At GBB, our expert consultants share a strong passion for solid waste management and working towards a more sustainable future. GBB's newsletter, The GBB Circular, is intended to contribute to the industry dialog, sharing ideas, observations, and words of wisdom. | |
Seasoned Solid Waste Management Professional Rebecca Caldwell Joins GBB
Rebecca Caldwell, MBA, S.C. (“Becky”), recently joined GBB as a Project Manager. As a senior solid waste management professional, she has spearheaded initiatives for regional development and environmental and fiscal sustainability, leveraging over 25 years of experience both as a consultant and in the public sector.
Before becoming a consultant in 2020, she was Solid Waste Planning Manager for the Greater Nashville Regional Council which represents 13 counties and 52 cities in Middle Tennessee. Before that, for the Sanitation and Environmental Services Department of the City of Franklin, TN, she was progressively promoted from an entry-level position to the Department Director role over her 19 years there.
Based in the Nashville metropolitan area, Becky is the former Executive Director of the Tennessee Recycling Coalition. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. She can be reached at bcaldwell@gbbinc.com and (615) 979-3119.
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"Becky's extensive hands-on and strategic expertise in sustainable materials and waste management will be invaluable in helping our clients achieve their ambitious sustainability goals," said Harvey Gershman, GBB Chairman and President.
“I'm thrilled to join GBB's entrepreneurial team and leverage my skills and experience to make a positive impact on communities across the country," noted Caldwell.
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Join GBB at WASTECON – Booth #518
WASTECON is taking place in Dallas, TX, on October 21-24, 2024 and once again, GBB representatives will be there to network with friends and industry peers, share knowledge, and learn about the latest in the industry! Come to GBB booth #518 to meet Chris Lund, GBB Executive Vice President, Brad Kelley, GBB Senior Project Engineer, and Steven Schilling, GBB Senior Project Manager.
Also, make sure to attend one of the two sessions where Brad Kelley will discuss the recyclability and circularity of the components of a recent comprehensive composition study to calculate what the real recycling rate would be based on current technologies, and what improvements would need to be made to accomplish diversion goals of 50% or higher:
“𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝟱𝟬% 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟵𝟬%?”
- Tuesday, October 22 at 4:15 PM
- Thursday, October 24 at 8 AM
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
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Eligible for a Grant? GBB Can Assist in Navigating the Proposal Submission Process
Is your organization eligible for a grant? Wondering how to navigate the application process? GBB can assist!
Recognizing the imperative for public and private sector organizations to capitalize on historical investments and competitive grant opportunities in environmental projects, GBB is constantly monitoring current and future notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) to identify potential Federal, State, and private funding sources (including loans and tax credits) available for clients’ projects, with a particular focus on the numerous relevant funding opportunities available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) very recently announced three new funding opportunities for a total of $117M in grants:
- Two under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program
- For Tribes and intertribal consortia
- For cities, counties, and parishes
- One under the Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) Grant Program
- Food waste prevention and composting
With an extensive solid waste management background, an in-depth understanding of the grant writing and management process, and experience developing innovative grant proposals, GBB is uniquely qualified to help guide the research, development, and preparation of successful proposal submissions in response to grant opportunities.
Led by Becky Caldwell, grant research and proposal development expert, GBB Project Teams identify relevant funding opportunities to empower clients with the resources and strategies available to fund programs and make a significant impact on the environment. For each grant proposal developed, GBB provides comprehensive support throughout the entire grant application process.
GBB recently assisted multiple clients in successfully navigating the grant research and application process; see GBB’s Grant Research and Proposal Development Assistance capability statement to learn more and contact us to discuss!
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Current State of MSW and Recycling Management
Brad Kelley, BSME
GBB Senior Project Engineer
As a speaker at the Southeast Recycling Conference & Trade Show in February 2024, Brad Kelley talked about the use of Municipal Solid Waste as a feedstock for conversion technology, some of the issues with nomenclature, and how haulers and processors might provide samples for further research.
He also discussed the current landscape of MSW processing and some of the issues the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is seeing with MSW feedstocks. In conclusion, he addressed how revisiting wet/dry collections might provide MSW feedstocks that would be more easily converted to either fuel or to reusable base chemicals instead of the current black-bag systems.
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MRF Capabilities and Circular Economy Off-Ramps
Brad Kelley, BSME
GBB Senior Project Engineer
As part of the REMADE Circular Economy Tech Summit & Conference in September 2024, Brad Kelley made a presentation on the relationship between single use items and durable goods, and how recycled material flows from one to the other, creating a major circularity off-ramp.
