West Coast councils seek sustainable solutions for construction and demolition waste
The West Coast's four councils have secured $900,000 of funding to defer construction and demolition waste from landfill.
The Buller District Council, Grey District Council, Westland District Council (WDC), and the West Coast
Regional Council (WCRC) secured the funding from the Waste
Minimisation Fund (WMF).
WCRC consents and compliance manager Colin Helem said the focus was primarily on the recovery, reuse, and reprocessing of construction materials such as timber and steel to cut down the significant volumes of building waste entering landfills.
"It is not about building a landfill for construction and demolition waste.”
WDC operations manager Erle Bencich said consultant company Tonkin + Taylor would complete a feasibility study to test the project’s market viability. The results were expected at the end of the year.
“We target January 2023 to review the outcome of the feasibility study and decide how to proceed," Buller District Council solid waste management coordinator Juliana Ruiz said.
The WMF supports projects in New Zealand that increase the reuse, recovery, and recycling of materials. The WMF was set up by central government and is financed out of waste disposal levies.
Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠
If a zookeeper had 100 pairs of animals in her zoo, and two pairs of babies are born for each one of the original animals, then (sadly) 23 animals don’t survive, how many animals do you have left in total?
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Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.5% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.4% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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