Zero Waste Awards 2021
On the evening of Thursday 29 July, our main contractor Link Alliance was named the joint winner of the innovation category with TROW Group for the 2021 Tāmaki Makaurau Zero Waste Awards.
The Link Alliance received the award for work done around waste diversion during demolition works at Mt Eden. The awards night was a chance to celebrate individuals, groups and organisations working towards Auckland’s goal to be zero waste by 2040.
Early in the project, we needed to demolish over 40 buildings to make way for the rail tunnels and stations. During the early planning stages, it was decided that our demolition works would be carried out in a way that maximized the reuse and recycling of materials, provided opportunities for Māori and Pasifika businesses, preserved built heritage, and resulted in positive social outcomes.
The project selectively deconstructed buildings prior to demolition. Materials were salvaged, reused, and recycled as much as possible - we even relocated two historic/iconic buildings saving them from demolition.
In total Link Alliance achieved 98 per cent diversion of all demolition waste from landfill!
Buildings were first surveyed in collaboration with City Rail Link Ltd and Auckland Council to identify what could be salvaged. We then partnered with TROW Group, who specialise in the deconstruction and soft strip of buildings.
TROW Group recovered reusable resources including cupboards, desks, insulation, shelving, lights, doors, air conditioning units and toilets.
More than 58 tonnes of usable materials were shipped to Tonga to assist with the rebuild of churches and schools following cyclone Gita. In addition, some materials were provided to New Zealand church groups.
Ward Demolition, a locally-owned and operated business, then undertook demolition of the buildings with a focus on recovering and recycling as much material as possible. Ward Demolition crushed over 13,000 tonnes of concrete onsite and recycled over 500 tonnes of steel.
The majority of the concrete recovered was crushed on-site and reused for haul roads and piling platforms. Steel was recovered and recycled, and some additional materials were salvaged for reuse also.
The use of crushed concrete onsite was an integral part of our sustainable demolition approach, eliminating the need for disposal of any concrete to waste.
Altogether, 62 tonnes of usable materials were salvaged and redistributed, and 18,000 tonnes of materials were recovered or recycled.