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Is selective demolition always a sustainable choice?
1Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|December 31, 2019
Summary
Selective demolition can enhance building material recovery but its environmental benefits depend on project specifics. Case-by-case analysis is crucial for sustainable construction and demolition waste management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Civil Engineering
- Sustainable Construction
Background:
- Selective demolition aims to maximize material valorization and divert construction and demolition waste from landfills.
- The success of waste diversion and recovery hinges on demolition execution, logistics, and local economic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the environmental sustainability of selective demolition compared to traditional methods.
- To identify key parameters influencing the environmental profile of selective demolition projects.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
- Analyzing primary, site-specific data from a residential building demolition in Milan, Italy.
Main Results:
- Environmental sustainability is highly dependent on building characteristics and local markets for recycled materials.
- Increased energy demands of selective demolition can offset benefits from substituting primary raw materials.
Conclusions:
- The environmental advantages of selective demolition are not guaranteed and require careful evaluation.
- A case-by-case approach is essential for determining the true sustainability of selective demolition practices.
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