If 2024 has taught us anything, waste costs are on a relentless rise. With fewer recycling options in New Zealand and the implementation of waste levies and local authority levies, managing waste has become increasingly challenging.
In 2024, the team at Total Utilities successfully managed $13.7 million worth of Waste and Recycling tenders, achieving impressive savings of $3.5 million for our clients. These savings ranged from as high as 59% to an average of 26%.
Looking ahead to 2025
However, the current cost trajectory is clear: expenses will continue to climb with another round of waste levies starting on July 1st, municipal landfill increases, and annual price hikes from service providers. For instance, the “waste collection” producer price index increased by 5.9% between November 2023 and 2024[1].
The closure of the OJI Fibre processing plant in Auckland has added another layer of complexity. All cardboard now needs to be exported, which incurs additional freight costs to recycling destinations offshore. This change has resulted in reduced returns for both processors and clients. Oji Fibre Solutions will continue to recycle around 90,000 tonnes of cardboard annually at its Kinleith Mill[2].
Despite these challenges, there is some positive movement in the industry. The expansion and acquisitions of waste and recycling providers foster competition, especially in regional locations. Globally the waste recycling services market is estimated to grow from USD 124.23 billion in 2024 to USD 155.55 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.60%[3].
How Total Utilities Can Help
Total Utilities is dedicated to assisting you in reviewing your current waste contracts, focusing on pricing, efficiencies, and diversion rates. We offer advisory services to help you evaluate your options and find solutions for increased diversions, enabling you to make informed decisions about your waste contracts.
By staying proactive and informed, you can better manage your waste contracts, optimise costs and efficiencies, and make strategic decisions for your business’s future.
Discover how Total Utilities can help you streamline your Waste Procurement, reduce costs, and provide comprehensive reporting.
In the past three to five years, legislative changes have prompted many New Zealand businesses to evaluate their contributions towards the country’s net carbon zero targets. Despite their commitment to sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions, many companies find themselves stuck at the implementation stage due to a lack of necessary data.
The Importance of Data in Sustainability
The journey towards sustainability is fundamentally dependent on data. Data is crucial, from setting decarbonisation goals to determining the actions needed to achieve those goals and monitoring progress. Most sustainability projects involve significant investments in onsite energy generation, transitioning to renewable energy sources, diversifying the energy mix, or investing in more efficient machinery.
Granular data collected at the machine, process, and facility levels empowers decision-makers to justify their investments and confidently implement sustainability initiatives.
Establishing Baselines and Monitoring Progress
Once an investment decision is made, organisations need to establish baselines and monitor progress. Highly accurate IoT devices can measure energy use and emissions across critical machinery, creating a baseline for tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement. Monitoring energy consumption, operational efficiency, and emission levels allows organisations to set realistic, data-backed sustainability targets, monitor initiatives over time, and collect the data needed to meet reporting obligations.
Case Study: The Power of Data in Action
A national retail chain, a client of Total Utilities, demonstrates the power of data in action. The Panoramic Power Energy Intelligence solution helped identify out-of-hours energy waste equivalent to 51,000kg of Scope 2 CO2 emissions. By using Panoramic Power sensors to measure the energy consumption of their HVAC system, they identified an opportunity to optimise these assets during non-operational hours, achieving $105,000 per year in total energy cost savings.
Criteria for Effective Data Utilisation
For data to successfully drive sustainability initiatives forward, it must meet the following criteria:
Generate Insights: Organisations striving for net zero need more than just raw data; they need actionable insights. A robust data tool is required to generate these insights, allowing key stakeholders to visualise the full energy picture, identify sources of waste, and determine where interventions will have the most significant economic and environmental impact.
Be Readily Shareable: Companies worldwide often suffer from data silos, where relevant data does not reach those who need it for daily operations. A data tool that facilitates easy sharing across departments and stakeholders empowers both site and management levels to carry out their tasks efficiently and accurately.
Ease Reporting Obligations: Organisations face increasing pressure to collect and maintain accurate emissions and resource consumption data and report on decarbonisation efforts. A data-driven energy monitoring strategy provides a clear view of energy and carbon performance and generates detailed reports required for regulatory and legislative compliance with Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Harness Energy Intelligence and Boost Your Sustainability Initiatives
When organisations have confidence in their data, they can better manage their energy use. Data will be the cornerstone of successful sustainability journeys going forward. By collecting, analysing, and acting on data-driven insights, manufacturing organisations can bridge the gap between commitments and implementation, achieve net-zero goals, and build a more sustainable future.
