Sustainability office pitches Richmond as Mid-Atlantic hub for circular-economy innovation

Tara Warden, sustainability manager, told the committee the Office of Sustainability is exploring a circular-economy innovation center for Richmond to convert local waste streams into economic opportunity.

Warden described the model used in Charlotte's Innovation Barn, where the city owns a facility that a nonprofit manages under a nominal lease and operates a mixture of business incubation labs (plastics reuse, glass crushing into construction sand, urban lumber), workforce-development amenities, community engagement spaces and revenue-generating retail and food services. She said the Charlotte model uses mixed public, private and philanthropic funding and delivers measurable diversion, volunteer and incubator outcomes.

Warden argued Richmond has advantages for replication: university partnerships (VCU supply-chain and design programs), a manufacturing and textile heritage, an active artisan community reusing urban wood and growing textile-reuse activity, and local companies experimenting with plastics reuse. She said the sustainability office is conducting a materials-flow analysis focused on construction and demolition debris, food waste, textiles and plastics and is pursuing initial sponsor conversations and anchor partners.

Committee members asked about space needs, revenue models and potential private-sector partners such as Goodwill of Central Virginia and local mattress and textile companies. Warden said the city's real-estate staff have helped identify potential city-owned properties and that partnership and site selection work is ongoing. She cautioned there is not yet a single obvious site but emphasized preserving industrial land for these uses.

Warden said the next step is to finish the materials-flow analysis and firm up partner and sponsor commitments; if successful, the office will return with concrete proposals for funding and an operational model.