DECEMBER 2020
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Celebrating GBB’s 40th Anniversary!Harvey Gershman, Bob Brickner, and Tim Bratton, with their passion for the environment and belief in a world where discarded materials are used as resources rather than wasted, founded Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) in 1980.
Forty years later, this passion is still the driving force behind GBB. Our team of enthusiastic professionals – creating synergies with complementary experience, expertise, and backgrounds – has a single focus and mission through its collaborative work: to help clients solve solid waste management issues by providing innovative, responsible, sustainable, and economical strategies and solutions that benefit communities and the environment.
We are thankful to GBB’s founders, our great employees – past and present - associates, clients, colleagues, and friends!
State-of-the-Art Organics Management Facility Opening Ceremony in Prince William County, VA
In December 2018, Prince William County, the second-most-populous County in Virginia, located about 35 miles west of Washington, DC, began construction on a brand-new facility to process yard waste, wood waste, and pre- and post-consumer food and animal-derived wastes after GBB’s procurement guidance and assistance. On September 16, 2020, with the first of two phases of construction completed, the County hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the advanced organics management facility.
Per the innovative 20-year public-private partnership agreement and extension options with the facility’s owner and operator, Freestate Farms, the County’s previous traditional windrow composting facility was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility using open bunkers and aerated static pile technology. Prior to Phase I, approximately 25,000 tons of yard, wood, and limited pre-consumer, non-animal-derived food waste were processed per year. The County can now recycle approximately 75,000 tons per year of yard waste, wood waste, and pre- and post-consumer food and animal-derived wastes into high-value compost, soil amendments, and natural fertilizers. Allowing more types and greater amounts of food waste significantly expands the County’s ability to divert organic waste from its landfill, thereby extending its life, minimizing the contribution of landfilled organic waste to climate change, and creating positive environmental benefits from the compost facility’s outputs. The new facility will also greatly expand the overall Washington metropolitan region’s ability to compost food waste and serves as a flagship center in the region and an inspiration for all surrounding communities.
With GBB’s procurement, contracting, and construction monitoring assistance, the County anticipates the completion of Phase II in 2022, which will increase the processing capacity to a total of up to 210,000 tons per year through the construction of in-vessel advanced composting bunkers. It will also include the construction of solar panels to produce renewable electricity for on-site use and modular, containerized “greenhouses” heated with the waste heat produced by the in-vessel bunkers.
GBB is proud of its role in this project, which included helping with the feasibility study, planning and implementation of the Prince William Renewable Energy Park and the procurement process for this new state-of-the-art organics management facility.
Congratulations to Tom Smith (County's Acting Director, Department of Public Works) for successfully leading the initiative!
Watch the County's 2-minute video on the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the new facility:
SWANA Announces the Harvey W. Gershman ScholarshipThe Solid Waste Association of North American (SWANA) recently announced the creation of the Harvey W. Gershman Scholarship for university juniors and seniors pursuing a career in solid waste, recycling, or sustainable resource management.
Thanks to SWANA for the great initiative and to Harvey for his generous contribution to encourage the next wave of industry leaders! Part of the corporate culture that he nurtures at GBB is to offer opportunities to young professionals with a passion for the environment. Since 1980, he has mentored and empowered dozens of young professionals who joined GBB as interns and consultants. He instilled in them his work ethic and passion for solid waste management. They have grown with GBB and many, with the valuable experience acquired, are now key members of the industry, contributing to the advancement of sound waste management programs, either in the private or public sector.
See SWANA's announcement: The Harvey W. Gershman Scholarship Available to University Juniors and Seniors
GBB Helping Baltimore County with Tactical Five‐Year Plan for its Recycling & Solid Waste SystemOn October 16, 2020, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski signed an Executive Order to create the Baltimore County Solid Waste Work Group, composed of County leadership, community members and industry representatives, to examine current solid waste collection and disposal policies and practices, and make recommendations for implementing innovative industry practices and trash diversion strategies to reduce the overall volume of trash produced in the County.
Baltimore County is partnering with the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority to facilitate the work group’s efforts and a multidisciplinary team led by GBB, which includes EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., to provide support and insight throughout the initiative.
We’re excited to work closely with the County and help in the development of the holistic Tactical Five‐Year Plan for its Recycling & Solid Waste System! GBB Consultants Achieving Zero Waste Certifications
Earlier this year, as part of GBB’s commitment to environmental sustainability, responsible solid waste management and ongoing professional development for team members, Jennifer Porter (GBB Vice President) and Corinne Rico (GBB Project Manager) were certified as Practitioner in Zero Waste Principles and Practices and TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Advisor.
Jennifer Porter, GBB Vice PresidentCertified Practitioner in Zero Waste Principles and Practices
The Zero Waste Principles and Practices certification course is a joint undertaking of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), administered as part of the SWANA Certification Program recognized throughout the United States and Canada.
Covering public policy, programs, technology and measurement, the course provides a comprehensive knowledge of rapidly emerging public and private sector Zero Waste programs and the key principles that support them. It also provides tools to help draw together aspects of existing programs and new efforts into community specific Zero Waste programs.
Corinne Rico, GBB Senior Project ManagerTRUE Advisor Certification
The TRUE Advisor certification is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the premier organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally.
The certificate program provides a comprehensive curriculum on zero waste terminology, principles, tools, technologies, and implementation strategies to assist in the TRUE Zero Waste certification process in accordance with the TRUE Zero Waste Rating System. TRUE Advisors understand the requirements of the rating system, help projects achieve TRUE certification and are committed to holistically advancing zero waste values and policies. GBB PromotionsCongratulations to Corinne Rico and Ricky Phillips, two valuable and key members of GBB’s multi-disciplinary team with a diverse background and experience, for their well-deserved promotions!
Corinne Rico – Senior Project Manager
Prior to joining GBB, she was a Fellow in the Sustainable Cities Institute at the National League of Cities. She also has more than 9 years of experience in the sustainable interior architecture and planning industry.
She completed a Master of Science degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities from Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT, and published a thesis entitled “Local and Regional Governments Using Waste to Inform Circular Economy Policy.” She also recently earned the Climate Reality Leadership Corps certificate from the Climate Reality Project and the TRUE Advisor certification administered by Green Business Certification Inc., the premier organization in the world that independently recognizes excellence in green business industry performance and practice.
Based out of GBB’s headquarters in McLean, VA, she can be reached at crico@gbbinc.com and (703) 573-5800.
Ricky Phillips – Consultant II
Her professional experience includes working for over 2 years as a Community Schools Graduate Assistant at Binghamton University’s Center for Civic Engagement, which cultivates partnerships that strengthen communities and develop active and engaged citizens; and committing to 18 months of full-time service as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer Coordinator at Sharing the Harvest, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven community farm whose mission is to alleviate hunger, promote volunteerism, and provide agricultural education on the south coast of Massachusetts.
Also based out of GBB’s headquarters, she can be reached at rphillips@gbbinc.com and (703) 573-5800.
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