Chairman, President, Founder Owner Associate and Co-Founder

Education: 

• BS, Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Areas of Expertise:

Strategic thinking and planning; procurement and negotiation assistance; system administration; change management; and project financing coordination.

“Earth Day 1970 first inspired my career to focus on helping do better things with waste. And, I have been able to do just that for the past 40+ years.”

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Mr. Gershman has been active in the solid waste management field as an adviser to government and industry for over 40 years, specializing in strategic guidance and infrastructure and services development assistance to solid waste service/system managers and owners. Mr. Gershman has managed the preparation of many long-term plans, market studies, cost and independent feasibility analyses, technology reviews, contractor procurements, contracts development and negotiations, and project financing activities for a broad range of recycling, composting, solid waste management, waste-to-energy, and district energy projects. These projects have resulted in sustainable, efficient integrated waste management systems accepted by the community and its leadership.

As a thought leader, Mr. Gershman is a sought-after presenter at national industry conferences such as WASTECON, WasteExpo, North American Waste-to-Energy Conference, Municipal Solid Waste Association Conference, and many other regional conferences. He has contributed articles to leading industry publications, including Waste Today, MSW Management, Waste Advantage, Renewable Energy from Waste, and WasteAge.

In 2020, he was presented with the MSW Legacy Award by MSW Management magazine as it honored 30 professionals who have made significant contribution to the advancement of the solid waste management industry during the past 30 years.

In 2019, he was awarded the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)’s Lawrence Lecturer award, given to individuals recognized as national/international leaders and experts with substantial, significant and sustained contributions to the field of solid waste management.

• SWANA’s Press Release
• See his Lawrence Lecture presentation (PDF file)
• Video interview (3 minutes) about his career, SWANA, and the Lawrence Lecture Award

See his complete insightful and inspiring keynote presentation in this 42-minute video:

In 2013, SWANA presented him with the Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors in the solid waste industry, for his significant contribution to the solid waste management profession. In 1993, he was awarded SWANA’s Professional Achievement Award.

Mr. Gershman has been instrumental in designing and conducting training and technical assistance programs for such organizations as the National Center for Resource Recovery, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy, and SWANA. Mr. Gershman is the lead author and instructor for SWANA’s training course entitled “Economics, Costs, and Full Cost Accounting for Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems.” Mr. Gershman has been a member of the International Board of SWANA and the Board of Directors for the National Recycling Coalition (NRC). He served as President of the Maryland Recyclers Coalition (MRC) from 1995 to 1997.

He was previously vice president of Gordian Associates, Inc., managing energy and environmental consulting. He led one of three technical assistance teams designated by EPA’s Office of Solid Waste to provide a comprehensive range of technical, operational, financial, legal, and institutional services to municipalities in resource recovery and solid waste management. Prior to then, Mr. Gershman was a project director/technical assistance engineer at the National Center for Resource Recovery, Inc., where he provided technical assistance in the planning of resource recovery programs.

Having been on the front lines as a solid waste management consultant since 1980, Mr. Gershman is frequently called upon to provide expert witness and dispute resolution services on a wide-range of cases related to the industry.

Interview

“What to Expect from China’s National Sword & its Implications for WTE,” published in I am SWANA. (May 2018)

Publications & Speeches (past 10 years)

“Solid Waste Management Now and What It Can Be in the Future…,” presented at the Ohio By‐Product Synergy Network .(December 2020)

“Lawrence Lecture 2019,” presented at WASTECON (October 2019)

“Regional Business Solutions That Help Curb the Tide of Solid Waste,” presented at the Trash Summit – Business Solutions for Plastic Pollution. (October 2018)

“Assessing the Impact of China’s National Sword on Recycling in the U.S. and the Implications for Waste-to-Energy,” presented at the North American Waste-to-Energy Conference. (May 2018)

“Waste Conversion Market Update,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference Webinar. (October 2017)

“Solid Waste Conversion Technologies,” presented at the SWANA Southern New England Recycling and Solid Waste Conference and MASSRecycle R3 Conference. (March 2017)

“Welcome Waste Today…Happy New Year too!,” published in Waste Today. (January 2017)

