Land recycling

Some 130 hectares of open landscape are built on every day in Germany. The loser in this process is nature, as the natural habitat of flora and fauna disappears. This enormous exploitation of the countryside could be reduced if more old sites were recycled.

Land recycling, or brownfield redevelopment as it is also known, involves reintegrating disused land into the economic cycle. There may be many reasons why land has become disused — abandoned industrial sites, military facilities or traffic infrastructure are just a few examples.

Environmental damage is frequently also involved. If pollutants have contaminated the soil, the site first has to be thoroughly remediated before it can be used again.

Reclaiming land

The disused land can be any size, sometimes as small as an old petrol station. Other sites extend over many miles. Remediating the damage is not always easy, but the effort is worth it. The environment is protected and remediation is frequently cheaper than completely developing new areas. As remediation inevitably increases the value of the property, land recycling is also of interest to investors.

Risky project

However, land recycling does have its risks. Even with modern technologies, it is not always possible to fully prove the environmental impact on the area. Each remediation process may involve the unearthing of unexpected pollutants that prolong the work and make it more expensive.

If toxic substances are only discovered after remediation, residents may be able to submit high claims for damages. No remediation company can bear this risk alone. It is only insurance that makes land recycling possible.

In the USA, the UK and increasingly in Germany, the regeneration of disused land is considered both important and beneficial. New uses for old land can alleviate environmental problems, eliminate imbalances in urban planning and help improve economic efficiency.