Guam Solid Waste Authority Rolls Out New Island-Wide Curbside Recycling Program

In late October, the Guam Solid Waste Authority (GSWA) began delivering 95-gallon recycling carts to its residential customers, initiating a new residential curbside recycling service after a successful pilot project. Customers can now place all of their paper (magazines, copy paper, newspaper, cardboard, cereal boxes, and other paper), aluminum and metal cans, and plastics 1 & 2 containers in one cart for collection every other week, on the same day that trash is collected. There is no additional charge to customers for adding this to their services.

To help customers remember when to recycle, GSWA customers can sign up on the GSWA website to receive an automated email 24 hours before their collection day to remind them to put their recycling cart out for collection.

On average, GSWA customers dispose of almost 2,400 pounds of trash each year. By placing their paper, plastics, and metal cans in the new recycling cart, it is estimated that they can divert up to 50% of that, extending the life of the new Layon Landfill and making the island greener. See the report from Pacific News Center to learn more about the curbside recycling program rollout and impact after only a few weeks:

Click image to view the Pacific News Center report on the rollout.
(3:43 minutes)

GBB is very proud to be helping the Territory of Guam achieve a 180-degree turnaround in solid waste management since U.S. District Court Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood appointed GBB, in a Court Order dated March 17, 2008, to be Receiver with full responsibility for bringing the Guam Solid Waste Management Division (now GSWA) 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 GSWA, solid waste companies, the people of Guam, and the U.S. military to implement the Consent Decree agreed to by the Government of Guam and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on the receivership:

Guam Solid Waste Receivership Information Center >>
Guam Solid Waste Authority Website >>

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GBB proved early last fall that its expertise reaches beyond solid waste consulting to include communications and marketing, as it received a Thoth Award from the Public Relations Society of America - National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) during the 45 Annual Thoth Gala in Washington, DC. The Thoth Award is the highest honor in public relations and communications that a company can receive from the PRSA-NCC.

An experienced panel of judges selected GBB's new corporate brochure after reviewing numerous entries from public relations, non-profit, and corporate organizations located in the Washington, D.C. area.

GBB's winning brochure conveys the passion GBBers have for the environment, showcases the firm's expertise in new waste management technologies, and introduces its new team of officers as part of the company's current leadership transition. Developed with assistance from Atwater Communications and MillerCox Design, the new brochure emphasizes the "why" behind individual GBB leaders' involvement in the solid waste industry, instead of just the "what," and it was this distinction, combined with its superior design elements, that set it apart from the competition.

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Mobile App Spotlight

This feature of the GBB Waste Outlook showcases one of the growing number of free or low-cost mobile apps related to recycling or the solid waste management industry in general. Readers are encouraged to contact gbb@gbbinc.com to suggest interesting apps that may be featured in a future newsletter.

CITIZENS ENGAGED - Citizens Engaged is a free app for residents to submit service requests from their Windows phone to the City of San Diego Streets Division. Although this app is only for San Diego and isn't for just solid waste, it is a great example of embracing evolving communication methods. This type of app could be used to report service problems, schedule special collections, obtain information, and receive urgent messages. The app feeds directly into the City's dispatch system.

The reporting form is easy to use. Choose from pre-set issues or "other." Use the location finder in your phone or manually type an address. (You can toggle location access in the Settings, and also use Settings to report anonymously.) Describe the problem (with auto-correct) and hit send. View your requests in a list or on a map.

There are several useful direct links out of the app: request status; City web site; call the emergency line at the Streets Division; and, call the Storm Water Service (a sister agency of Streets). A News feature pulls from press releases on the City web site and has general content.

Overall, it is a top-notch e-gov app for actively engaging people.

View a video of the app published by Dcube Apps >>

* Featured apps are not endorsed by GBB... we just think they're cool!

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