“Times are Changing for Renewable Energy from Waste,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (December 2016)

“Conference Takeaways,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2016)

“Waste Conversion Market Update,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2016)

“Conducting a Procurement and Development Process,” presented at the Pre-Conference Workshop of the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2016)

“The Future of Processing and Collecting,” presented at the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference. (October 2016)

“Single Stream Recycling… Local Government Perspective,” presented at the Resource Recycling Conference. (September 2016)

“Waste-to-Energy Lessons Learned:  A 30-Year Evaluation on Why Projects Succeeded or Failed,” presented at WASTECON. (August 2016)

“May They Rest in Peace,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (August 2016)

“Part II: COP21 and Developing Countries,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (April 2016)

“Part I: The impact of COP21 on recycling and renewable energy from waste,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (February 2016)

“Status of Solid Waste Management in the US with Focus on the Technologies,” presented at the Graduate Seminar Series – Engineering Mechanics Department at Michigan Technological University. (December 2015)

“REW 2015 provides valuable advice for planning and implementing new projects,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (November 2015)

“Progress Report on Waste Conversion in North America,” keynote presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2015)

“Conference Takeaways,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2015)

“Planning for Success – Public Sector Planning and Implementation of Waste Conversion Projects,” presented at the Pre-Conference Workshop of the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference.L (November 2015)

“State of the Industry: What’s Ahead for Solid Waste Management?“ presented at the Municipal Waste Management Association Summit. (October 2015)

“The Evolution of Mixed Waste Processing Facilities (1970 – Today),” presented at the Municipal Waste Management Association Summit. (October 2015)

“Recycling desire up, prices and demand down…What should we do?,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (September 2015)

“Tackling Contamination,” presented at the Resource Recycling Conference. (September 2015)

“Conversion Technologies  and Trends,” presented at the Waste360 Recycling Summit. (September 2015)

“Making the most out of our mixed waste,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (July 2015)

“Status of waste processing and conversion technologies in the U.S,” presented at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Webinar. (June 2015)

“Re-inventing energy from waste: The evolution from volume reduction to circular economy,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (May 2015)

“What’s Ahead for Solid Waste Management?“ published in Waste Advantage magazine. (May 2015)

“Corporate sustainability needs renewable energy from waste,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (March 2015)

“Opportunities in Bond Financing & Public–Private Partnerships,” presented at the Infocast Waste to Biogas & Clean Fuels Financing & Investment Summit. (March 2015)

“The Waste Management & Landfill Industry’s Investment Plans for Biogas,” presented at the Infocast Waste to Biogas & Clean Fuels Financing & Investment Summit. (March 2015)

“2015: a year of progress ahead for renewable energy from waste,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (January 2015)

“Are MWPFs just dirty MRFs?“ published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (November 2014)

“Update on Waste Conversion Progress in North America,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2014)

“Mechanical-Biological Treatment (MBT) Workshop,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2014)

“Financing Fundamentals,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2014)

“Converting Waste Into Usable Energy,” presented at the Lorman Educational Services Webinar. (November 2014)

“The way to think about plastics and conversion technologies,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (September 2014)

“Paying for Your System: A Course on Solid Waste System Economics,” presented at the SWANA eSession webinar series. (September 2014)

“The Case for Policies that Support Energy Recovery,” presented at WASTECON. (August 2014)

“Mechanical‐Biological Treatment (MBT) As a Strategy For Zero Waste To Landfills,” presented at WASTECON. (August 2014)

“Recycling or waste-to-energy? Either — AD works!“ published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (July 2014)

“Renewable Energy from Waste – Technology Update,” presented at the Waste to BioEnergy Summit. (July 2014)

“Today’s Project Finance Markets For Waste to Energy Projects,” presented at the Waste to BioEnergy Summit. (July 2014)

“Today’s Project Finance Markets for Waste-to-Energy Projects,” presented at the Structuring Financeable Waste Conversion Projects Workshop, Waste to BioEnergy Summit. (July 2014)

