City of Phoenix 27th Avenue Composting Facility

Phoenix, AZ

Capable of processing 55,000 tons of compost annually, this industrial facility for the City of Phoenix occupies 27 acres and reuses waste that would otherwise take up landfill space. The complex aeration, containment, and separation systems utilize unique structures that are mostly underground. Buehler designed the large retaining/push walls and weir structures that aid the composting process, incorporating rarely considered concepts such as a sacrificial slab to accommodate the high loads associated with a heavy-equipment environment, as well as mitigate acid damage. Additionally, the on-site solar canopies cover multiple acres and provide a misting system and shade for the process beds, increasing processing efficiency.