As C&D waste is a source of commercial waste, the council has limited influence over the construction industry’s behaviour of managing it. However, there is an opportunity to work across the industry from developers, architects, specifiers and quantity surveyors to manufacturers, builders and associated trades to support C&D waste diversion through better design and specification, uptake of deconstruction methods instead of demolition, and facilitating the recycle and reuse of materials.

Here’s a few research pieces commissioned for Auckland Council.

Auckland Council has done a Cost Benefit Analysis of Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion from Landfill, based on an HLC Ltd development in Auckland. This is a report on a high-level Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of two options proposed by Auckland Council’s Waste Solutions Unit for C&D waste diversion from landfill. For each proposed option, expenditure is spread across a series of activities that relate to each of the broad areas of focus identified for C&D waste diversion, namely awareness, infrastructure, brokerage, regulatory controls, training, job and business opportunities. 

Auckland Council undertook a qualitative research project with Colmar Brunton to better understand the industry sentiment towards waste reduction. Construction experts representing a broad range of the industry confirmed that any change needs to clearly articulate the industry benefits, ensure external market structures provide the capability to act sustainably, and be backed by regulation.

As part of the 2023 Waste Assessment, Auckland Council partnered with two developers to better understand in detail the nature of waste produced by residential builds.

Reducing construction waste is a big challenge given Auckland’s rapid population growth and the level of construction activity needed to meet the demand.

Auckland Council is working together with the construction industry to reduce waste to landfill. The reports from this project are available here and here.

Resources to help the industry reduce waste are developing rapidly.

www.buildingoutwaste.co.nz is a site with information and resources for the industry.

Environmental Innovation Centre are developing a waste resource hub and this will be appearing in late 2024. https://www.environmental-innovation.nz/initiatives

BRANZ are expanding and updating their REBRI and they have produced a map based directory for resource recovery and product stewardship schemes.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/bb89d799d47a491b9fa8da0116ccdf91

WasteXpert is a service to assist developers and building contractors to reduce site waste and implementation is currently being supported by a Waitemata Local Board Project.

Mutu is a service that helps contractor keep track of surplus materials, making them available for reuse both within the business and outside. This service is currently being supported by the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund.

Auckland Council has continued to pursue deconstruction and resource recovery in it’s own capital works programme. This approach will continue in the programme to clear sites affected by the storms in early 2023.