New Environmental Solutions

EPA’s land revitalization initiatives are producing significant environmental benefits and helping to transform communities into more sustainable 

and livable places. The strategy of encouraging market-driven redevelopment of brownfields and other contaminated sites for economic 

reuse is proving to be a successful approach at many sites. However, 

challenging real estate markets and economic realities can leave 

some formerly contaminated properties unused, possibly for a long 

time. New approaches are needed to revitalize these sites and protect 

human health and the environment.

EPA’s Land Revitalization Team is working with communities, states, other 

federal agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and 

the private sector to develop and test new approaches that recognize 

valuable reuse alternatives for formerly contaminated properties. Building green infrastructure to help manage stormwater runoff and floods, 

promoting safe soil management to support urban agriculture, and 

siting renewable energy on contaminated sites can bring environmental, 

ecological, and social benefits to communities. Unlocking the potential 

value of these underused properties often requires creativity and close 

collaboration with many public and private partners. These projects can 

help stabilize communities and spur economic development.

Land Revitalization Fact Sheet

Improving Demolition

Practices

Demolition of abandoned and 

dilapidated homes is increasing in urban areas across the 

country as communities struggle with 

an increase in home foreclosures 

and abandonment. While necessary 

for the revitalization of communities, demolition of structures, and 

in particular, demolition of large 

portions of a single neighborhood, 

raises multiple safety and environmental concerns related to land, 

water, and air pollution and the 

safety of workers and members of the 

public. In response, many communities are enacting local ordinances 

to ensure that demolition practices 

are safer and more environmentally friendly. Such ordinances 

may require erosion and sediment 

controls, deconstruction and reuse of 

materials generated during demolition, recycling of demolition debris 

to reduce landfilling, soil stabilization 

through plant covers, dust suppression, and other measures to reduce 

the environmental impact of demolition. These measures directly benefit 

residents of affected neighborhoods.

EPA is taking another step forward 

to improve demolition practices by 

investigating the impact of demolition on soil conditions that affect 

the potential to sustainably reuse 

properties. In cooperation with state, 

federal, and local partners, EPA’s 

Region 5 and the Office of Research 

and Development, National Risk 

Management Research Laboratory, 

are conducting a study in Cleveland, 

Ohio, on the effect of demolition 

practices on urban soil conditions.

Prior to 1996, Cleveland allowed 

contractors to demolish a building and bulldoze the debris into the 

basement of the structure. A thin 

layer of, often poor-quality, topsoil 

was then spread over the affected 

area, compacted, and an attempt 

made to establish a grassy cover. 

These sites can be identified by the 

characteristic depression of the land 

surface in the area where the structure originally stood. This slumping of 

the land surface is due to the settling 

of loose debris and soils within what 

was once the basement.

In 1996, Cleveland changed 

its demolition requirements. The 

basement walls and floors now must 

be removed, all rubble and debris 

hauled away, and a grassy cover 

established. The thoroughness of 

contractor demolition practices vary 

in meeting these new requirements, 

however.

EPA researchers conducted exploratory field assessments in 2010 at 

sites where homes were demolished. Researchers found significant amounts of demolition debris 

in surface soils, even in post-1996 

demolitions. In areas affected by 

demolitions, over 70 percent of 

Debris left behind after demolition 

makes site restoration much 

more difficult.
attempts to force a rod into the 

ground could not penetrate the soil 

for more than a few inches. Reuse of 

these properties sometimes requires 

removing significant amounts of 

debris.

In addition, demolition of urban 

structures involves the operation of 

heavy equipment in a relatively small 

area. This activity compacts the soil. 

Compacted soils are less able to 

absorb stormwater runoff and contain 

less oxygen, water, organic materials, and microbiological activity than 

natural soils. Researchers found that, 

for the most part, lawn areas that 

were not compacted or otherwise 

disturbed by heavy equipment had 

better drainage characteristics and 

higher soil fertility due to long-term 

yard maintenance. 

This study shows that typical demolition practices do not leave soils in 

a condition suitable for sustainable 

reuse. Soils are left in a condition 

that requires significant additional 

work before restoration can begin. 

Communities may want to consider 

new requirements for removing 

and recycling all demolition debris, 

minimizing soil compaction, restricting the types and quality of fill that 

can be used, and preparing surface 

soils more carefully to establish 

vegetation. Environmentally sound 

demolition practices should be 

a significant part of the planning 

process for communities interested 

in fostering the long-term productive 

reuse of vacant properties.

United States Office of Solid Waste and EPA 560-F-11-005

Environmental Protection Emergency Response April 2011

Agency (5105T) www.epa.gov/brownfields/

More Information:

Visit EPA’s Land Revitalization program website at http://www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/

Cleveland Green Infrastructure Project

In 2010, the Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation constructed 

green infrastructure at a vacant 

parcel located at West 131st Street 

in Cleveland, Ohio. Green infrastructure is considered a beneficial 

reuse at this location because 

retaining and infiltrating stormwater 

will reduce the volume of water in 

a nearby stream and its associated 

adverse water quality impacts. The 

home and driveway previously on 

this site was demolished. As a result 

of the demolition activity, EPA’s 

Office of Research and Development found soils compacted and 

poorly suited for infiltrating stormwater or growing plants.

The planned reuse of this site 

required restoring soils to conditions that support healthy plant 

growth. Restoration activities 

included physically loosening the 

soil, removing a large amount 

of debris, grading to create a 

swale, excavation to create a 

rain garden, and amending the 

surface soils with a mix of compost, 

sand, and topsoil. The rain garden 

and swale will retain runoff from the 

drainage area and reduce localized 

flooding in the area. The soil amendments will allow planting of the 

rain garden and swale with native 

plants and broadcast seeding of the 

remaining portions of the site using 

native grasses and flowering plants.

A private contractor did the restoration work at a cost of about $13,500. 

Signage was installed with information on the history and importance 

of the Chevy Branch waterway and 

the role of native plants and green 

infrastructure in the restoration of 

this vacant lot. This formerly vacant 

parcel soon will be a productive and 

educational green space that helps 

to protect the surrounding residential 

area from flooding.

Partners in this project are community 

members, Neighborhood Progress 

Inc. (NPI), ParkWorks, Inc., Cuyahoga 

County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Ohio State 

University, the Northeast Ohio 

Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) 

and U.S. EPA’s Region 5 and 

Office of Research and Development. Funding for this project was 

provided by NEORSD and NPI.

Large amount of demolition 

debris removed from soils at this 

site highlights the importance of 

planning ahead for solid waste 

removal and recycling.