Environmental Deconstruction is the process of selectively dismantling buildings for re-use, recycling, and waste management.  The process is used instead of demolition with the goal of being more environmentally friendly.  The City of Lethbridge engaged in the Environmental Deconstruction process for city buildings at the end of their life cycle.  This saves landfills from being filled quickly with waste from demolished buildings, and returns costs and resources to the city for use in other projects.

Through this process, the city has diverted up to 95% of landfill-bound waste in projects, and about 90% of all landfill-bound mass.

This case study was nominated for ICMA's Annual Awards Program.