How Total Utilities Can Help
Our expert team can help you unlock significant energy savings with a short-term return on investment (ROI). Typically, we can identify up to 25% savings with an ROI of less than 2 years.
We offer the easiest-to-install, and fastest for ROI energy management solution, that scales effortlessly from a few devices to full-site or multi-site operations. Experience actionable insights and real-time analytics that drive efficiency and sustainability. Our solutions work for everyone, helping your organisation kickstart cultural transformation towards a sustainable future.
We’re delighted to welcome Dave Booker to the Total Utilities team as our new Process Improvement Engineer. His expertise will undoubtedly enhance our commitment to delivering exceptional service.
Dave brings decades of experience from industries like pulp, paper and steel, where he’s known for his hands-on approach to solving complex technical problems.
His background in troubleshooting and strategic process improvements makes him the perfect fit for our goal of delivering smarter, more efficient energy solutions.
At Total Utilities, Dave will focus on optimising our Panoramic Power energy monitoring and intelligence platform, a key tool in tracking energy consumption for our clients.
His job? To make sure the data captured by these units doesn’t just sit in spreadsheets but becomes a powerful tool to cut costs and improve efficiency.
Turning Data into Action
“It’s not just about collecting data,” Dave says, “It’s about transforming that data into insights that show clients exactly where they can reduce energy and put their resources to best use.”
With rising power prices and operational costs becoming a major concern for businesses, Dave’s role is more crucial than ever. “What we’re aiming for is visibility,” he adds. “We want to give clients a clear understanding of how their systems are performing, where inefficiencies lie, and what can be done about them—before small issues turn into costly problems.”
By analysing mechanical performance and predicting failures before they happen, Dave is confident that his work with Panoramic Power will not only prevent breakdowns but also boost long-term sustainability and operational savings.
His practical, methodical approach to problem-solving has been honed through years of experience. His previous roles as a Process Engineer and Technical Superintendent have sharpened his ability to instinctively find solutions, often before the problem fully reveals itself.
Driving Efficiency, Cutting Costs
Whether it’s transforming raw energy data into useful information or strategically planning capital investments, Dave is always looking for ways to get more with less, ensuring that any investment in technology delivers real, tangible results.
When he’s not busy turning data into action, he’s a keen Harley Davidson enthusiast and also enjoys turning his hand to home improvements.
We welcome Dave to the team, and look forward to seeing the impact he will make as he applies his expertise to help our clients navigate the challenges of rising operational costs and energy consumption.
Ready to optimise your energy usage and cut operational costs? Connect with Dave and the team today to discover how our data-driven solutions can work for you.
In today’s evolving sustainability landscape, staying ahead of carbon management and ESG reporting challenges is critical.
At Total Utilities, we understand the complexity businesses and sustainability professionals face. That’s why we offer our Carbon Footprinting & Reporting service, powered by Net0.
This cutting-edge AI platform automates carbon calculations, identifies reduction opportunities, and simplifies compliance for ESG reporting.
Key benefits of our Carbon Footprinting & Reporting service:
Streamlines Carbon Management: Net0’s AI automates complex carbon calculations, drastically reducing the time needed to measure emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3. With real-time data collection, it keeps businesses on top of their carbon footprint—no more manual data entry or messy spreadsheets. For sustainability professionals, this means less time spent chasing numbers and more time focusing on strategic initiatives that drive change.
Identifies Key Reduction Opportunities: Beyond simply measuring emissions, Net0 uncovers specific carbon reduction opportunities tailored to your operations and objectives. This enables businesses to make informed decisions quickly, helping them meet carbon goals while reducing costs. It’s a win-win, benefiting both the planet and your bottom line.
Simplifies ESG Reporting: Ensuring ESG reporting is accurate and compliant with industry standards is often a major challenge. Net0 consolidates data, automates report generation, and ensures compliance with regulatory and investor expectations. This gives sustainability leaders peace of mind, knowing their reports are comprehensive and transparent.
