Green Gorilla™ was founded on a simple thought: someone needed to do a better Waste diversion job for New Zealanders, and it may as well be a bunch of Kiwis!
Green Gorilla™ was founded on a simple thought: someone needed to do a better Waste diversion job for New Zealanders, and it may as well be a bunch of Kiwis!
So, we put our heads, and over 200 years of collective experience, together and came up with a plan to create a new kind of waste processing facility, one that comes from a sustainable and honourable place. And in 2010, Green Gorilla™ was born.
We’re tough on waste. Big on recycling. We believe in helping Kiwis deal with their waste in a more environmentally sustainable way. And keeping most of what’s thrown away out of landfill. It’s that simple.
We’re passionate about bringing better practices to New Zealand, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. We’ve built the largest commercial, industrial, construction, and demolition resource recovery processing facility in Auckland, and we’re leveraging that experience to develop another resource recovery facilities in the Waikato.
At Green Gorilla, we believe in investing in our people. We’re an equal opportunity employer, paying above the living wage to over 160 staff members and contracting 70 skilled owner-drivers. Our diverse workforce represents 9 ethnicities from over 19 countries, including 25% Māori and 15% Pacific Peoples.
We’re also proud to be breaking the mould in a male-dominated industry. Women make up 30% of our staff, and 50% of our leadership roles are held by talented women. This inclusive environment is fostered by our CEO, Elaine Morgan, who has led the company since its inception. Our commitment to our employees is reflected in our remarkably low rolling employee turnover rate of 3.4% as of October 2024, compared to the national average of 21.4% in 2023.
Our dedicated team of men and women are committed to their work and our customers, delivering service with a “big green smile,” because at Green Gorilla, everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Green Gorilla™ is 100% Kiwi-owned and operated. We are invested in our country environmentally, economically and emotionally to cultivate a legacy that will live beyond us. Here are the values we live and work by.
We set the trends of waste services in our country. Fuelled by ambition, innovation and kiwi ingenuity, we brave uncharted territory to maximise recovery, re-use and recycling for a cleaner, greener New Zealand.
Every day we ask ourselves, “how much better could it be?” We are intentionally tough on ourselves, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We bring our ‘A game’ everyday and aim to do it better.
Our DNA is 100 percent kiwi. We are invested in our country environmentally, economically and emotionally to cultivate a legacy that will live beyond us.
People make the difference, which is why we invest in them. Just as we aim to leave our environment better, we want to leave our people better too.
We take pride in who we are and what we do. We’re genuinely committed, honest to a fault and have more integrity than you can shake a stick at. Taking ownership is second nature to Green Gorilla™.
Collaboration is key to our success. By utilising each other’s strengths, co-operating, communicating and collectively working towards a common goal, we achieve gorilla-sized success.
Meet the crew who keep the trucks running, the sorting belt humming, the cranes lifting and the coffee coming.
Elaine is a Chartered Accountant bringing over 30 years’ commercial experience to the Green Gorilla™ team, including substantial time in the waste industry, with roles in accounting, financial management, commercial law, corporate governance and general management. She holds an Executive MBA from the University of Auckland and has held senior roles at Waste Management NZ Ltd, Smart Environmental Ltd, CID Resource Recovery Ltd, and currently CEO for Green Gorilla™ (Kalista Ltd), prior to which was CFO and COO for 9 years. She brings a wealth of experience in people management, financial management, operations, leadership, development of strategic plans, and project experience.
Waste diverted from landfill:
Wherever there’s waste, you’ll find the Gorilla. See how we’re getting out and about on our mission to clean up New Zealand.
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