After breaking ground in February 2023, the new Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center, located at 1190 Joyce Ave. in Columbus, is one step closer to completion. Rumpke, a recycling leader, hosted a “topping out” ceremony to commemorate placement of the final beam in construction of what will be the largest and most technologically advanced recycling facility of its kind in North America.
“This is a great day for Ohio, a great day for Columbus and a great day for the Rumpke team,” said Andrew Rumpke, Rumpke area president. “What we are doing here today takes us one step closer to bringing the dream of this extraordinary facility to reality. This facility will help us divert larger amounts of waste away from landfills while further fueling Ohio’s circular economy. It’s an environmental and economic win and we are so excited to bring it to Central Ohio.”
Rumpke’s $95 million private investment in the 223,000 square foot facility will include AI technology, infrared optical scanners and ballistic separators. The technologically advanced system will allow Rumpke to increase the amount of recyclable material it processes annually from 150,000 tons to 250,000 tons from nearly 50 Ohio counties.
Additionally, collaborations with COSI and The Ohio State University will allow Rumpke to further expand education opportunities for the community and its customers. To help celebrate, the Rumpke Family and team invited members of the neighboring American Addition community and the Rumpke Community Advisory Committee to sign the tallest beam before it went into place. Since the beginning of the project, the committee has played an active role in the design and development of the facility.
A “topping out” is a long-standing tradition of construction workers to commemorate the completion of a building’s structure, specifically the placement of the final truss or beam. Today, the beam placed atop the office building is adorned with a small evergreen tree on one end and an American flag on the other. The inclusion of the evergreen goes back hundreds of years and symbolizes good luck for future occupants, continued growth, a safe job, and celebrates an important achievement in a building’s construction. The inclusion of the American flag dates back over 100 years and serves as a patriotic gesture. The grand opening of the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center is slated for Summer 2024.
Building Facts to Date:
- 3,818,406 lbs. of structural steel used
- 419,717 lbs. of rebar made from recycled steel
- 5,942 cubic yards of concrete poured
- 176,832 sq ft of recycled glass insulation
- 4,228 feet of ADS recycled drainage pipe
- 68,000 cubic yards of dirt moved
Construction Facts:
- A total of 42,589 hours worked to date
- 3,621 hours worked by DBE/WBE Businesses to date