Posted: | November 16, 2021 12:41 PM |
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From: | Representative MaryLouise Isaacson |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Deconstruction Standards, Certification and Training |
Daily, tons of debris from the demolition of condemned, uninhabitable buildings chokes landfills with waste and releases toxic materials into the environment. Valuable building materials are wasted, driving up costs. Conversely, deconstruction presents a superior option, requiring the careful dismantling and repurposing of salvaged building materials, lowering costs, and generating a cleaner environment. My legislation will create a unified set of deconstruction standards for buildings of a certain age in the Commonwealth. It will further require deconstruction professionals to be certified by the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) and allow labor unions to establish deconstruction training programs which will be required to meet the standards and approval of the department. Along with the positive environmental impact, deconstruction saves money while creating jobs, boosting local industry and innovation, and significantly reducing landfill costs. Cleaner, healthier communities result, while the culture and historical architecture of neighborhoods is preserved. Endorsing the safe retrieval and repurposing of materials makes sense economically and environmentally for the Commonwealth and its citizens. I hope you will join me in encouraging safe deconstruction practices in the Commonwealth by supporting this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2138