AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — HydroCycle, a Penrose, Auckland-based liquid waste processing company, has launched a new circular economy operation that transforms hydro excavation mud and slurry into reusable construction materials, producing 6mm-plus aggregate and 0-6mm sand that are going directly into local infrastructure projects across Auckland.
The company, led by directors Seb Bainbridge and Peter McMenamin, has positioned itself as a purpose-built solution to one of the hydrovac industry's most persistent operational challenges: disposing of non-destructive digging mud and slurry in a cost-effective, environmentally responsible way. Rather than sending hydrovac spoil to landfill, an increasingly costly and constrained option, HydroCycle accepts NDD muds and drilling muds, processes them through wet separation technology, and returns the recovered materials to the local construction supply chain as usable aggregate and sand.
The operation is built around CDE's G:MAX all-in-one wet processing system, which HydroCycle inherited when it acquired its Penrose site in 2025. The G:MAX uses hydro cyclone technology to recover grit and solids from wastewater streams, maximising product yield while minimising disposal volumes. The system features an integrated hopper for direct feeding, a split screen for product separation, and an onboard control panel, designed specifically to minimize maintenance downtime while maximizing dewatering efficiency. Recovered water is also reused within the operation to reduce freshwater consumption.
The recovered sand is being used for bedding pipework in underground utility projects, while the recovered aggregate is being used for backfill and road construction, both staples of Auckland's booming infrastructure pipeline. The timing is deliberate. Auckland accounted for more than 40% of all dwelling consents issued across New Zealand in 2025, with over 15,000 units consented, a 12% year-on-year increase. Infrastructure activity in the city is forecast to grow a further 21.8% by 2029, according to New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, creating sustained demand for sand and aggregates that recycled hydrovac material can help supply.
"Since acquiring this site, we have been putting the plant through its paces, and it's been great to see that we have a reliable solution on site," said Bainbridge. "We're able to provide more sustainable material to the market, which is not only helping to close the loop in materials recovery, but we're also supporting the local economy. By combining our entrepreneurial ambition with proven CDE technology, we are demonstrating how innovation, sustainability and commercial success can work hand in hand — turning waste into value and creating a cleaner future for New Zealand's infrastructure sector."
James Murphy, Head of Sales for Asia Pacific at CDE, said the HydroCycle installation is exactly the use case the G:MAX was designed for. "HydroCycle is showing what is possible when forward-thinking operators embrace circular economy principles — recovering valuable materials, conserving water, and creating sustainable growth opportunities. The market for sustainable sand and aggregates in New Zealand is growing, and we expect this momentum to continue."
CDE will be exhibiting at No-Dig Auckland from October 28–29, 2026, at booth F14, where the team will be showcasing its hydrovac waste processing solutions.
About HydroCycle
HydroCycle is a 100% circular economy environmental services company based in Penrose, Auckland, specialising in the processing and recycling of heavy industrial liquid waste — including hydro excavation mud and slurry. The company focuses on hydro waste disposal, resource recovery, sustainable aggregate production, and water reuse. For more information, contact the HydroCycle team directly.
About CDE
CDE is a global wet processing equipment manufacturer with solutions for the sand and aggregates, construction and demolition waste, mining, and industrial sands sectors. For more information, visit cdegroup.com.
Original release distributed via Waste360.
