November 1, 2024
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Friday, November 15, 2024, has been designated by Keep America Beautiful as America Recycles Day. They espouse that this “isn’t just a one-day thing. Instead, this is a chance to look at one’s recycling habits and make changes that can have an impact.”
While we each can do our part as individual citizens, collectively we as architects have a different opportunity and responsibility. The US EPA Best Practices for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Construction and Demolition Materials suggests, among other things, that “builders,
construction teams and design professionals can divert construction and demolition (C&D) material from disposal by buying used and recycled products, practicing source reduction, preserving existing structures, as well as salvaging and reusing existing materials.” Further,
“designing a building to support adaptation, disassembly and reuse can reduce waste and extend its useful life, providing economic and environmental benefits.”
Let us redouble our efforts in this regard and work to make an impact in C&D wastes moving forward. And remember, “the greenest building…is the one that is already built” (Carl Elefante, FAIA).
US EPA Best Practices for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Construction and Demolition Materials Link
AIA NJ Blog Post From 11/15/23
Link to The Cumberland County Improvement Authority (The Authority) Recycling Program
By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in Environment | | Comments (0)
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