Reducing and recycling the Civic Administration Building

The building had to be demolished as it was irreparably damaged during the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. That demolition started in April this year. 

LT McGuinness site manager Rob Janes says the company is committed to minimising the environmental impact of their work. 

He says many items were able to be repurposed and donated to schools and charitable organisations.

"We were able to donate a wide range of items, including tables, chairs, filing cabinets, dishwashers, plates, cups, and carpet tiles. We even salvaged some lights.

"Anything you can think of, we found a way to get it reused."

Most of the building materials such as steel, concrete and copper cabling have also been recycled. 

"We sorted the steel into different grades, whether heavy or light gauge, and sent it for recycling," he explains. 

The building’s pre-cast concrete was taken to a processing plant in Lower Hutt to be turned into aggregate to be reused in a development in the Hutt Valley. 

Manager Waste Minimisation Renee Rushton says seeing the amount of reusable and recyclable materials being diverted from landfill is really encouraging. 

“As a city we have committed, through our zero-waste strategy, to divert 50 percent of construction and demolition waste from landfill by 2030 and 70 percent of construction and demolition waste from landfill by 2035.

“To achieve that goal, we need construction companies like LT McGuinness on board and willing to do as much as they can to recycle and divert waste from landfill.” 

Programme Manager Te Ngākau Farzad Zamani says as the project plans for the redevelopment of the civic precinct, it is dedicated to making sure it’s done in the most sustainable way possible. 

“The recycling and diversion of materials and re-usable items from CAB exemplifies our commitment to minimising waste and reducing the carbon footprint associated with this significant construction programme.”