When a Building Is Demolished, What Should Happen to the Materials?
“What happens when old buildings have reached the end of their life, either their useful life in terms of safety or their desirable life in terms of modern living?” a Next City article asks. The piece goes on to say that when buildings throughout the U.S. get demolished, the once useful construction materials often end up in landfills. But there’s a growing movement to try and disassemble buildings carefully, and rescue building materials to be used in other projects. In today’s Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn talk about this growing movement.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES
“How A Deconstruction Company And Salvage Shop Are Keeping Building Materials Out Of Landfills,” by Cinnamon Janzer, Next City (March, 2023).
Cover image source: Unsplash/Stefan Lehner.
The work of this small-scale developer shows why cities shouldn’t be so restrictive about building in their own vernacular.