DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two groups in Iowa want to teach people about the alternatives to demolition.  The Center on Sustainable Communities and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center are hosting four workshops in March to talk about deconstruction. The practice involves carefully disassembling something so its materials can be reused.

The groups say deconstruction is an alternative to demolition that provides social, economic and environmental benefits. The workshops are scheduled March 11 in Ida Grove; March 13 in Corning; March 18 in Keosauqua; and March 20 in Elkader.

The Center on Sustainable Communities is a nonprofit group in Des Moines. The Iowa Waste Reduction Center is at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Their efforts are funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Natural Resources.