The City of Albany’s Department of Public Works is responsible for the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and recycling generated by most residences.  It operates a daily collection program for MSW and recycled materials and hauls the MSW to the landfill for disposal.

At a critical juncture, after agreeing to close the landfill within 6 years or sooner if certain milestones were met, the City sought the advice of Public Financial Management and GBB to review solid waste and recycling collection and disposal operations, and suggested steps to take regarding the challenges facing each and how they should be managed in an organized manner.

Review of Landfill Capacity and Closure Issues

GBB reviewed high-level documents related to the City-owned and operated landfill (size, volume, current/recent tonnage accepted, waste sources, rates, regulatory framework, estimated remaining capacity, and likely closure costs). The head of the City’s Department of General Services and the Landfill Manager were interviewed to discuss operations and practices, changes likely needed through 2020, and the overall plans for closure planned for approximately 2022. GBB then identified steps the City should take to extend the landfill’s life, generate revenue to cover closure costs, and position itself for a likely shift in transfer operations.

Solid Waste Collection Review

GBB conducted a high-level review of the existing municipal waste/recycling collection approach to evaluate the timing and potential operational/financial impacts of shifting to automated collection. Other solid waste collection initiatives and their potential impact were reviewed.