Zero Waste: Construction & Demolition

To find out more about current trends in construction and demolition, visit the sites listed below.

Victoria University, Wellington

• The State of Deconstruction in NZ 2003 - Synopsis (August 2003) (PDF 328KB) is the latest report from the Centre of Building Performance Research at Victoria University. It examines the economic and environmental benefits of deconstruction techniques in the demolition industry.

• School of Architecture & Design - ‘Making material out of waste’ – May 2003.
  Students have been working on solutions to the construction and demolition waste problem in New Zealand as part of the Sustainable Architecture course.
  Key ‘problem’ wastes were identified including plasterboard, rubber tyres, specific plastics and timber off-cuts. Students were then challenged to create new and innovative building materials from this waste.

Contact John Storey () or Maibritt Pedersen () for further information.

REBRI (Resource Efficiency in the Building and Related Industry).

• Promotes, advocates and assists resource efficiency measures in the building and related industries.
• Is a joint initiative of the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) and the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ).
• Is part of a consortium of groups currently working with the Ministry for the Environment exploring ways to reduce construction waste going to landfill.
  www.rebri.org.nz

Ward Demolition

• Has a strong commitment to recycling and the re-use of recovered materials.
• Ward Resource Recovery was established three years ago to utilise an increasing amount of recovered resources, such as demolition debris that is crushed into an alternative high grade aggregate.

http://www.ward-demolition.co.nz/  

New Zealand Institute of Architects

A motion was passed at the 2003 Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Architects confirming that "the NZIA demonstrates support for the principle of working towards achieving zero waste in our cities by directing Council to put in place a strategy to promote zero waste at all levels."

For more information go to www.nzia.co.nz

onSITE

• is an Australian website providing an efficient and effective way to access information on waste avoidance and resource recovery specifically related to construction and demolition.

http://onsite.rmit.edu.au/  

EcoSpecifier

• A directory containing information about eco-materials that are commercially available in Australia.
• Its practical aim is to help architects, designers, builders and specifiers shortcut the materials sourcing process for environmentally preferable materials that are commercially available in Australia.

http://ecospecifier.rmit.edu.au/  

The Centre for Design

• works with industry to design greener products and services, and to develop more strategic environmental directions.
• advises government agencies on policy and programmes to reduce environmental impacts through design, explores new design concepts and scenarios for a sustainable future and maintains a national and international network of research and information exchange in environmental design.

http://www.cfd.rmit.edu.au/