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
Trash Service Continues for All Solid Waste Management Division Customers
Address and Billing Verification in Process
(Fairfax, Va., November 21, 2008) – Federal Receiver Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) today confirmed that weekly trash collection service will continue for all Guam Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) customers until the implementation of the new cart system, planned for 2009. No residential customers will be cut off at this time. Any customers who may not have received collection this week were serviced on Saturday.
News reports earlier today incorrectly characterized some work being done on Friday by employees of the SWMD to verify addresses, as preparation to cut off service. This is not correct. The SWMD’s only effort at this time is to verify undelivered addresses for those customers billed by the Division through the postal service. The SWMD currently is in the process of verifying the addresses of more than 600 undeliverable billings from the SWMD’s most recent mailing.
At a hearing currently scheduled for January 13, 2009, GBB plans to present to the U.S. District Court the plan and timeline for implementing the island’s new residential trash collection system, which will include distribution of carts to residential customers who enroll for collection and billing. The SWMD needs to ensure that all customers who enroll will be paying customers. Residents will have ample notification about the opportunity to register for collection service.
Before discontinuing trash collection service, the SWMD will make every effort to notify customers in advance to ensure they are not surprised and will have the opportunity to register. Until such time as the carts are distributed, service will continue throughout the island. Service will only be discontinued if a resident notifies the SWMD that collection is no longer desired or the resident is moving and thus canceling service.
"As we told the Court at the October hearing, we plan to implement a cart system for residential trash collection and billing,” said David Manning, Receiver Representative. "Until we implement that system, we will not be cutting service. We want to encourage all customers to continue to pay their bills on time. This is essential to maintaining adequate trash collection services for Guam.”
The new registration and billing system planned for implementation during the cart roll out will clear up any billing discrepancies and ensure that only those who pay for service receive it.
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 Solid Waste Management Division, 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.
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, visit www.gbbinc.com or call 1-703-573-5800.
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