Media release from QLDC
Councils across Otago are joining forces to tackle construction and demolition (C&D) waste, through a series of events around the region.
The events are being coordinated by Otago Regional Waste Officer Anna Robinson who works across Queenstown Lakes District Council, Clutha District Council, Dunedin City Council, Central Otago District Council, and Waitaki District Council. These events are aimed at connecting the industry and councils to work together to understand the extent of waste issues within the industry, to explore options which can help reduce costs of waste management, improve environmental outcomes, and highlight opportunities to work together to increase the range of possible solutions.
Ms Robinson said C&D waste – typically timber, plasterboard, packaging and metals makes up at least 40% of materials ending up in landfill each year in Aotearoa New Zealand, even more if you include soils from construction sites.
“Construction and demolition waste is a growing problem that will take collaboration across construction industry leaders, advocacy groups and councils to drive change.
“Options for designing waste out before building begins, along with managing C&D waste on-site, such as re-use, repurposing, and recycling, can save on costs through all stages of a build, while ensuring that best practice and consent requirements are met,” she said.
“A series of events are planned between 25 February and 9 March to help increase awareness of how to minimise on-site waste, use resources more effectively, and importantly, to strengthen connections across the sector,” she said.
The events series will begin with the ‘Building for Change’ lunchtime webinar on 25 February, from 12.00pm-1.00pm.
Facilitated by James Griffin of Sustainable Business Network, the webinar will provide an overview of where waste is generated across the value chain and how New Zealand is currently managing this waste. It will explore emerging technologies and highlight processes that can help to reduce waste and save on costs, even before building starts. It will also feature presentations by local building company Breen Construction and the Better Building Working Group of Wānaka.
Further in-person events will be scheduled between 3-9 March across the region with details to be shared with communities through each councils' regular communication channels.
ENDS|KUA MUTU.
Link to register for the webinar: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-otago-building-in-change-webinar
Media contact: Anna Robinson, anna.robinson@dcc.govt.nz
FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri
Website pages:
QLDC: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-recycling/construction-and-demolition-waste/
Clutha District Council: https://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/property-rates-and-building/rubbish-recycling-and-waste-minimisation
Dunedin City Council: Construction and demolition waste - Dunedin City Council
Central Otago District Council: https://www.codc.govt.nz/services/recycling-and-rubbish/9-waste-minimisation
Waitaki District Council: https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Services/Rubbish-Recycling-Waste-Minimisation
Otago Regional Council: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/waste/
