New Resource Recovery Facility a Step Closer for Whitianga

The facility will be located at the district’s new Refuse Transfer Station and will help keep valuable building materials out of landfill and in circulation within the community.

Resource Recovery Project Moves Forward

The project was first announced in April 2022, when the original Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Wāhi Tukurua and the Ministry for the Environment.

While both organisations were ready to move ahead, development of the resource recovery facility was dependent on construction of the new Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station.

With work on the new RTS now progressing, the renewed agreement confirms the Ministry’s continued investment and enables Wāhi Tukurua to move into the next stage of planning and delivery.

Wāhi Tukurua Chair Tracey Bell says reaching this stage is an important milestone.

“This is a milestone we’ve been working towards for several years. The vision has always been clear, but we’ve needed the wider RTS development to reach this point before we could move forward.

“Now that the site is progressing, we’re excited to focus on delivering a facility that will create long-term environmental, social and economic benefits for our district.”

Keeping Valuable Building Materials Out of Landfill

Construction, renovations and redevelopment across the Coromandel generate large quantities of materials that may still have plenty of useful life left in them.

Timber, windows, doors, cabinetry, fixtures and fittings are among the items that can often be reused rather than sent to landfill.

Once operational, the new resource recovery facility will provide builders, contractors, renovators and members of the wider community with a place to divert suitable building and construction materials.

Those recovered resources can then be made available for reuse, helping support affordable building projects, community initiatives and opportunities within the local circular economy.

Recovering these materials also reduces the volume of waste being disposed of and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing and transporting new materials.

A Strong Partnership with the Ministry for the Environment

Tracey says Wāhi Tukurua is particularly grateful for the Ministry for the Environment’s ongoing support throughout the project.

“The team at MfE has been incredibly supportive from the beginning. Their partnership has extended well beyond financial investment.

“They’ve been constructive, collaborative and genuinely committed to helping us realise this vision, even when circumstances beyond anyone’s control delayed progress.”

A Resource for the Whole Thames-Coromandel Community

The new facility is part of a broader goal to reduce construction and demolition waste across the district while creating more opportunities for reuse.

As planning progresses, Wāhi Tukurua is encouraging local builders, tradies, demolition contractors, businesses, community groups and residents to become involved.

“There will be many opportunities for the community to help shape the success of this facility,” Tracey says.

“Whether it’s recovering materials, volunteering, sharing expertise or simply supporting the initiative, this is a project that belongs to the whole district.”

Building a More Circular Coromandel

With construction of the new Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station underway, the Building and Construction Resource Recovery Facility is set to become an important part of the Thames-Coromandel’s waste minimisation infrastructure.

For Wāhi Tukurua, the refreshed agreement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

It is another step towards keeping valuable resources in use for longer, reducing construction waste sent to landfill and building a stronger circular economy across the Coromandel Peninsula.