Project media

Otaihanga timber pyrolysis for soil regeneration

New Zealand
Education, Other, Technology
KA
Kapiti Zero Waste
New Zealand
Nonprofit

Otaihanga Zero Waste is a community-focused organization on the Kāpiti Coast that specializes in revaluing, reusing, and repurposing construction and demolition waste and electronics. We offer services such as the sale of reusable materials, drop-off for recycling, and meeting room hire for values-aligned businesses, serving individuals and businesses looking to reduce waste and find sustainable solutions for building materials.

Project story

The Waste Timber to Biochar Initiative

Every year, construction sites generate massive amounts of timber waste—accounting for nearly 30% of all new building materials. We're changing that.

Our initiative transforms this waste into biochar, a valuable product with real market demand. Using low-pressure pyrolysis, we'll convert untreated and minimally treated timber into biochar that regenerates soil, purifies waterways, and sequesters carbon.

Here's how it works: We're building an onsite kiln to process waste timber through a proven system. We'll start with untreated timber to establish our process, then expand to treated framing timber as we scale up.

The impact is significant. This circular solution reduces landfill volumes, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and creates a sustainable product for agriculture, landscaping, and environmental restoration. Local water and land users benefit from improved soil quality and cleaner waterways.

By supporting this project, you're backing a solution that aligns with national waste minimization goals while creating genuine commercial opportunity. It's construction waste reimagined as environmental restoration.

Project updates

Team

BW
Ben WakefieldKapiti Zero Waste, New Zealand

Location

New Zealand