In a field just east of China Dinosaur Park in the Xinbei district of Changzhou, a mixture of modern and not so modern technology are at work together as a site is being cleared for a new development. One of the more interesting contrasts to North American ways of doing things is made evident in this photo. Everything that can possibly be salvaged from the demolition of a building is salvaged. Used bricks, metal scraps, everything. In the end, the remains are just broken bits of bricks that become part of the underlying foundation for a new building and the landscaping.
I wonder why we have so much trouble with this concept in North America? We have so much fear of lawsuits that we dare not allow anyone on a demolition site for the purposes of salvage. What if someone gets hurt? The owner of the building or structure being demolished would be held liable for those injuries. Fear of being sued forces us to put large barricades between people and the site. The economy suffers, people suffer and the planet suffers. Seeing what happens in China tells me that there is a better way of doing things. In this instance, China is doing it right.