Narcotics Destruction

Setting a New Standard in Secure, Compliant Narcotics Destruction

GAIACA delivers a fully compliant, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional incineration. As permitted incineration facilities rapidly disappear across California and the West Coast, law enforcement agencies need a predictable and compliant destruction method that meets DEA standards for non-retrievable disposal.

Our onsite destruction process is designed for officer safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship—helping agencies eliminate stockpiling, reduce diversion risk, and meet all federal requirements under Title 21 CFR, Part 1317.

The Problem Law Enforcement Faces

Incinerators are closing at a rapid pace. With facilities like SERRF (Long Beach) and Covanta Crows Landing (Stanislaus County) shutting down in 2024, the state’s ability to incinerate narcotics has dramatically declined. Environmental policies like SB 1383 continue to push California toward zero-waste systems, putting nearly all West Coast incinerators at risk.

Federal Regulations Are Clear

Narcotics must be rendered non-retrievable—not simply destroyed—per DEA requirements under Title 21 CFR §1317.05 and §1317.40. Traditional disposal methods are no longer sufficient or accessible.

Our Solution

GAIACA has developed a safe, compliant, and scalable alternative for narcotics destruction. Following the DEA’s 2014 Final Rule—allowing chemical, thermal, and biological destruction methods that meet non-retrievable thresholds—we deliver a proven and validated onsite destruction service.

We prioritize:

  • Officer safety

  • Chain-of-custody integrity

  • Environmental responsibility

  • Full DEA compliance

  • Reduction of diversion and stockpiling

Our service integrates physical destruction, chemical neutralization, and complete documentation to ensure a verifiable, defensible destruction process.

The Evolution of the Program

2016 — Cannabis Waste Destruction Technology

GAIACA developed specialized vehicles capable of mechanically pulverizing and rendering cannabis waste unusable and unrecognizable onsite.

2020 — DEA Registration

Registered as a DEA Reverse-Distributor, authorizing the handling of Schedule I–V controlled substances and providing DEA-witnessed destruction services.

2025 — Partnership With Drug Destruction on Demand (DDOD)

DDOD’s proprietary chemical compound destroys narcotics, drugs, and pharmaceuticals to a fully non-retrievable state, validated by DHS/CBP labs.

Our Onsite Destruction Process

GAIACA’s secure narcotics destruction program is trusted by agencies across California and the West Coast, including U.S. Customs & Border Protection, the California Highway Patrol, Hawthorne Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, Pacific Grove Police Department, and UCLA Police Department. These organizations rely on GAIACA for compliant, verifiable, and environmentally responsible destruction of controlled substances. From federal operations to local evidence rooms, our team delivers the same level of precision, chain-of-custody integrity, and DEA-validated non-retrievable destruction that high-stakes agencies demand.

Equipment arrives onsite and is staged securely. Barriers are erected, vehicles positioned, and PPE is donned. Setup takes only minutes.

HAZWOPER-trained technicians equipped with Axon body cameras verify narcotics inventory against logs before destruction.

Narcotics are transferred from secure lockers to carts and hoisted via automated lift arms into the shredding system.

A high-powered industrial shredder reduces narcotics—and any packaging, paraphernalia, weapons, or hard drives—to ¼-inch pieces.

Shredded materials are fed into drums via auger and saturated with the DDOD chemical solution. Minimal agitation is required.

Within seconds, DDOD chemically interacts with active compounds, rendering them fully non-retrievable. This has been validated by CBP’s Ashburn Scientific Laboratory to meet DEA non-retrievability standards.

Drummed waste—now chemically neutral and legally non-hazardous—is transported for landfill disposal under federal SW-846 testing criteria.

Upon completion, agencies receive:

  • Chain of Custody / Transfer Manifest

  • Form 41 Certificate of Destruction

  • Axon body-cam video archive

This provides irrefutable documentation for audits, courts, and compliance reporting.

GAIACA Leadership

  • Jonathan Lee, Co-Founder & CEO
    Industry leader in waste innovation, regulatory compliance, and sustainability, with experience across real estate, tech, and environmental policy. Member of the National Stewardship Action Council Policy Committee and frequent speaker at WasteExpo and NAHMMA.
  • Garrett Rodewald, Co-Founder & COO
    Experienced in industrial hygiene, environmental health and safety, and hazardous materials management. Active presenter for NAHMMA, SWANA, CalRecycle, and CalCUPA.
  • Krista Tongring, DEA Compliance Consultant
    Former Acting Section Chief in the DEA Office of Compliance, senior attorney, DOJ prosecutor, and expert in CSA compliance and enforcement.
  • Jose Galindo, Hazardous Waste Operations
    Over 28 years of experience in hazardous waste operations, medical waste treatment programs, and large-scale compliance management across major laboratory networks.