R.W. Beck has been selected by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) to document the State’s solid waste management and recycling infrastructure.
The initiative aims to deliver this information, and a model for projecting future needs through a new, interactive web-based information system featuring GIS capabilities, to be added to CIWMB's expansive Web site, according to the press release.
“This is the first data gathering, management and modeling project of its size,” says Ed Boisson, project manager at R. W. Beck. “CIWMB’s decision to centralize information on the nation’s largest and most advanced recycling infrastructure should be of keen interest to waste management and recycling organizations throughout
Boisson says he believes the tool can help CIWMB and local governments evaluate current and future needs for recycling processing facilities, composting sites and other waste reduction infrastructures. Private sector firms could utilize the tool to investigate market opportunities.
The infrastructure inventory and information framework will also facilitate consideration of regional initiatives by mapping existing solid waste and recycling facilities and projecting regional waste generation and infrastructure needs. “Ultimately, this tool will make it easier for state policymakers to set a baseline grounded in current realities and plot a course towards CIWMB’s zero waste goal,” Boisson says.
The project will begin with a broad user needs assessment to ensure the information system responds to stakeholders’ needs and priorities. As it gathers and manages data, R. W. Beck will abide by the confidentiality requirements of facility owners and operators. The Firm will work with CIWMB on this two-year $900,000 project to research and collect data, and develop the final information framework, as well as a protocol for periodic updates.
More information can be found at http://www.rebeck.com or http://www.ciwmb.ca.gove/.