The Arizona Community Ecocenter is a state-of-the-art single stream recycling facility in Surprise Arizona The facility is Arizona’s most advance, featuring the latest in technology. The 65,000 square-foot facility has the capacity to process more than 10,000 tons of material per month—that is nearly 2.5 times the processing capacity of Waste Management’s previous facility in Phoenix.

The technology of the material sorting equipment system design makes the Surprise MRF a “next-generation” facility by utilizing a vertical footprint to maximize the use of gravity in the recycling process. Advanced recycling sorting technology including magnets, screens, optical scanners, and eddy currents are in use, creating an automated system that is quicker and much more efficient.

This project is a prototype for the next generation of Waste Management recycling facilities. Consequently, it has become one of the company’s major training centers as personnel from around the country come to train on the new system.  The administration conference room was designed with flex work stations along the millwork counters.  The additional data/phone outlets provide work areas for visiting staff.  A 700 sf Education Center is included in the project to educate the public on the merits of green building and to train staff on a variety of equipment and operational procedures

The project was completed utilizing the design – build delivery method, with Arrington Watkins Archtects teaming the Gilbane Construction. The design build team dealt successfully with several challenges on the project, including 1.) co-locating the MRF on a working regional landfill property, 2.) solving a difficult drainage issue in a manner that save Waste Management a significant amount of time and money and 3.) working with the equipment manufacturer to develop and install a customized truck tipper in order to solve a customize standard components into a unique solution.  to accomodate large trailers of recyclables from various locations around the Phoenix metropolitan area

AWARDED: LEED-Silver registered facility.