FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
David L. Manning, Special Principal Associate
Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.
Federal Receiver
703-573-5800
www.guamsolidwastereceiver.org
Federal Receiver to Implement Islandwide Curbside Recycling
(Guam, July 31, 2013) – Federal Receiver Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) today announced that, subject to the approval of the District Court, it will begin rolling out curbside recycling for all residential customers on regular routes of the Guam Solid Waste Authority (GSWA). "We expect to begin the implementation within the next 90 days and complete it before the end of 2013. We will be filing a report with the District Court of Guam outlining the details in the near future,” said Receiver Representative David L. Manning. "By further streamlining the trash collection system, GSWA will be able to cost-effectively implement islandwide recycling without increasing GSWA’s rates, providing an easy to use recycling service for residential customers. Customers will not be charged any additional fee for curbside recycling.”
The Receivership has already implemented recycling at all of the residential transfer stations and given commercial recycling a major boost by banning most recyclables from the landfill. In addition, a program to collect bulky and metallic waste, such as furniture and appliances, and to recycle those materials whenever feasible, has been implemented. In 2014, the Household Hazardous Waste Program will be implemented in order to divert even more materials from the landfill and recycle them to the extent feasible.
Islandwide residential recycling is the next logical step following the successful pilot curbside recycling program implemented by the Receiver in 2011. The pilot program clearly demonstrated the feasibility of curbside recycling on Guam. Given the economic and environmental benefits from recycling, we believe the Receiver has a fiduciary responsibility to make recycling a high priority for GSWA. The benefits, including preservation of expensive landfill space for material that cannot be recycled, are well known. In addition, recycling creates benefits for the environment by reusing commodities such as cardboard, aluminum, other metals and plastics, reducing the need to manufacture more of these materials.
"We look forward to working with the customers, employees of GSWA, and the Mayor’s Council of Guam, to make these benefits a reality for Guam,” added Manning.
About Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc., Receiver
In a Court Order dated March 17, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood appointed GBB to be Receiver with full responsibility for bringing the Guam Solid Waste Management Division into compliance with the 2004 Consent Decree for violation of the Clean Water Act. As Receiver, GBB’s objective is to work with Guam’s government, the Guam Solid Waste Authority, solid waste companies, the people of Guam, and the U.S. military to establish a long-term, financially viable and sustainable waste management system for Guam. For more information on the receivership, visit www.guamsolidwastereceiver.org.
GBB is a national solid waste management consulting firm, headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, that works on solid waste collection, processing, recycling and disposal issues, and assists in planning, procuring, and implementing sound, cost-effective facilities and services at the local, state, and national levels for both the public and private sectors. Since 1980, GBB has planned and developed a wide range of integrated waste management programs that use the latest technologies to improve efficiency, save money, enhance customer service, and protect the environment. For more information on the firm and its products and services, please visit www.gbbinc.com or call 1-703-573-5800.
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