Building firm skips trips to dump

Coastal Homes staff members Perin Walker (left), Glen Bradbury and Dave Hoult.

A Northland building company has been recognised for its efforts to protect the environment.

Doubtless Bay building company Coastal Homes was awarded a Gold ecostar award for leading the way in recycling building waste and preventing much of it going to landfills.

To achieve a gold star award, the business must have no more than 10 per cent recyclable material in its rubbish.

Company director and master builder Glen Bradbury said he was extremely proud to get the award, but credited his staff for going the extra mile to keep New Zealand green.

"Building sites create a lot of waste and it is often hard to recycle. You've got treated timber, concrete, polystyrene, plastic and cardboard packaging, and a range of metals. Unfortunately, it's easy to throw it all into a rubbish skip and send it to landfill. Traditionally, that's what most builders do."

But Coastal Homes has worked hard to break old habits and, for the past eight years, has used different bins to separate waste at both building sites and its main depot.

An audit conducted by ecostar said that Coastal Homes demonstrated an outstanding commitment to positive recycling behaviour.

"They manage a coherent commercial scale recycling system. Some minor improvements can still take place, such as making sure staff recycle their own food packaging, however good systems are in place."

The ecostar award was established by the Far North District Council to recognise Far North Businesses committed to reducing waste and their environmental footprint.

Ecostar provides organisations with a structured process for the development, implementation and maintenance of a waste minimisation plan. Companies receive ecostar awards by successfully passing an on-site audit.

These are conducted by third-party verifiers, CBEC EcoSolutions.

The Ministry for the Environment says construction and demolition waste could account for up to 50 per cent of all waste generated in New Zealand and 20 per cent of all waste going to landfill.

Mr Bradbury says recycling is not only good for the local community and the environment; it also reduces building costs and gives his clients best value for money.