Chuck Alvord's job used to be so simple.

Smash. Remove. Repeat.

But today, Alvord and others in the demolition business don't destroy buildings as much as recycle them -- and saving about 70 percent of what they find.

"When I started, we'd just take it all to the landfill," said Alvord, the site superintendent for the demolition of a library in Minneapolis. Now, his buildings are carefully taken apart to separate the concrete, metals, wood, shingles and lights.

Buildings have become the surprising star of the recycling movement.

The 70 percent average of materials recycled is more than twice the recycling rate for cans, bottles, paper and plastic, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The demolition recycling rate has shot up in the past decade and now exceeds the weight of recycled materials from consumer sources.

"We do it because it's good for the environment, and it's good PR," said Mike Taylor, director of the National Demolition Association. "And you can make billions of dollars doing it."

The surge in building recycling has gone largely unnoticed, said Bill Turley, director of the Construction Materials Recycling Association.

"When you tear up a highway or take down a shopping center, the general public doesn't realize how much goes into landfills," Turley said.

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Demolition debris increasingly recycled into new products

Demolition of the Exide Technologies' lead-acid battery recycling plant in Frisco will involve several safety precautions to prevent the spread of potentially harmful material. Photo courtesy of Exide.

Additionally, the company has announced a public meeting will take place regarding the plant's demolition. That meeting will take place 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Frisco Heritage Center's depot.

Frisco Mayor Maher Maso noted the city won't be involved in the meeting, but said he was happy residents will have a chance to learn about the demolition directly from Exide.

According to the demolition plan, which is dated Nov. 9, a site-specific health and safety plan is being put in place for the duration of the demolition. Dust control and air monitoring are included as part of the overall health and safety plan.

The plans were created by Pastor, Behling & Wheeler, an engineering consulting firm, and Remediation Services, a remediation contractor specializing in environmental services.

Mack Borchardt, the city's fire programs consultant and special assistant to the city manager, will oversee the plant's demolition on the city's behalf.

"I will be visiting the site periodically, and we have weekly meetings scheduled [between the city and Exide]," Borchardt said. "We could vary those meetings based on the schedule, with more frequent meetings in times of higher activity or dropping some meetings when we're on a fairly routine pace, but I expect we'll be meeting at least once a week."

Borchardt also noted the city has an open dialogue with Exide, saying the two sides "know each other," which should make the demolition process easier.

"The project is actually ahead of schedule right now -- we're glad to see that," he said.

Many of the preparations for actually tearing down structures and equipment have already begun, although the demolition itself has yet to take place. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will monitor the demolition once it begins.

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Exide releases demolition plans for Frisco plant: Public information meeting to take place Dec. 12

KUALA LUMPUR: Demolition work has begun at house No.39 on the edge of the collapsed retaining wall in Bukit Setiawangsa.

Sentul deputy OCPD Supt Othman Abu Bakar told reporters that works began at 10am Monday and is being overseen by the developer I&P Group Sdn Bhd.

"A crane has been brought onto the site and the demolition will be done slowly starting from the roof down," Othman said.

He added that a tarpaulin could only be used on the critical cracks once demolitions are complete.

He said the other seven bungalows nearby were still classified as unsafe and still at risk for demolition if investigations by the Public Works Department deem it necessary.

"Soil movement is still being detected by authorities and any demolition works would take several days to complete as to minimize risk of further collapse," he said.

On the security of the other 58 terrace houses and 13 shoplots that were evacuated, Othman said police, Rela and JPAM personnel were performing frequent patrols to ensure no looting occured.

"The number of residents that have been evacuated is now 283," he said.

Meanwhile, Ikram chief operating officer Mohd Taufik Harun told reporters that there was a "high probability" that the houses of Setiawangsa MP Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique and Rompin MP Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis may have to be demolished as well.

"Nothing is confirmed yet but it is very likely that the developer will have to demolish the other two houses as well.

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15. Demolition work begins at Bukit Setiawangsa

A filepic of the collapsed retaining wall in Bukit Setiawangsa, taken on Saturday. Demolition work of the house on the edge of the collapsed retaining wall has begun at 10am, Monday. Pic: Faisol Mustafa

"A crane has been brought onto the site and the demolition will be done slowly starting from the roof down," Othman said.

He added that a tarpaulin could only be used on the critical cracks once demolitions are complete.

