Rumpke Waste and Recycling Material Recovery Facility and Offices – Columbus
Moody Nolan designed the Rumpke Material Recovery Facility in Columbus, Ohio, incorporating state-of-the-art recycling technology, operational efficiency, community investment, and educational spaces for sustainability advancement.
Located on a 25-acre plot of land in central Ohio’s oldest African American community, American Addition, the Rumpke Material Recovery Facility embraces environmental consciousness alongside community investment.
During the late 19th century, Columbus’ African American families sought large farming plats away from segregated urban living while remaining in close proximity to Columbus Central Business District—forming what’s known today as American Addition. The neighborhood quickly flourished into a close-knit, agrarian community until the development of nearby railroads and chemical plants created a polluted environment inhospitable to farming.
The Rumpke MRF signifies the first major public investment in almost a century for American Addition. More importantly, it introduces infrastructure that prioritizes community health and safety while contributing to the area’s economic vitality. As Columbus’ principal plant for processing over 250,000 tons of curbside plastics, metals, and glass annually, the MRF maintains flexibility for emerging recycling technologies, allowing sustainable waste diversion to scale with Columbus’ growth. Dedicated spaces for research, career development, and public education advance Rumpke’s sustainability mission by enabling hands-on learning.
Layout configuration maximizes the MRF’s various operational zones, including sorting, processing, and storage areas, while accounting for potential future expansions or technological upgrades. The state-of-the-art recycling facility features optical scanners, AI-integrated equipment, and a sampling station that provides a quick glimpse of material composition, aiding in the identification of recycling opportunities and challenges for communities and businesses. Ample circulation allows equipment to be easily accessible for routine inspections and repairs.
The facility employs the latest in recycling technology, including 19 optic sorters, artificial intelligence, ballistic separators, and trommel equipment. It features three expansive tipping floors totaling 48,000 square feet—one for residential materials, one for commercial materials, and another for material sampling and auditing.
Rumpke is also emphasizing public education with the creation of a 3,000 square-foot education center, developed in collaboration with the Center of Science & Industry (COSI). The center will offer interactive exhibits, including a sustainable market and recycling games, starting in October. Visitors will be able to learn about the recyclability of products and see firsthand the impact of recycling efforts.
Additionally, the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center includes a career center on the first floor and a Research and Development Center on the second floor. The R&D center will facilitate collaborations with local schools and universities to advance recycling research, with ongoing projects involving Ohio State University and other institutions.
Transparency into spaces offers employees, students, and visitors a visual insight into the recycling process in action and simultaneously allows natural light to penetrate deep into the MRF. A living green roof combined with a series of photovoltaics on both the roof and parking structures benefits the facility’s performance while contributing to broader environmental goals.
Design: Moody Nolan
Contractor: Elford, Inc.
Recycling Equipment Manufacturer: Machinex
Experiential Design Company: Holt Experiential
Photography: Cory Klein
