Toxic Waste

Aerial view of brownfield area with digger loading a dump truck.

Revitalizing Toxic Sites Using Fungi and Plants

Fungi and plants are being used to detoxify polluted sites, turning hazardous brownfields into vibrant meadows and empowering communities with eco-friendly remediation skills.

July 11, 2024 - Yale Environment 360

Thick green forest on edge of lake in Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville Begins Process to Clean Superfund Site

A public forest is home to dozens of barrels that have been leaking toxic materials for decades.

June 14, 2024 - Inside Climate News

EPA Causes Massive Spill, Discoloring a Colorado River

The Environmental Protection Agency finds itself in a peculiar place. Normally it investigates spills caused by the private sector. Now it's cleaning up a massive spill it caused while investigating a leak at an abandoned mine in southwest Colorado.

August 10, 2015 - The New York Times - U.S.

Is the Cleaning of Superfund Sites Causing More Harm than Good?

Three decades after it was established, the EPA's Superfund program is taking on some of the most complex and costly projects ever attempted. With many focused underwater, some worry the stirring up of polluted sediment will exacerbate the problem.

August 15, 2012 - The New York Times

Wasteland Turned Wonderland for Rowing in NJ

After decades of use as a landfill, Overpeck Creek's recent makeover has created a dream home for rowing crews from around the New York region, reports Juliet Macur.

May 9, 2012 - The New York Times

Picher, OK: Toxic Town

Most of the bullets made for WWI and II came out of the ground under Picher, Oklahoma. The minerals ran out in 1970, and the OK government bought out residents of the city to get them to leave. A handful of people stayed.

October 3, 2010 - Wired

The Sludge Threat

Coal ash retention ponds are so numerous and so toxic that they are now considered to be a potential threat to national security.

June 17, 2009 - Huffington Post

LA Cops Take Out the Trash

The city of Los Angeles forms a task force of prosecutors, police, and others to combat illegal disposal of trash all over town.

September 12, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Sealed Landfill Leaking 'Orange Goo' Into Residential Area

Oshawa, Ontario residents have noticed a suspicious substance leaking into their community. Development next to the former landfill almost didn't happen because city planners worried about this very possibility.

June 2, 2008 - durhamregion.com

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.