He said the other seven bungalows nearby were still classified as unsafe and still at risk for demolition if investigations by the Public Works Department deem it necessary.

"Soil movement is still being detected by authorities and any demolition works would take several days to complete as to minimize risk of further collapse," he said.

On the security of the other 58 terrace houses and 13 shoplots that were evacuated, Othman said police, Rela and JPAM personnel were performing frequent patrols to ensure no looting occured.

"The number of residents that have been evacuated is now 283," he said.

Meanwhile, Ikram chief operating officer Mohd Taufik Harun told reporters that there was a "high probability" that the houses of Setiawangsa MP Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique and Rompin MP Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis may have to be demolished as well.

"Nothing is confirmed yet but it is very likely that the developer will have to demolish the other two houses as well.

"We are thinking of the safety of the other four bungalows above and the other evacuated houses below the embankment.

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Demolition Work Begins At Bukit Setiawangsa

Channel Information - Twitter, Facebook, THANK YOU! + Livestream Information!
Livestream is tomorrow (29th) at 7PM GMT! Viewable here: http://www.youtube.com #9679;COD Live #3 on BO2: youtu.be #9679;Best Demolition Scorestreaks in BO2: youtu.be Enjoy this video? Check these links Subscribe: tinyurl.com Let #39;s Play: tinyurl.com Twitter: tinyurl.com Facebook: tinyurl.com Designer: tinyurl.com AndiKosh10: http://www.youtube.com ---Tags--- Channel Information - Twitter, Facebook, THANK YOU! + Livestream Information! Channel Information - Twitter, Facebook, THANK YOU! + Livestream Information! Channel Information - Twitter, Facebook, THANK YOU! + Livestream Information!From:BondieeeeXBLViews:2 3ratingsTime:07:32More inGaming

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Chicago Fire - Two Families Episode - Behind The Scenes
The crew of Chicago Fire filmed the "turkey fire" scene in Chicago #39;s Logan Square community, and Humanity Beat has exclusive behind the scenes footage of the core portion of the scene. The explosions were so hot, they could be felt across the street. This day was lots of fun! Thank you to everyone at NBC Television and Chicago Fire for allowing photography and filming. The Two Families episode is part of the first season of this hit show, episode number 7, and aired on November 21st, 2012. This video includes the following material: Music by: Europe - "Cherokee" intro, Demolition WWF Theme, and the Ultimate Warrior WWF Theme, along with bonus still photography and final episode screen caps. Full Chicago Fire "Two Families" episode available until January 10th, 2013, at the official NBC Chicago Fire Homepage: http://www.nbc.comFrom:HumanityBeatViews:0 0ratingsTime:05:53More inEntertainment

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Chicago Fire - Two Families Episode - Behind The Scenes - Video

BlackOps2: Nuketown 121-8 R870 + "AirForce" =)
LMG w/ ACOG going for "ACOG sight challenge". Got owned. Switched to R870, the opposite happened. =) Nuketown Demolition Warhog, Lonestar + VTOL 121-8From:alavptViews:3 2ratingsTime:08:11More inGaming

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BlackOps2: Nuketown 121-8 R870 + "AirForce" =) - Video

QB Scrammble
QB, Casey Stinson (#14), for the Cleveland Fusion scrammbles for good yardage against the Detroit Demolition.From:14cstinsonViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:14More inSports

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QB Scrammble - Video

TazRaza - Black Ops II Game Clip
Demolition overtime, doing what you gotta do to get the W.From:44santi44Views:2 0ratingsTime:01:26More inGaming

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TazRaza - Black Ops II Game Clip - Video

Greatest Hits -- 2012 Demolition Derby
The greatest hits from the 2012 Highland County, VA Demolition Derby. The derby is composed of individual heats and a feature. Cash prizes are given to each heat winner and a grand prize is given to the feature winner. Regulations include: Any American made stock hardtop automobile or station wagon is allowed. No trucks, jeeps, diesels, 4-wheel drives or Chrysler Imperials allowed. Only a maximum of 3 gallons of gasoline permitted. (Not all regulations are listed) Visit, http://www.highlandcounty.org to learn more about the Highland County Fair and the Demolition Derby.From:HighlandCountyVAViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:29More inTravel Events

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Greatest Hits -- 2012 Demolition Derby - Video