For more information, contact:
Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.
(703) 573-5800 / www.gbbinc.com

Fairfax, VA (December 14, 2011) – Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) announced today that it has been selected by the City of Charlotte, NC, to perform an independent review of the City’s Solid Waste Services (SWS) Department. With the objective of identifying potential opportunities for improved efficiency and effectiveness, the GBB Project Team will review and analyze operations, consult with stakeholders, report on findings, and provide constructive and actionable recommendations.

“With its extensive national expertise, and focus on solid waste management issues, GBB will provide valuable insight and advice, allowing us to further increase the efficiency of the department,” said Victoria O. Johnson, Director of the SWS Department. “This is an opportunity for us to carefully examine our operation through the eyes of independent experts, benchmark it against what is done throughout the country, and take away lessons and action items that will have positive long-term effects.”

As part of the assignment, the GBB Project Team will review key data provided by SWS, review best practices benchmarking information, and conduct on-location work including visit of facilities, field observations of service activities, and interviews of key stakeholders to develop a clear understanding of the qualitative, operational, and policy dynamics that impact performance. The GBB Project Team will also consider software used and whether new or updated software could be applied to improve efficiency; type of equipment and its age and maintenance; extent of automation and technology used in collection; crew sizes and worker productivity; the existence of any work rules, such as in contracts or union requirements, that may artificially lower productivity; how collection of special waste, such as bulky waste, is handled and how different equipment application, collection requirements, and procedures that could lower costs for managing such materials could yield substantial savings to SWS.

GBB will then discuss initial findings, recommendations, and opportunities for cost savings and other efficiencies with the SWS Department Director before providing draft and final reports.

“GBB worked with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in the early/mid ‘90s, and in 2003, and we’re happy to have the opportunity to help them again with this independent review in order to provide improved services in an efficient manner,” noted Harvey W. Gershman, GBB President.

The City of Charlotte is North Carolina’s largest metropolitan area, and the 17th largest city in the United States based on its 2010 population of over 731,000. Charlotte has become a major U.S. financial center, and is now the second largest banking center in the United States after New York City. The City’s SWS Department provides a variety of solid waste collection services, including weekly collection of garbage and yard waste; bi-weekly collection of recyclables; and scheduled bulk collection. SWS also provides specialized services for small businesses, litter pickup, dead animal collection, and street sweeping. In addition, SWS manages contract collection services provided to multifamily communities and contracts for the purchase and maintenance of refuse and recyclable rollout containers. In support of its core business, SWS conducts public education and awareness of available solid waste services through public affairs programs, public education initiatives and media-related services and has staff dedicated to administrative, customer service, safety, and technology activities.

GBB is a national solid waste management consulting firm founded in 1980 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. For more information on the firm and its products and services, visit www.gbbinc.com or call 703-573-5800.

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