According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States generated 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris in 2018, making it the largest single component of landfill waste (40%). Sadly, the vast majority of construction debris (90%) results from demolition rather than new construction. As preservationists, our primary efforts are directed at saving buildings and promoting adaptive reuse.
On January 20, PACNY presented a panel from members of the working group known as CR0WD (Circularity, Reuse and Zero Waste Development), to discuss their collaboration and goals along with their research and advocacy efforts in the field of deconstruction and reuse of building materials.
Presenters included Bryan McCracken, Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Planner, City of Ithaca; Jennifer Minner, Associate Professor, City and Regional Planning and Director of Just Places Lab, Cornell University; Gretchen Worth, Project Director, Susan Christopherson Center for Community Planning; and Christine O’Malley, PhD, Preservation Services Coordinator of Historic Ithaca, Inc.
You can watch the discussion on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/Sb2m5PfmlyY
