Otago regional waste officer Anna Robinson said her newly established role would "connect the dots" across Otago.
"It’s a first for the region, so we see this as a great opportunity to not just address challenges that we face in the world of waste, but also provide this as a test case for future regional collaborative work as well," she said.
An 2023 analysis of Otago’s waste produced several recommendations including investment in a regional approach to waste and waste minimisation.
Addressing construction and demolition waste was an early goal, Ms Robinson, who is based in Central Otago, said.
Typically, timber, plasterboard, packaging and metals made up at least 40% of materials in landfill every year in New Zealand, more if soils from construction sites were included.
It was an issue which would require construction industry leaders, advocacy groups and councils to drive change, but already there were examples of construction and demolition waste minimisation in towns across the region, she said.
"Let’s bring the learnings from ... those approaches together and do something on a regional level so that we can begin connecting the dots right across the sector in Otago," she said.
"My role is primarily to make sure those regional opportunities are picked up and driven forward," Ms Robinson said.
A series of events were planned between February 25 and March 9 to increase awareness of how to minimise on-site waste, use resources more effectively and, importantly, strengthen connections across the sector, she said.
Other goals included and small-battery disposal, she said.
"We’re going for some low-hanging fruit to just get things happening, but also with an eye to what that bigger picture looks like as well, which is where that regional waste assessment really paints quite a clear picture for us.
"The crux of it is actually, let’s see if we can get everyone who’s in that space in the same room so we can begin to understand where we can influence change and perhaps have to lobby for change as well."
She works across the Central Otago, Clutha, Queenstown Lakes and Waitaki district councils, the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council.
