Deconstruction is the process of disassembling buildings that would otherwise be demolished, generating a supply of materials suitable for reuse in the construction or rehabilitation of other structures. Deconstruction benefits include resource conservation and the diversion of materials from landfills, as well as job creation and job skill development. Deconstruction is an environmentally and socially responsible alternative to demolition that is beginning to receive attention from local policy-makers and non-profit organizations around the country. EPA's evaluation of deconstruction and material reuse in Washington, D.C. led to the following conclusions on ways that policy-makers can support and stimulate deconstruction activities.

• Support salvaged materials collection centers to enable deconstruction as an alternative to demolition and landfill disposal of debris.

• Expand "one stop shops" for environmental and construction permitting.

• Target deconstruction projects for expedited permit reviews.

• Subsidize warehouse space to support the collection and distribution of salvaged materials.

• Conduct outreach to construction contractors on the subjects of deconstruction and materials salvage.

• Publish job site recycling and materials salvage guides and distribute to construction contractors.

• Create incentives for deconstruction, recycling, and the use of salvaged or recycled materials within construction procurement contracts.

• Develop and/or fund training programs designed specifically to build deconstruction assessment and planning skills. Subsidize training costs for participants.

D.C. Opportunities

Substantial interest in deconstruction is growing within the District of Columbia. Previously, D.C. deconstruction activities were limited to specialty building materials. Recently, however, public and non-profit interest in deconstruction has been paving the way for the salvage of more commonplace building materials such as lumber, bricks, windows, and hardwood flooring. Two groups, Community Forklift and GreenHOME (a Habitat for Humanity partner), are starting to collect, distribute, and reuse salvaged materials. Community Forklift and Habitat for Humanity both have plans to open permanent salvaged materials distribution centers in the District. Other non-profits are training workers in the skills necessary to assess the value of salvageable materials and implement deconstruction projects. For example, the Sustainable Community Initiative is currently training ten Ivy City residents in deconstruction techniques as part of a comprehensive job training, business development, and pollution prevention program.

Challenges

Growth in deconstruction activity in the District faces some challenges. The market infrastructure for salvaged building materials is fledgling; the current lack of a formal distribution network for materials makes it difficult to sustain a market; and affordable warehouse space is difficult to find. In addition, the current customers for salvaged goods are typically looking for specialty materials. Expanding demand for more commonplace salvaged materials will take some effort. The availability of low cost landfill space and long demolition permit waiting periods may also be disincentives to deconstruction.

Solutions

Government support could help meet these challenges in a number of ways. Providing initial funding and technical assistance for collection and distribution centers has proven successful in other U.S. cities, such as Portland, Oregon. The District government could also subsidize deconstruction needs such as affordable warehousing space, job training, and outreach campaigns to educate construction contractors and the public about deconstruction benefits and products. These types of efforts are helping to spur the demand for supply and demand of salvaged materials in other cities. For example, The Green Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota promotes and provides deconstruction services, and sells salvaged items through their distribution center. The Green Institute's ability to provide comprehensive services and promote tax deductions for donations has helped to maintain it as a sustainable enterprise.

The District government could also adopt policies to give preference to deconstruction projects over demolition, such as expedited review and procurement incentives. Metro, Oregon's regional planning authority, has included procurement incentives for deconstruction and job site recycling into their contracts and has assisted Oregon cities in doing the same. These efforts have resulted in increased contractor support for deconstruction in Oregon and an increase in the number of facilities that accept salvaged materials. Finally, streamlining both construction and environmental permitting will help to mitigate timing problems and increase the potential for connecting brownfields and deconstruction projects to achieve economic and environmental goals. A number of cities, including Dallas, Texas and Emeryville, California, have created "one stop shops" for environmental permitting related to brownfields redevelopment; these successful models of streamlined permitting could be expanded to construction activities, which would mitigate the financial pressure to tear down buildings quickly as opposed to deconstructing them.