Pipe Waste Utilization

Design changes mid-construction are not an uncommon occurrence, and something we, as constructors, see quite often. And though we do our best to ensure no materials go to waste, we inevitably see that some materials are left in excess when they are no longer needed. In the case of concrete pipe, this can result in minor damages inflicted when the pipe is moved around. Though structurally sound, small cracks or chips in the end render the pipe unfit for our projects.

Over the years, we have accumulated a number of concrete pipes that we can no longer use. On our journey to tackle more sustainable practices, the pipe is listed on our resource sharing platform, Mutu. Traditionally this would allow the damaged pipes to be used for temporary works instead of going to waste. However, the team from Mutu had flagged that the small diameter pipes were not being used. The team at Mutu put us in touch with Federated Farmers Hawkes Bay, whom have a large task ahead of them with the current cyclone recovery works. More than happy to help, the pipes were gathered in one central location in Auckland and picked up by our transporter while it was already enroute to the Hawkes Bay, so that they could be used for farm track culverts amongst various other farm uses.