatives to manage waste in Ecuador. Education and awareness have also improved, although there is still a lot to do. How has environmental compliance of companies working in extractive industries evolved?
MEM The oil industry has its own regulations and certification, whereas the mining industry has evolved in recent years. Today, oil and mining companies also pay greater attention to detail regarding certification and compliance with regulation. The government has emphasized that large-scale mining projects have to fulfill the highest environment standards. Productive and extractive activities in Ecuador coexist with the presence of natural protected areas, this is a challenge that the government and companies need to have in mind when licensing and running environmental assessments.
NH In 2020, we want to work with hospital waste, though we want to find innovative ways to revalue it. China uses plastic waste to obtain oil to use as energy, but we want to research this alternative because waste in each country is different. We also want to investigate new alternatives to treat oil waste, which is common in the Amazon, an oil-producing region.
MEM Our 30 years of experience allows us to consider ourselves the best environmental advisor for any company, particularly in the mining and oil sectors. We are working with some of the largest companies in Ecuador. Our goal is to continue contributing to the conservation of natural resources in Ecuador. For example, we are working on the Oxygen for the Future project with an NGO dedicated to preserve the natural landscape of Ecuador. ✖ What are your plans and strategies for 2020?