NewGen's Solid Waste Managing Partner, Allison Trulock, co-authored Solid Waste Collection: Managing the challenges and optimizing the opportunities for the March edition of the APWA Reporter. In this article, Allison and Harold Sigüenza (Deputy Director of Public Works, City of Avondale, Arizona) highlight navigating the challenges of the industry compounded with rapid growth and the outcomes of conducting an operational review of its municipal collection system.
Every solid waste manager throughout Texas (as well as the U.S.) is dealing with increasing labor, operations, and capital costs for collection, disposal, and processing services. Communities and haulers are dealing with a shortage of CDL drivers, helpers, and other essential employees at the same time that supply chain issues are impacting price and availability of equipment and inflation is impacting the price of fuel (and everything else).
As virtually all municipal utilities (water, wastewater, solid waste, and electric) continue to deal with the financial burdens and operational challenges associated with COVID-19, it is a good time to highlight the importance of having a sound financial plan.