Why Net0 & Total Utilities? With decades of experience supporting New Zealand businesses in their sustainability and energy journeys, Total Utilities combines best in class expertise with Net0’s AI-driven platform to offer a seamless, effective solution. Our approach aligns sustainability efforts with business objectives, helping drive both environmental impact and financial performance.
Ready to transform your carbon management strategy? Contact us or comment below to learn how Total Utilities can fast-track your sustainability initiatives and help you stay ahead of ESG requirements.
By Pravind Singh, Sustainable Business Improvement Manager, Total Utilities
While waste may not be high on glamour-factor, it certainly has a major impact on the environment and your business’s bottom line.
That’s why we need to get passionate about opportunities to achieve meaningful change through innovative, practical, and cost effective waste and recycling practices.
As Total Utilities’ Sustainable Business Improvement Manager, I’ve seen a growing trend where clients and businesses’ potential partners—such as those awarding tenders—are increasingly choosing companies that prioritise environmentally responsible practices.
That’s why we focus on making waste management simpler, more cost-effective, and closely aligned with our clients’ sustainability goals. Our approach turns waste into an opportunity– meeting the increasing demand for accurate reporting and carbon emissions reduction.
At Total Utilities, our goal is to transform waste management into a strategic advantage for your business through:
Cost Savings: Helping you cut waste costs from day one.
Operational efficiency: Simplify waste handling and reporting to save both time and inconvenience.
Sustainability: Boosting recycling and green practices for positive environmental outcomes.
Results that Speak for Themselves
The impact of our work is truly rewarding. For example, we recently helped Mitre 10 with a large-scale waste and recycling project, leading to significant savings and streamlined operations. Here’s a snippet from their glowing recommendation:
“Partnering once again after our successful initial waste and recycling project in 2020 is a testament to the consistently high standards of Total Utilities… The impact of this project extends beyond mere savings; it has also enabled us to streamline operations and introduce sustainable solutions on a national scale.” — Vinay Linus, Head of Indirect Procurement, Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Ltd. Full testimonial here.
Another recent testimonial comes from Dilworth who we helped achieve a whopping 43% reduction in waste costs, effectively transforming their waste management practices. Read the full testimonial here.
Other examples include consolidating waste services for a major hotel group, saving $105,000 annually (21% reduction), and centralising waste procurement for a NZ bakery, achieving $27,842 in annual savings (15% reduction).
The list goes on…
Our Waste Services
Here’s how we can support your financial and sustainability objectives:
Waste Procurement and RFP Bid Process: We analyse your current services and secure competitive proposals, reducing costs and aligning with your sustainability goals.
Smart Waste Audits: Detailed site analysis and tailored recommendations, including hands-on education and senior management collaboration, to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
Clear Reporting: Intuitive tools provide clear insights into your waste data, enabling informed decisions that save time and cut costs.
Tailored Waste and Recycling Solutions: We source and select the best waste and recycling options, ensuring competitive rates and high-quality service.
It’s time to get passionate about waste, people! The opportunities to do better for the planet, while saving you time, money, and hassle in the process are endless. It feels good to do something worthwhile.
Get in touch today to discuss how we can help you reduce costs and meet your sustainability goals.
We’re excited to share this testimonial from Mitre 10! See how our partnership has helped Mitre 10 achieve significant savings and drive innovative waste practices across its New Zealand operations:
“Partnering once again after our successful initial waste and recycling project in 2020 is a testament to the consistently high standards of Total Utilities. This ongoing collaboration with the Mitre 10 cooperative has resulted in substantial cost savings and the signing of over 10 contracts across the country, each customised to meet the specific requirements of our retail sites. The impact of this project extends beyond mere savings; it has also enabled us to streamline operations and introduce sustainable solutions on a national scale.
Pravind, representing Total Utilities, has been an instrumental part of this success. His unwavering diligence and adaptability have ensured that all cooperative requirements were met with precision, even as we navigated various changes throughout the project. His proactive approach and commitment to client satisfaction have made the process seamless and transparent.
This collaboration exemplifies the strength of long-term partnerships in achieving strategic objectives while fostering innovation and responsible business practices.”
Vinay Linus Head of Indirect Procurement Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Ltd
Ready to transform your business with tailored waste solutions? No matter what your business size, we can help. Reach out today and let’s chat about how we can help you cut costs and achieve your sustainability goals!
