We are trialling a new service at the Richmond Resource Recovery Centre to help divert more building material from landfill through re-use and recycling.
When
This trial is planned to run until 31 March 2025 and may be extended if successful. The service is currently available during normal RRC hours on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What
During the trial period, some re-usable and recyclable building materials will be accepted at the diversion facility free of charge, allowing customers to reduce their landfill costs.
Please read this general guide (pdf 739 KB) to what types of materials may be accepted. Please note that this list is subject to change and the quality/suitability of some materials can only be assessed at the facility.
How
After assessment by facility staff, you will be able to unload the accepted materials into the appropriate bin/area. After that, you can go to the weighbridge to drop off any remaining landfill material.
Who
Anyone can use the service, as long as their load can be safely sorted into the recycling/re-use bins by hand. E.g. trailer loads, ute loads.
Where
Richmond Resource Recovery Centre, 14 Fittal Street.
Construction and demolition (C&D) activities generate 40-50% of the total waste going to landfill in our country. A large proportion of these resources could be diverted from landfill by recycling or reuse, which hasn't been the case so far. We are committed to changing this by promoting sustainable practices in the building industry. Reducing C&D waste not only conserves valuable resources but also reduces the strain on our landfills, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and supports a healthier environment for our community.
Effective C&D waste reduction can be achieved through a combination of planning, resource management, and community engagement. Here are some key strategies to consider:
The Builder’s Breakfasts is a series of events that bring together industry members to discuss best practices, share experiences, and learn about the latest developments in C&D waste reduction. These informal breakfast meetings are usually held on an industry site and are a great place for networking and collaboration.
The events are open to anyone in the industry. To join the mailing list and get updates on the next event, email [email protected].
The Construction and Demolition Working Group brings together key industry stakeholders and local government representatives to identify the challenges in reducing C&D waste in this region, and to develop and implement strategies for overcoming these.
To register your interest in joining this working group, please email [email protected].
In partnership with Nelson City Council and Gibbons-Naylor, we have developed a C&D Waste Reduction Guide and Directory to support builders and contractors in their efforts to minimize waste.
This guide provides a Resource Diversion Directory and tips for effective waste management. The directory lists local services who may be able to offer C&D resource diversion solutions.
For more information on our C&D waste reduction initiatives, please contact [email protected] or check this page for updates on upcoming events and resources.
Our building and demolition waste recycling and reuse programme is gaining momentum.
The three-month phase of our construction and demolition diversion trial at the Richmond Resource Recovery Centre began in July and use of this facility is steadily trending higher.
During the first 60 days of operation, we received 174 loads, yielding a material diversion of 16.7 tonnes. Of this, around 65% was reusable and 35% recyclable.
Timber makes up the largest percentage of the recovered products followed by non-wood panels and sheets, flooring and insulation products, and then joinery.
Anyone can use the service if their load can be safely sorted into the recycling and reuse bins by hand. The process is straightforward, and we continue to work on streamlining the operation.
After assessment of your ute or trailer load by facility staff, you will be able to unload the accepted materials into the appropriate bin or area.
Most people take only a few minutes to unload materials otherwise destined for landfill, at no cost.
After that, you can go to the weighbridge to drop off any remaining landfill material in the usual way.
The success of the trial means we’ve pushed it out beyond the original planned three-month date and will now keep going until the end of March next year.
Our construction and demolition diversion operation runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
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