Cities and businesses are looking to reduce waste from demolition sites and increase the amount of recycled material used in new developments.
"Reusing materials will be important for cities as they look to cut waste to meet environmental targets, and because rapid urbanisation will put pressure on the supply of materials such as cement and steel," writes Rich Heap. "I interpret large urban buildings to mean offices, housing developments, shopping centres, and industrial buildings. That's the easy part. The more difficult part is coming up with a single definition for recycling because there are three terms that are relevant to this discussion" -- recycling, upcycling, and downcycling.
"Waste from construction and demolition projects now accounts for 25 to 30 percent of total waste in the EU, and the proportion is similar in the US. This includes concrete, brick, cement, glass, wood, and metal. Much of this can be broken down and turned into new building aggregate."
FULL STORY: Cities Wipe Out Demolition Waste
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
Alaska Village Becomes Test Case for Climate Change Relocation
The Yup’ik village of Newtok is the first Alaska community to begin a full-scale relocation necessitated by the impacts of climate change. Another 31 Alaska communities remain vulnerable.
Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.