“Alternative Technologies and the Road to Zero Waste to Landfill,” presented at the Maryland Recycling Network/SWANA Mid-Atlantic Conference. (June 2014)

“When it comes to WTE, collection is key,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (May 2014)

“Advances in Energy…From Waste,” published in MSW Management magazine. (May 2014)

“Policy Short-Sightedness with Regard to Integrated Waste Management in North America,” presented at NAWTEC. (May 2014)

“Waste Conversion Technologies: Commercial Viability and Progress,” presented at WasteExpo. (April 2014)

“What zero-waste-to-landfill means to America,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (March 2014)

“Waste-to-Energy emissions: How low can they go?,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (January 2014)

“Is MBT Coming to America?,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (November 2013)

“Renewable Energy from Waste Technologies and Projects,” presented at the Waste Conversion Congress West Coast. (December 2013)

“The Status of Renewable Energy from Waste in North America,” presented at the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference. (November 2013)

“Biofuel Opportunities for Solid Waste Management Systems,” presented at the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Services Foundation Webinar. (November 2013)

“Food Waste or Fuel Source?,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (September 2013)

“Costs: more or less?“ presented at the Maryland Recycling Network Breakfast Meeting. (October 2013)

“North American Perspective on Integrated Solid Waste Management and Applicability in Brazil,” presented at Inaugural Feira RWM Brazil. (October 2013)

“Now and When: Moving Forward with Biomass,” presented at RETECH. (September 2013)

“US Government Helps Advance Renewable Energy from Waste,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (July 2013)

“Need More Diversion? Revisit Bans and Ordinances,” published in MSW Management magazine. (July-August 2013)

“North American Perspective on Integrated Solid Waste Management,” presented at the Waste-to-Resources International Symposium. (June 2013)

“Current Direction of Waste-to-Energy deals in the US,” presented at the American Bar Association Teleconference. (June 2013)

“An Idea Worth Considering,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (May 2013)

“Same Old Process, New Considerations,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (April 2013)

“A Deep Dive into the Life Cycle of Flexible Packaging,” presented at Sustainable Packaging Coalition Meeting. (March 2013)

“The US Can Learn from Sweden,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (January 2013)

“Leading Edge, Over-The-Rainbow Techniques and Technology in Recycling,” presented at the Maryland Recycling Network Webinar. (December 2012)

“…This is Now,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (November 2012)

“Working with Key Stakeholders to Commercialize Advanced Biofuels from Waste,” presented at the MSW to Biofuels Webinar. (October 2012)

“That Was Then…,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (September 2012)

“The Latest Updates on Waste-to- Energy and Conversion Technologies; Plus Projects Under Development,”presented at WASTECON. (August 2012)

“The Whole Truth, Nothing But the Truth,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (July 2012)

“Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Under The Commercial Microscope,” presented at the Waste Conversion Congress East Coast. (June 2012)

“Conversion Technologies: Feasibility and Challenges,” presented at Waste Expo. (May 2012)

“The Latest and Greatest on Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Including Status of Projects Under Development,” presented at the North American Waste-to-Energy Conference. (April 2012)

“The Growing Role of WTE,” published in Renewable Energy from Waste magazine. (April 2012)

“The Waste Management Industry’s Goals and Plans for Driving the Future of Waste to Energy,” presented at the Waste-to-Energy Development and Finance Summit. (March 2012)

“Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies under the Commercial Microscope – Including Projects Currently Under Development,” presented at the Waste Conversion Congress – West Coast. (December 2011)

“The Latest and Greatest on Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Including Projects Currently Under Development,” presented at the Waste-to-Fuels Conference. (September 2011)

“Metro Nashville: Total Solid Waste Management Planning and Implementation,” presented at WASTECON.. (August 2011)

“Waste Conversion Technology Showcase: Learnings from WCT Demonstration/Commercial Projects,” (moderator) presented at WASTECON.. (August 2011)

“Waste Conversion Technology Showcase: WCTs – What You Need to Know,” (moderator) presented at WASTECON.. (August 2011)

“Partnerships with Waste Management Businesses,” presented at the Waste to Clean Energy Finance & Investment Summit.. (July 2011)

“Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Development Update & Outlook,” presented at the Waste to Clean Energy Finance & Investment Summit.. (July 2011)

“Latest and greatest on waste-to-energy and conversion technologies including projects currently under development,” presented at the SWANA eSession webinar series. (June 2011)

“What the Future of Solid Waste Management May Hold,” presented at the Maryland Recycling Network / SWANA Mid-Atlantic Conference. (June 2011)

“Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Status Report,” presented at the Infocast webinar series. (June 2011)

“The Latest and Greatest on Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Including Projects Currently Under Development,” presented at the Waste Conversion Technology Conference. (June 2011)

“The Latest and Greatest on Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Including Projects Currently Under Development,” presented at the North American Waste-to-Energy Conference. (May 2011)

“The Latest and Greatest on Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies Including Projects Currently Under Development,” presented at the Waste Expo Conference.. (May 2011)

“Waste as a Fuel for CHP; Opportunities and Technologies,” presented at the United States Clean Heat & Power Association Spring Forum.(May 2011)

“Partnerships with Waste Management Businesses,” presented at the Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit.(February 2011)

“Future Business, Energy and Environmental Case for Recycling,” presented at the Association of Ohio Recyclers Conference. (November 2010)

“The Status of Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies,” presented at the Municipal Waste Management Association Fall Summit. (September 2010)

“The Latest & Greatest on the Resurgence of Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies,” presented at WASTECON. (August 2010)

“International Waste-to-Energy Case Studies,” presented at WASTECON. (August 2010)

“Market Overview Presentation,” presented at the Waste-to-Energy Finance & Investment Summit.(July 2010)

“Green-Ness Is Next To Godliness: Organics Diversion at a Religious Facility,” presented at the Virginia Recycling Association Conference. (May 2010)

“The Latest and Greatest on the Resurgence of Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies,” presented at NAWTEC. (May 2010)

“Fuel for the Fire – A Renewable Energy Push Could Spark Demand for Refuse-Derived Fuel” Article – Waste Age. (March 2010)

“Future of Waste Management in the U.S.,” presented at the Engineering Society of Detroit Solid Waste Technical Conference. (March 2010)

“Solid Waste Management in the United States” Article – Waste Advantage magazine. (January 2010)

“When You Come to a Fork in the Road…” Editorial – MSW Management magazine. (January/February 2010)

“County of Maui Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan – Highlights from Briefing for County Council February 2009,” presented at WASTECON. (September 2009)

“What’s Ahead for Solid Waste Management in the U.S. and Ohio?” presented at the Buckeye SWANA Annual Meeting.. (September 2009)

“The Resurgence of Waste-To-Energy and Conversion Technologies,” presented at Biomass ’09: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Technical Workshop. (July 2009)

“Waste Conversion Technologies: Fact or Fiction,” presented at WasteExpo. (June 2009)

“Alternative Technologies to Landfilling,” presented at the Southeast Recycling Conference and Trade Show. (March 2009)

“Update on Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies,” presented at the SWANA e-Session on Waste-to-Energy. (February 2009)

“Municipal and Solid Waste to Energy Technologies,” presented at the Pre-Summit Biomass Technology Briefing. (January 2009)

“International Perspectives and Best Practices on Solid Waste and Recycling,” presented at the Municipal Waste Management Association Fall Summit. (November 2008)

“Using Landfills for Waste to Energy Projects,” presented as part of the Keyswide Sustain-Ability Project – R4 Summit. (November 2008)

Keynote speaker at Partnerships in Emerging Environmental Technology Conference, Central State University. (October 2008)

“The Big Picture: State of Recycling and Opportunities for Innovation,” presented at the National Recycling Coalition’s Annual Congress and Expo. (September 2008)

“Alternative Technologies to Landfilling,” presented at North Carolina SWANA – 2008 Fall Technical Conference. (August 2008)

“MRF Operations and Revenue,” presented at California Resource Recovery Association Annual Conference. (August 2008)

“The Resurgence of Waste-to-Energy and Conversion Technologies – Panel Discussion,” presented at SWANA’s Landfill Symposium & Planning and Management Conference. (June 2008)