Recently our local councils Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council released a new Circular Economy Report for WBOP report on how certain industries could create a more circular economy with a particular focus on the construction, food/beverage and healthcare sectors.

The construction industry highlighted two problematic materials – concrete and plastic. Not a huge surprise but the report provided insight into how we as a region could solve the waste generated from these problematic materials.

Regional Collaboration

Our Circular Construction Collective is committed to reducing construction waste and diverting as much as possible from landfill through diversion and repurposing initiatives. Our most recent meeting was focused on concrete – it requires a huge amount of emissions to produce and the over ordered concrete and the demo concrete ends up in landfill.

We had a great representation of the concrete waste solutions at our meeting. We started with Steve from MixUP who presented on their eco-max concrete. They swap out certain materials which lowers the concrete carbon footprint. Klaudia from Envirocon presented on Interbloc, a system capturing concrete excess and diverting it from landfill. The blocks remain in use and can be used repeatedly for different applications.

Drew from Rock Stocks presented on their demo concrete that is being crushed and put back into the industry it came from. And lastly, A&J Demo presented on their reuse and repurposing approach to demolition. Saving what they can and giving it another life. 

Future Focus

The Circular Construction Collective share their waste diversion initiatives and are focused on the future of building better for the environment. This group is connected to SBNs national build out waste in the construction sector programme of work. Together with industry and local councils we are committed to driving our region forward to a more circular economy.

If you’d like to find out more please contact Sustainability Lead Marissa Nikora at Marissa@priorityone.co.nz