He discussed specific materials that are currently successfully recovered at material recovery facilities and cycled through the recycling and remanufacturing process, as well as those that may also be recoverable with the implementation of emerging technologies.
Organized by the REMADE Institute, in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and support from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy, the conference took place at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC.
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GBB Reading: Published Articles
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As thought leaders, GBB consultants regularly contribute articles to leading industry publications, sharing insight and information on important topics. Recently published articles include: | |
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The 'eh' Team: Finding Common Goals in Hockey and Solid Waste
Ricky Phillips
GBB Senior Consultant
Waste Today – October 2024
With a hockey addiction, Ricky Phillips sees a lot in common between hockey and solid waste management and she compares them in Waste Today. In the article, she highlights their similarities in teamwork, grit, and danger and emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in waste management and the need for safety protocols to protect workers. She also underscores the role of team dynamics in achieving success in both cases.
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Data, Data, Everywhere
Steven Schilling, P.E.
GBB Senior Project Manager
Waste Today – September 2024
Vast amounts of data are generated in the waste industry, and it is crucial to analyze this data to improve waste management practices. In this article, Steven Schilling discusses how the data can be leveraged to develop more efficient and sustainable waste management strategies, optimize operations, and reduce environmental impact. He also focuses on modeling he has done on MRF processes on a facility-wide basis, using a mass-balance application, allowing for positive impact performances.
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A Sustainable Approach to Address Growing Energy Demand from Data Centers
Chris Lund, P.E.
GBB Executive Vice President
Waste Today – July 2024
Data centers’ increasing demand for electrical energy supply poses a significant challenge that could be addressed by generating electricity using residual municipal waste material. In this article, Chris Lund discusses this challenge, driven by exponential AI applications, and suggests a promising solution to meet the growing energy needs of those facilities, while fostering sustainability and resilience in digital infrastructure.
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Just Passing Through:
The Life Cycle of PFAS
Steven Schilling, P.E.
GBB Senior Project Manager
Waste Today – March 2024
Efforts are being made to phase out the use of PFAS in everyday products to eventually live PFAS-free lives. But until these compounds are completely removed from manufacturing processes, PFAS-containing products are disposed of through the sewer or the landfill. In this article, Steven Schilling discusses studies about the level and life cycle of PFAS in the bloodstream; the fate of PFAS in landfills; the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure; and his hopes going forward.
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Upcoming Events
GBB will be present at the following industry events. We look forward to seeing you there!
WASTECON
Dallas, TX
October 21-24, 2024
GBB, Exhibitor (Booth #518)
Brad Kelley, Speaker:
“Characterization Study Based Diversion: Where Does 50% Diversion Come From? What About 90%?”
Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference
Chicago, IL
October 23-24, 2024
Tennessee Solid Waste Directors Association Conference
Buchanan, TN
October 28-30, 2024
Tennessee Chapters – American Public Works Association / Solid Waste Association of North America Conference
Chattanooga, TN
October 28-30, 2024
Becky Caldwell, Speaker:
“The Future of Solid Waste – Think Outside the Box”
Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association Conference
Normal, IL - October 29-30, 2024
Wisconsin Integrated Resource Management Conference
Chula Vista, WI
February 26-28, 2025
Steven Schilling, Speaker:
“Maximizing the Potential of Data in Material Recovery Facilities”
Visit the Conference / Tradeshow section of our website for more details and a continuously updated list!
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Recent GBB Assignments
GBB has recently been selected for several new assignments, including:
Material Recovery Facility Review
Baltimore County, MD
(as a subcontractor to EA)
Assessment of Mixed Waste Processing Facility & Equipment
Berkeley County, SC
Solid Waste Management Planning Services
City of Fayetteville, NC
Grant Proposal Development
Dem-Con
C&D Waste Characterization Studies
Geocycle North America
Development of Materials Management Plan
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
(as a subcontractor to Eunomia)
Grant Proposal Development
Lane County, OR
Updates to Solid Waste Management Plan
Loudoun County, VA
(as a subcontractor to Solid Waste Services, LLC)
Solid Waste Management Planning Services
Maryland Environmental Services
(as a subcontractor to EA)
Solid Waste Management Planning Services
Mecklenburg County, NC
(as a subcontractor to Smith Gardner)
Site Assessment - Odor Abatement Planning
Ray Philly
We very much appreciate the opportunity to assist these clients with their needs. Please contact us at hello@gbbinc.com to let us know how we can help you too!
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