As we celebrate Earth Day this year, it’s important to recognize the role that demolition companies play in protecting our planet. Demolition is an essential part of the construction industry, but it can also have a significant impact on the environment if not done responsibly. Fortunately, over the years, environmental protections and practices in construction and demolition have evolved, and today, many demolition companies are committed to sustainability.
ISI Demolition takes protecting the environment seriously and is committed to doing our part to reduce our environmental impact.
Demolition’s Role in Protecting the Environment
Recycling Demolished Materials
One of the main ways that companies like ISI Demolition protect the environment is by recycling and reusing materials. Instead of simply sending everything to the landfill, demolition companies carefully sort and separate materials like concrete, metal, and wood, and send them to recycling facilities. This not only reduces the amount of waste going to landfills but also conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Carefully Handling Hazardous Materials
Certain projects, including old buildings, healthcare facilities and manufacturing plants, often contain hazardous materials that require careful remediation. Materials like asbestos, lead, and mercury that can be harmful to human health and the environment. ISI Demolition has implemented a variety of processes and procedures to ensure the safe removal and disposal of hazardous materials during demolition.
Minimizing Our Impact with New Technologies
ISI Demolition is able to reduce the footprint required to perform demolition by utilizing new technologies and processes. For example, using high reach excavators and robotic demolition allows our team to work more efficiently with less impact on surrounding areas. We also invest heavily in equipment and personnel to mitigate dust at worksites. Our misters and specialized crews ensure project sites and the surrounding areas remain as clean as possible.
ISI Demolition’s Environmental Impact
The evolution of environmental protections and practices in construction and demolition has been significant over the years. In the early days of demolition, little thought was given to the impact on the environment. As concerns about pollution and waste grew, regulations and best practices were developed to minimize the impact of demolition on the environment.
Today, many demolition companies, including ISI Demolition, are taking this a step further and actively working to protect the environment and promote sustainability. ISI Demolition achieves above-average diversion rates on every project. Our standard process results in a minimum diversion rate of 75% with most of our demolition projects achieving significantly higher diversion rates.
Take a closer look at some of our recent projects and the diversion rates we were able to achieve:
War Memorial Gym at Virginia Tech
Originally built in 1926 with only one significant remodel in 1975, the 201,000 gross-square-foot building on Virginia Tech’s campus was in dire need of a refresh. As the Collegiate Times reported, you could definitely tell the War Memorial Gym was old and it was time to say goodbye. Working with Whiting-Turner, ISI Demolition handled the demolition for the project in the fall of 2022.
For this project, ISI Demolition diverted 726.66 tons of total waste including 93.5 tons of metal, 25.68 tons of wood, and 598.18 tons of concrete, masonry, and asphalt aggregate.
Tons of Total Waste
Tons of Waste Diverted
%
Diversion Rate
Children’s Medical and Surgical Center (CMSC)
Hopkins explored different options and ultimately opted to renovate the CMSC building to avoid relocating people. One wall of the building was failing and needed to be replaced as part of the project. ISI Demolition developed a system to remove brick using only sidewalk access from the 12-story building.
For this project, ISI Demolition diverted 3,157.22 tons of total waste including 327.05 tons of metal, 187.81 tons of wood, and 2,597.66 tons of concrete.
Tons of Total Waste
Tons of Waste Diverted
%
Diversion Rate
The Mills Building on Pennsylvania Ave
Located within close proximity to The White House and other prominent Washington, D.C. buildings, The Mills Building required extensive renovations to meet the needs of local businesses and residents. It was designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification.
For this project, ISI Demolition diverted 3,239.72 tons of total waste including 583.64 tons of metal, 115.71 tons of wood, and 2,392.02 tons of concrete.
Tons of Total Waste
Tons of Waste Diverted
%
Diversion Rate
As you can tell, demolition companies have an important role to play in protecting the environment, and many are rising to the challenge. By recycling and reusing materials, managing hazardous materials, adopting new technologies and methods, and following best practices and regulations, demolition companies can help us build a more sustainable future.
About ISI Demolition
Founded in 1990, ISI Demolition has completed more than 5,000 transformations. Our full range of demolition capabilities is built to collaborate with clients on finding the best solution. This consultative approach led to significant notable projects, our 2014 expansion in Florida, and continued work with the nations biggest general contractors and CRE firms.
ISI Demolition’s ability to consistently meet our clients’ goals for timeliness, efficiency, and safety is no coincidence. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality demolition services through strong partnerships built on trust, experience and integrity.
