The Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) is soliciting local partners to host the 2013 International Conference on Deconstruction, Building Materials Reuse, and Construction and Demolition Materials Recycling – DECON ’13.
The BMRA is a non-profit educational and research organization whose mission is to facilitate building deconstruction and the reuse and recycling of recovered building materials. The organization says it is increasing opportunities for the recovery and reuse of building materials in an environmentally sound and financially sustainable way.
To support these objectives, the BMRA conducts DECON conferences on a bi-annual basis. DECON originally focused on deconstruction and building materials reuse. However the BMRA says it has expanded the conference scope to include demolition waste recycling and building reuse.
The conference draws deconstruction practitioners, building materials reuse businesses, green builders, architects, designers, policy makers, and many others interested in building materials reuse and waste reduction.
The BMRA says it has found collaborating with local entities greatly improves the quality of the conferences. “In addition to supporting logistics, our local conference partners play a key role in developing conference themes, content and attractions of interest to international, national, and local audiences,” the organization says. “This is an opportunity to bring world-class and leading innovators of building material reuse to your community and region.”
Local partners may consist of any entity involved in, or having interest in building materials recovery, resale, reuse or recycling, waste reduction, “green” building materials, sustainable or “green” buildings and communities and similar topics. These may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Industry practitioners
- Professional and trade organizations
- Environmental professions and organizations
- Academic and research organizations
- Civic organizations
- Governmental agencies and public policy makers
- Non-profit organizations
- “Green Collar” and workforce development organizations
- Coalition or network of groups mentioned above
It is anticipated a local partner will consist of a lead organization that will bring together and coordinate additional local organizations and individuals to participate in planning and convening the conference.
The lead conference partner for DECON ’11 was the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) who assumed facilitator/coordinator responsibilities, solicited committees and chairpersons and maintained communications among their committees and the BMRA. Yale University and City of New Haven were partners with CT DEP who managed the conference facilities and local accommodations. The Yale Center for Industrial Ecology and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 2 and 3 were partners to CT DEP providing additional support to the Conference.
Entities interested in becoming a partner for DECON ’13 will submit a Proposal. DECON ’13 will be held in the Spring of 2013. The specific dates will be proposed by the local Partner and decided mutually by the partner and the BMRA.
The local partner’s responsibilities for helping develop, plan, and convene the conference may include, but are not limited to the following.
Identify a local conference chair who will work cooperatively with the BMRA conference committee in all aspects of conference organization.
Form a local DECON organizing committee (and necessary subcommittees) to address conference organizational tasks.
- Develop task lists for each committee.
- Develop a conference planning timeline and task assignments.
- Arrange for the conference venue and facilities.
- Arrange for accommodations, food and transportation.
- Arrange for a post-conference BMRA deconstruction training workshop.
- Arrange for additional activities, such as training, demonstrations or tours.
- Develop cost estimates and propose alternatives for services.
- Pursue fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.
- Propose speakers, presenters, and other program content.
- Publicize and perform outreach activities to attract local interest and participation.
- Orchestrate the Conference in cooperation with the BMRA conference committee.
The BMRA will:
- Develop the conference program, with input and suggestions from the local partner.
- Support the local Partner with information and lessons-learned from passed conferences.
- Participate in and support local organizing committees.
- Develop and host a conference website, including registration, abstract submittal, agenda, and activity sign-up features.
- Publicize and perform outreach activities to attract local interest and participation.
- Recognize the local Partner and local organizations in all outreach and publicity generated by BMRA.
The BMRA says it intends to pursue a collaborative and cooperative process for planning and convening DECON ‘13. More information about submitting a proposal is available at www.bmra.org.