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True to Reimagine Phoenix's message -- "Transforming trash into resources" -- the development of the Resource Innovation Campus (RIC) was approved by Phoenix City Council in 2015. To be located at  27th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road next to the city-owned transfer station, the RIC is dedicated to the creation and growth of a circular economy that will fulfill the city's goal of diverting from the landfill 40 percent of trash generated in Phoenix. The RIC will help Phoenix reap the economic development benefits of attracting manufacturing processes and conversion technologies that transform trash into resources.

The RIC will have five main components:

  • The 27th Avenue Transfer Station - as the attracts new innovators with manufacturing processes and conversion technologies that use trash as resources, the transfer station will divert more volume away from the landfill and into the city's circular economy.
  • Materials recovery facility (MRF) - as innovators identify new ways to transform trash into resources, the role of the MRF could expand to allow Phoenix residents to recycle additional items in their blue recycling containers.
  • Composting facility - the city is in the design phase for a composting facility that is expected to divert some of the 400 million pounds of compostable materials currently sent to the landfill each year. The facility is scheduled to be operational by mid-2016.
  • Land leases - approximately 40 acres of property at and around the RIC will be used to develop a resource cluster focusing on a circular economy and by-product synergies. Land leases will be made available for innovators and manufacturers with market-ready technologies and manufacturing processes that use trash to create new products. A competitive process will determine how the land wil be developed.
  • RISN Headquarters and Technology Solutions Incubator ​- the RIC will house a business incubator for start-up/emerging technologies and manufacturing processes. Conceptually, the business incubator will provide office, workshop, support services, technical services and possible funding resources to innovators.
aerial view

In January 2014, fueled by Reimagine Phoenix's citywide goals, the Phoenix City Council approved funding to initiate the Resource Innovation and Solutions Network (RISN). RISN is a partnership with the city of Phoenix to establish a network focused on creating value and economic development opportunities from solid waste streams.  This Network is managed and operated by the Sustainability Solutions Services, a program within the Walton Sustainability Initiatives at ASU.

RISN welcomes innovative partners who are willing to cross boundaries and disciplines to find sustainable solutions. Since its initiation in 2014, RISN has partnered with local, national and international businesses, other municipalities and non-profits to advance resource management and to discover innovations in sustainability research and practices. ​

​Group photo outside Arizona Diamondbacks ballpark

At the news conference announcing the first Zero Waste Spring Training Game, with representatives from the city of Phoenix, Arizona Diamondbacks, Mayo Clinic, Goodwill of Central Arizona, Univision, Republic Services and PHX Sky Harbor International Airport.

As part of the the department's General Plan, a RISN Headquarters will be constructed at the 27th Avenue Transfer Station in a way that is environmentally sound and consistent with the General Plan land use designations​. The RISN Headquarters​ will also house the technology solutions incubator for start-up/emerging technologies and manufacturing processes. ​

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