Driving Waste Diversion and Sustainability at AUT

2 Minute Read

Sector

Education

Services

Waste and Recycling

Region

New Zealand

White outlined capital letters AUT on a solid black background.
A modern glass building with AUT signage stands beside tall apartment blocks and a historic brick building with red roofs, all facing a wet street at dusk.

Executive Summary

In July 2023, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) partnered with OCS New Zealand’s WasteLine division to transform waste services across its three campuses. The goal: lift landfill diversion from 18–20% to 50%. Through onsite waste consolidation, hand-sorting, and transparent reporting, diversion now sits consistently between 45–50%, with more than 220 tonnes of waste kept out of landfill in the first year. The partnership supports AUT’s broader sustainability strategy, including emissions reduction, circular resource use, and social procurement.

4 Fast Facts

  • 30000

    Students and staff

  • 3

    Campuses

  • 45-50%

    Landfill diversion

  • 220+

    Tonnes Diverted from landfill in first 12 months

Large white hashtag letters spell out #AUTUNI in front of a modern glass building with blue geometric patterns and reflections, on a wet paved surface.

The brief

AUT is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest tertiary institutions and a leader in sustainability innovation. With limited visibility over actual waste volumes and diversion rates sitting around 18–20%, the university needed a partner to:

Improve landfill diversion through onsite waste sorting
Deliver transparent, data-led reporting
Support long-term sustainability goals, including emissions reduction and circular resource use
A modern, open-concept building with large glass windows, multiple floors, and people walking or sitting in common areas. The space features bright natural light and contemporary architectural elements.

The outcome

OCS WasteLine implemented a tailored service model covering general waste, organics, recycling, cardboard, paper, and e-waste. Accurate waste data revealed volumes nearly double the original estimates, enabling resources to be scaled for performance.

Key actions and results included:

Introducing post-disposal hand-sorting to recover more materials
Increasing landfill diversion to 45–50% in 12 months
Diverting 50 tonnes of organics and 30 tonnes of plastic from landfill annually
Partnering with Abilities Group to recycle e-waste and create local employment opportunities for people with disabilities
Providing detailed monthly reports on weights, costs, and diversion rates
Since launch, the programme has expanded to new areas of AUT, reflecting a shared commitment to ongoing environmental improvement.

“Of all the waste reduction initiatives AUT has implemented over the past 10 years, the OCS WasteLine initiative has provided the greatest reduction in waste to landfill. Our next focus is dealing with changes to the broader system.”

Lucy McKenzie

Head of Sustainability, AUT

“If they wanted the cheapest option, we could have delivered that. But AUT wanted results – and they were willing to invest in better outcomes. That’s what makes this partnership work.”

Chris Wood

National WasteLine Solutions Manager

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