Options Evaluation for the Cleveland Recycling and Energy Generation Center Project 

The City of Cleveland selected the GBB Project Team to review options for the Cleveland Recycling and Energy Generation (CREG) Center project which seeks to better manage the City’s municipal solid waste, with the potential for using waste as a source for locally-produced energy.

Since 2007, the City had been investigating the use of municipal solid waste (MSW) for the production of energy with the main goals being to reduce Cleveland’s dependence on fossil fuels, develop local energy generation capacity, and recover marketable by-products, such as recyclables, from MSW.

In September 2011, the Division of Cleveland Public Power (CPP) began a procurement process for the development of the project and initially issued a Request for Information and Qualifications (RFIQ), followed later by a Supplemental Request for Information and Qualification (SRIQ), that targeted a wide variety of waste conversion and management approaches, including thermal conversion, pyrolysis, gasification, recycling, and fuel production, as well as consulting and financial firms to assist in project development.

The GBB Project Team reviewed, analyzed, and evaluated the 50 responses received through the RFIQ and SRIQ; evaluated gasification to energy development efforts; evaluated the co-generation opportunity; provided a shortlist and comparison of the three best overall options, along with a life cycle analysis of each, and; made overall recommendations on how to develop the CREG Center.

Procurement Assistance for Long-Term Waste Recycling and Disposal System

GBB, in association with subcontractor GT Environmental, Inc., was selected by the City of Cleveland to provide solid waste management consulting services to support the City during a procurement process for long-term waste recycling and disposal system. As part of the assignment, the GBB Project Team was tasked to define the proposed system, to include:

• Waste stream quantities and characteristics;
• Waste collection system;
• Existing and proposed waste reduction and recycling programs;
• Site(s) available for a proposed system;
• Acceptable technologies and approaches;
• Performance standards; and,
• Ownership options.

The team was also tasked to develop a Request for Proposals, participate in the procurement process, evaluate proposals, and provide assistance during contract negotiations.