Waste Characterization – GBB in the Field
By Eric Weiss, GBB Consultant I

In my last contribution to the GBB Waste Outlook Newsletter, I discussed my role helping to update the Advanced Conversion Technology database. Gathering this data in the office was interesting... but not as interesting as gathering data out in the field.

The solid waste management industry thrives on creating value out of what most consider to be value-less waste. As a consultant in this industry, it is beneficial to understand the technical details (or what we call the "minutiae") of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream. A great way to gain an understanding of these waste streams, I have learned, is to participate in a waste characterization study.

A waste characterization study is a key exercise when developing strategic decisions regarding solid waste management. The data-sets that GBB produces as a result are used as a foundation to advise our clients on the most effective and efficient integrated solid waste management strategies. A waste characterization study is able to show the materials, by weight, that are thrown away within a certain region.

To complete a waste characterization study, GBB will send a few consultants out to the field to oversee a team of waste sorters that separate the waste into 30 or more material categories including paper, plastic, metal, textiles, organics and electronics for about a week. Afterwards, the consultants come back into the office and crunch the numbers to assess what kind of value this waste stream might have.

Many times, clients want to gain a deeper understanding of the recyclable materials that are thrown away in the garbage so that they can create targeted public education and outreach programs. Other times, clients want to calculate the heating value of the waste to gauge the feasibility of building or maintaining a waste-to-energy facility. I can say two things definitively from my experience in the field - collecting primary data requires more than technical knowledge or "book-smarts," and organic waste is the material that makes garbage gross.

A waste characterization exercise allows GBB consultants to build a team, educate and train a group of laborers about the details of the components of the waste stream, and gain experience managing a project. Many times, after a week of hard work, the team of laborers and consultants finds themselves sharing words about how they will make more of an effort to recycle- and how to do it correctly - because they really understand the difference between the types plastic resins, paper fibers, and metal compositions and are empowered to help their community and environment.

Many times, the team’s consensus is that organic waste is the nastiest, noxious, wettest, smelliest material the team encounters in the field. Organic waste, which consists of food waste, dirty diapers, and anything else that drips or squishes, is not only the largest portion of the municipal waste stream, but also the portion of MSW that is most damaging to the environment. After handling tons of organic waste (literally!), I am on a mission to help clients understand the best way to segregate and process organic wastes using the most effective technologies possible.

With my combination of market research of conversion technologies as an intern, and my field work as a consultant, I have gained great understanding and perspective of the solid waste management industry. As it turns out, GBB doesn’t only provide its clients with the tools to convert waste materials into valuable resources... but GBB also equips its consultants with technical knowledge and market understanding of processing/conversion technologies so they themselves can become valuable human resources!

See the presentation that Eric made at the SWANA Quad State Conference, in September:

"The Importance of Waste Sorts for Transforming Waste to Resource -
Lessons Learned from Fayetteville, NC"

3rd Annual Renewable Energy from Waste Conference Brings Together Industry Decision-Makers

The third edition of the Renewable Energy from Waste (REW) Conference took place this past fall in Orlando and brought together key industry players. The half-day pre-conference workshop, focusing on public sector planning and implementation of waste conversion projects, featured Mark Hammond (Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County CEO and Executive Director), who provided his perspective as a public agency executive, along with Rick Sapir (Hawkins, Delafield & Wood LLP Partner) and Harvey Gershman (GBB President) who provided guidance and lessons learned from their decades of involvement in the industry as advisors. Harvey Gershman’s column in the December issue of REW Magazine, entitled "REW 2015 Provides Valuable Advice For Planning and Implementing New Projects," provides an interesting overview of what was discussed with attendees.

The two-day main program, with over 30 speakers, offered an environment to discuss a comprehensive range of waste conversion technologies, providing critical insight into the necessary technologies, regulations, and financing options shaping the industry. As in the past, the conference concluded with the guided tour of a local renewable energy facility. This year, attendees got a behind the scenes tour of the Harvest Power Central Florida Energy Garden, an anaerobic digestion facility on Disney-owned property. The facility, with a capacity of 130,000 tons of material per year, manages the food waste and fats oils and grease separated from Disney World and other hotels, produce growers and food processors.

Renewable Energy from Waste magazine and GBB are already working on the 2016 edition - stay tuned for more details! Two key presentations of the 2015 event are available for download:

• "Take Aways – REW Conference"
  Harvey Gershman, GBB President;
  Kristin Smith, REW Managing Editor
• "Progress Report on Waste Conversion in North America"
  Harvey Gershman, GBB President

Unique Understanding of Solid Waste Management on Island Communities

As a result of being appointed Receiver, GBB assembled a multi-disciplinary team of solid waste, procurement, landfill engineering, financial, and communication experts who, in April 2008, presented the U.S. District Court with a roadmap to accomplish the Consent Decree projects reforming Guam's solid waste management system. Since then, GBB has performed a 180-degree turnaround, transforming the island's solid waste management system from the ground up on an integrated and sustainable path with a state-of-the-art landfill, dump closure system, leachate management, residential transfer stations and a revamped waste management collection program that will service the island for at least another 40 years.

"The court compliments the Receiver [GBB]’s continued efforts to ensure GSWA [Guam Solid Waste Authority] remains financially sound. The Receiver’s strong fiscal management will assure successful completion of the Consent Decree projects"

Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood Statement
in a Court Order dated October 26, 2015

In December, Chris Lund, P.E. (GBB Senior Vice President and Receiver Senior Project Engineer for the GBB Guam Receivership) talked about the Guam receivership as a panelist on the be Waste Wise webcast entitled "Protecting Public Health and Ecosystems in Islands Through Waste Management":

Click on image to view 50-minute webcast

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