Crushed recycled glass processed in Central Otago could be used for construction throughout the district.
Options were being explored by Central Otago District Council and one of its major contractors, Fulton Hogan, a report from council environmental engineering manager Quinton Penniall to the council's waste and property infrastructure meeting this week said.
Fulton Hogan has the physical works contracts for the council at present. This covers roading, water, wastewater and stormwater.
The company also operated a quarry and asphalt plant at Parkburn, where glass crushing had previously occurred, Mr Penniall's report said.
Fulton Hogan had been researching and developing various initiatives to ensure its own business practices were sustainable, and discussing the implementation of these with council staff, Mr Penniall said.
Three company representatives gave a presentation to councillors about Fulton Hogan practices to reduce its carbon footprint, which included an increasing use of biofuels and a trial using an asphalt mix made with recycled waste plastic incorporated into the bitumen binder of the asphalt. Half of Christchurch Airport's fire station had been paved with PlastiPhalt, a "proprietary asphaltic product" developed and manufactured by Fulton Hogan, Fulton Hogan environmental and sustainability manager Sophie Kennedy said.
Council infrastructure services executive manager Julie Muir said it was hoped glass crushing could again be done at Parkburn, and the council could then specify the use of that glass in its construction contracts.
As well, the possibility of material from the district's yellow recycling bins being sorted at the council's Cromwell transfer station was also being investigated, Ms Muir said.
