Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.

The history of the Government of Guam's violation of the Clean Water Act goes back to 1986, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an administrative order directing the island's Department of Public Works (DPW) to cease the discharge of leachate from the Ordot Dump.

In 2008, the Ordot Dump continued to leach contaminants, posing an environmental and health hazard. A Consent Decree was approved by the U.S. District Court of Guam in February 2004, yet compliance with its mandates was minimal.

On March 17, 2008, Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc., (GBB) was appointed Receiver. GBB is a national solid waste management consulting firm with extensive experience with solid waste collection, processing, recycling and disposal issues, including those specific to island communities.

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. 

»Learn more
»court order

Documents

Documents related to the Receiverships can can found in the following subsections of the Documents section:

>> Receiver Reports and Documents
>> GSWA Board Meetings
>> Court Documents
>> Joint Reports by Parties
>> Guam Public Utilities Commission
>> Solid Waste Facility Permit Docs
>> Miscellaneous
>> Current Procurements

Ordot Dump Closure

The Receiver was tasked with both turning a completely dysfunctional solid waste management system around and closing the Ordot Dump, which has been open for nearly 70 years.

Learn more about the progression from a Dump in disarray in 2008 to the closure of waste disposal operations in 2011 to the environmental closure in 2016.

 

Latest Updates

January 22, 2026
GSWA Board Meeting

June 12, 2025
Status Hearing

Setting the Record Straight

In this section, the Federal Receiver provides accurate information responding to the attacks in the press release from the Office of the Governor and other inaccurate information being spread around by those working to undermine the Receivership.
»view response

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the receivership.

Tumon Village

GSWA Website

GSWAThe Guam Solid Waste Authority (GSWA) has its independent website dedicated to providing information about the services offered; news directly related to GSWA and its services; resources; and contact information.The Guam Solid Waste Receivership Information Center remains an important source for information related to the Receivership.

Newsroom

Partial End of Receivership
On April 29, 2019 the Court issued an Order partially ending the Receivership. In making this decision, the Court authorized the Receiver to continue its work to complete the post-closure plan for the Ordot Dump and said:

"The court is very proud of the work accomplished by the Receiver over the last 11 years. The Ordot Dump has been closed, and the Receiver has installed the necessary systems to protect Guam’s waters from this environmental hazard that had plagued the island for decades. The Receiver has built a modern solid waste system for the island which includes a compliant solid waste landfill, a recycling program and a household hazardous waste disposal center."
»READ COURT ORDER

GSWA Receives Award
The Ordot Dump Closure project in Guam earned the 2016 Construction Management Association of America's Project Achievement Award in the $50 Million and under Infrastructure Project category.
»Learn more

SWANA Excellence Award Submittal
In 2015, the Receiver (GBB) self-funded and submitted GSWA's candidacy to SWANA for its Excellence Award for Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems. This comprehensive document serves as a detailed record of the turnaround plan and the successful modernization of Guam’s solid waste infrastructure.
»See 16-page submittal