Brownfields to Greenfields

Research & Publication 2011

There is a growing number of vacant lots in post-industrial American cities, many of which are contaminated by their industrial past. Remediation of toxic soil contaminated with heavy metals, hydrocarbons or PCBs is costly. Owners of small properties often shy away from these costs and complications and leave their sites vacant, underutilized and undervalued for years. The lack of action often affects the value of surrounding properties and the health of a community at large.
This field guide to phytoremediation is designed for individual property owners and community groups to initiate a conversation about how to convert this enormous land potential into a productive urban landscape utilizing phytoremediation technologies as a slow but cost-effective clean-up process. Download a copy as a PDF.

Project Team: Rebekah Dye, Andrea Parker, Kaja Kühl, Jay Tsai