A new ecolabel specification – which hopes to minimise the amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste going to landfill – has been launched at the recent WasteMINZ conference called the EC-59 C&D Waste Services. The specification has been developed by the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust (NZET), who hope that the new label will help consumers and organisations support sustainable waste services companies, and it will also help verify waste-diversion credits in the NZGBC Green Star rating system. 

General manager of the NZET, Francesca Lipscombe, says, “As the official ecolabel for New Zealand, our goal has been to deliver a powerful ecolabel that incentivises good practices in C&D waste services. The specification answers a real need in the market and will drive positive change by differentiating service providers by their environmental impact. The Environmental Choice New Zealand (ECNZ) label will lend verified providers kudos with customers. Those with the label will be recognised as top performers who reliably demonstrate best-practice around waste minimisation, from waste reduction through recovery, reuse and recycling.” 

The NZET reports, “Research shows that by weight, the C&D industry is one of the largest waste producers in the country and makes up around half of all waste going to landfill. A feasibility study by the Trust also found that the most significant issue is the amount of material going straight into landfill when it could be reused.” 

The specification was developed over 18 months, with support from a grant from Auckland Council’s Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund. It will be awarded on a project basis and includes best-practice measures to divert waste from landfills, including reuse and recycling of materials.  

Click here to read more about the EC-59 C&D Waste Services ecolabel specification.