| 51 “We’ve positioned ourselves to lead Aotearoa/New Zealand’s circular economy to contribute to the country’s United Nations Sustainable Development Goals up to 2030 and beyond.” Phoenix Metalman Recycling: Taupo Yard T T Hugh de Lacy One-site recycling yard now nationwide Phoenix has also focused on delivering circular solutions for the country’s decommissioned energy infrastructure, with downstream recycling solutions for non-metal components like glass, porcelain and transformer oil. CONTRACTING Around 11,000 people walk through the doors of the 19 branches of nationwide metal recycling company Phoenix Recycling Group every month, which equated to about 300,000 loads a year of a periodic table of metal types recovered, raw materials for the sustainable manufacturing of many essentials we use every day. The company started as one site, progressing over time to the business it is today, recently dropping “Metalman” in favour of “Recycling” to add emphasis to its diversified recycled products and services, and the environmental role of Phoenix’s supply chain delivering recycled materials as an alternative to mined natural resources. Founder Eldon Reeve, who has a 15-year background in the recovered metals industry, started with a single branch in Otahuhu, Auckland, that he slowly grew to six sites by 2020 through business acquisitions and new brown-fields locations. Eldon’s wife, Hilary West-Reeve, paused her 30-years occupation as a commercial architect and together they launched a rapid expansion, adding 13 more sites over the next three years. Bringing in a strategic 50% partner, Forthco, in 2022 enabled Phoenix to scale efficiently, adding governance and systems management to build a sustainable nationwide business with over 240 staff. The latest of those sites is a soon-to-open purpose-built yard in Taupo of more than 4000m2, green-fielded on an old timber landfill site in the region’s industrial area. It’s supported by new infrastructure as well as buildings re-used from various de-construction sites. The driver of Phoenix Recycling’s expansion has been mitigating climate change by establishing a circular economy founded on their metal materials recovery work, now extending into other recyclable materials and products such as waste batteries, including all chemistries such as lithium-ion’s more than 20 sub-types recycled through its supply chain locally and globally, end to end. Phoenix has also focused on delivering circular solutions for the country’s decommissioned energy infrastructure, with downstream recycling solutions for non-metal components like glass, porcelain and transformer oil. It’s independently certified as net carbon zero within Toitu’s carbon reporting, voluntarily offsetting every truck kilometre and equipment movement within its yards and demolition sites, and every container movement to its global export recycling partners as it electrifies. “We’re simplifying our customers’ procurement, connecting the dots, integrating our nationwide service horizontally and vertically, delivering sustainability data and emissions reporting for our customers’ climate-related disclosures,” Hilary says. “Walking the talk has proved extremely engaging with our customers.” “We’ve positioned ourselves to lead Aotearoa/New Zealand’s circular economy to contribute to the country’s United Nations Sustainable Development Goals up to 2030 and beyond.” In March this year Phoenix Recycling announced the launch of solar panel recycling, and while it’s still in its infancy it offers the opportunity to recover and re-use all the materials which have been replaced because of age or damage. Every panel type is accepted, and 98% of the components are recycled, including a range of materials from aluminium and magnesium to silicon, iron, lead and cadmium, fibreglass and polyurethane. Phoenix Recycling is today also the country’s biggest collector and recycler of batteries. Relief Transport is a proud transport partner of Phoenix Metals Diverse range of trucks & capabilities backed by a team of experienced drivers Relief Transport has a fleet of over 30 dedicated trucks to help businesses small through large move their freight throughout Auckland and the North Island. Palletised Freight • Container Freight• Bulk Haulage / Tippers • Storage Solutions Sales Enquiries: Andrew Smith | 0273 648 045 | andrew@relieftransport.co.nz relieftransport.co.nz
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