New centre to cut landfill waste
Recovery centre to open in autumn
Aresource recovery centre in Otaihanga is one step closer following the signing of a lease agreement between Kā piti Coast District Council, Localised and the Sustainability Trust.
Council chief executive Darren Edwards said the resource recovery centre, due to open in autumn 2024, will go a long way towards removing reusable materials from landfill and reducing emissions.
“This includes organic products such as timber and plasterboard that produce greenhouse gas emissions when broken down in the ground.
“With a growing number of housing developments around the district, and an expected population growth of 30,000 by 2050, it’s important for [the] council to enable sustainable long-term solutions for reusing construction and demolition waste that would otherwise go to landfill.
“Last year, Localised and
Sustainability Trust received a council waste levy grant of $150,000 per annum for three years.
“This seed funding will be used to operate a council-owned site at the Otaihanga transfer station.
“The lease agreement is for a fiveyear lease term, with an additional five-year right of refusal.
“The resource recovery centre is a great example of how we can address greenhouse gas emissions at the source, while continuing our commitment of supporting the community in an environmentally sustainable way.”
Localised chief executive Matthew Luxon said they’re rapt to be partnering with Sustainability Trust and the council on this new initiative.
“As the commercial arm of the Zero Waste Network, we’re connected to 120 members working in this space across the country. As zero-waste joint-venture partners, we use our experience, knowledge and skills to
unlock local solutions.
“Community-led resource recovery centres are a fantastic way to grow New Zealand’s circular economy while making it easy for local communities to do the right thing.”
Sustainability Trust is a social enterprise that supports Wellington communities to take climate change action.
Trust chairwoman Georgi Ferrari said by using an innovative procurement approach that prioritised social and environmental outcomes while achieving good value for ratepayers, Kāpiti Coast District Council is building on a long history of communityled resource recovery in New Zealand.
The council is partnering with other local councils to develop three community-led resource recovery centres within the region.
Funding from the Ministry for the Environment has been used to redevelop the Otaihanga site, which will be the first.
“This community-led resource recovery centre will focus on providing services at the top of the waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, repair and recycle), complementing the waste and resource recovery activities already provided by neighbouring operations,” Ferrari said.
“The vision for the hub is a thriving, vibrant destination for the community; a collaborative space that supports local resilience, the circular economy and regeneration.
“We’re aiming to have the site open in autumn 2024 for weekday commercial timber and building material drop-offs by appointment, with retail drop-offs available in the weekends.
“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the council to ensure the Otaihanga Resource Recovery Centre is a success for the Kāpiti Coast.”