Waste Not: Highlights
Pacific Coast News
Across our villages and offices, residents and teams are taking practical steps to reduce waste, reuse materials, and improve recycling, from soft plastic and metal cap collections to eyewear donations and other targeted initiatives. Here are some of the latest highlights.
For the Love of Coffee at The Foundation
The Foundation’s Coffee Capsule Collection was introduced after residents asked for an easy way to recycle their daily coffee capsules. Collection stations in service rooms and areas now have dedicated bins for used capsules, which are then sent to Nespresso for specialised recycling in Auckland.
Each capsule is given a second life: the coffee grounds help produce renewable energy in Reporoa, the aluminium capsule is repurposed through Phoenix Metalman Recycling, and the recycled postage bags used are transformed into fence posts in Waiuku. It means your morning coffee not only tastes good — it does a little good too.
Anyone can take part in the scheme by ordering a Doorstep Collection Recycling Bag or dropping capsules at participating collection points nationwide.
Food Waste Recycling
In October 2025, The Russley Village introduced bins from Hungry Worms for food scraps from their food and beverage operations that could not be processed on site. Hungry Worms is a Canterbury based organisation that converts operational food scraps into compost and liquid fertiliser. From October to December 2025, The Russley Village diverted 4,087.8 kg of food waste from landfill, preventing an estimated 10,219.5 kg of CO₂e emissions. This is equivalent to taking 2.2 petrol cars off the road for one year. As this dataset continues to grow, we look forward to providing clearer annual projections and deeper insights into the long-term environmental impact of this partnership.
While all sites throughout the country separate food waste, Hungry Worms is a great example of a local, small-scale solution that keeps nutrients in the community and reduces transport emissions.
Putting a Lid on It
Many people aren’t aware that, since February 2024, lids of any size or material can no longer go in kerbside recycling in New Zealand. Across our villages, metal wine and beer caps are already separated. Pacific Coast Village has taken this a step further by collecting additional lids from the hospitality operation, such as milk and juice bottle tops, and recycling these through the Caps and Lids Recycling Programme or Precious Plastics. Some supermarkets and recycling centres offer drop off points for certain types of lids and caps, providing another option for those who wish to participate.
Considering that around 60% of household grocery items have a cap or lid, proper separation is a simple way to improve recycling quality
Spring Clean Success
Villages across the country continued the annual Spring Clean initiative, donating quality household items to local charities and ensuring e-waste was processed through approved recycling channels. At The Russley Village, for example, residents partnered with Foster Hope to support young people transitioning out of foster care into their first flat, providing essential household items and a sense of dignity and care.
Pacific Coast and Pacific Lakes have maintained their long standing partnership with Waipuna Hospice, donating household items collected during the Spring Clean to support the organisation’s work in the community. Alongside the waste reduction benefits, residents often say that donating items to a meaningful cause adds a welcome ‘feel good’ element to the process. Initiatives like these divert usable goods from landfill, improve waste stream separation, and strengthen community connections.
Resident-led Initiatives
Across our villages, residents continue to drive an impressive range of community minded initiatives, from knitting projects and donation drives to fundraising events and volunteering their time. These resident led activities support a wide variety of causes and reflect the generosity, creativity, and social spirit that make our villages such vibrant places to live.
Corporate Office Cuts Waste
The Generus Living Auckland office has implemented several low cost, high impact waste reduction measures, including:
— clear bin signage to reduce contamination
— food scrap separation using compostable liners
— soft plastic collection
‘It’s been really rewarding implementing these new sustainability initiatives. The team has embraced the changes, and it’s made a noticeable difference already.’ – Sarah Withell, Group Lawyer.
Challenges and Continuous Improvement
As part of our waste reduction work, several villages have trialled ways to recycle or repurpose larger refurbishment items. Not all trials have proven viable long term. One recent partnership was discontinued due to increasing handling requirements, inconsistent collection timeframes, and the risk of bulky items being left in unsuitable areas.
These learnings help refine our approach, highlight operational constraints, and guide us toward solutions that are practical, safe, and sustainable for each village. We continue to explore new opportunities and will keep trialling options that support our waste reduction goals
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