It’s no secret that urban development can be a hazard to the environment. In some cases, the past activities that occurred in a space can end up threatening the local ecosystem, food and water provision, climate regulation, and recreation. Land recycling can sustainably redevelop and revitalize these areas to make them safer, greener, and livable again.
What is Land Recycling?
Land recycling involves re-using and revitalizing abandoned, vacant, or underused properties. Land is a limited resource, so it makes sense to recycle land instead of continuing to sprawl outwards, which further increases land consumption. In many instances, contaminated sites and properties are already in great locations that are accessible and close to amenities. These sites are great options for recycling, and there are many ways to begin revitalizing a property.
Decontaminating Brownfields
Some properties and sites such as old gas stations, dry cleaning facilities, factories, and power plants, etc. leave an environmental footprint that contaminates the site. These areas are known as “brownfields”. Land recycling can help revive these sites and stimulate economic, community, and environmental improvements. Decontaminating and recycling brownfields also comes with a number of benefits, including removing harmful substances from the area, increasing the property value, conserving land, creating jobs, and implementing new commercial, recreational, and green spaces.
Reclaiming and Implementing Green Spaces
Reusing neglected sites such as old roads, parking lots, or other previously developed areas or brownfields and transforming them into green spaces or public parks can have a positive impact on the environment. In fact, parks are an essential part of public health; evidence shows that proximity to nature can improve and support people’s health and wellbeing. By turning old sites into green spaces, cities can both improve the health of their environment and their citizens.
So, who’s ready to save the environment with land recycling and revitalization?
You can’t put together a successful land recycling project without skilled workers. CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.