Kessler Consulting

City of North Miami Beach 

RFP #2012-20 

Solid Waste and Recycling Services Assessment 

September 17, 2012 

Prepared for: 


Procurement Management Division 

Attn: Brian K. O’Connor 

17011 N.E. 19 th Avenue, Room 315 

North Miami Beach, Florida 33162 

Submitted by: 

Mitch Kessler, President 

Kessler Consulting, Inc. 

innovative waste solutions 

14620 N. Nebraska Ave., Bldg. D 

Tampa, Florida 33613 

813-971-8333 

mk@kesconsult.com 

Proposal materials printed on recycled paper

We Walk the Walk! 

Green Practices of the Kessler Consulting Team 

We work in a green office. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kessler Consulting is proud to be a carbon neutral company. 

Kessler Consulting was Earth Charter U.S.’ 2008 Sustainable Business award winner. 

Since 1999, Kessler Consulting has been an EPA WasteWise member, even receiving 

2002 Small Business Champion recognition. 

Kessler Consulting is a certified Sarasota County Green Business Partner. 

Kessler Consulting utilizes on-site recycling and food waste composting, doublesided 

printing, equipment reuse, low-flow water products, xeriscaping, nontoxic 

cleaning supplies, energy-efficient lighting and equipment, and thermostat control 

programs to reduce waste and conserve energy and water. 

Kessler Consulting purchases all of our paper products with post-consumer recycled 

content and utilizes reusable/refillable items such as pens, pencils, and ink and 

toner cartridges. 

Kessler Consulting utilizes hybrid sedans for all automobile travel. 

Kessler Consulting employees volunteer significant professional time to sustainable 

endeavors, including the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), 

SWANA Sunshine Chapter, U.S. Composting Council, U.S. Green Building Council, 

Florida Green Building Coalition, Recycle Florida Today, and other solid waste and 

recycling organizations. 

We live in green homes. 

 

 

We actively recycle. 

Many of our employees compost food and yard waste, xeriscape, grass-cycle, and 

practice home water conservation as a general practice. 

Many of our employees use Energy Star® rated appliances, compact fluorescent 

light bulbs and low flow toilets and faucets. 

 

Some of our employees utilize solar panels to generate a portion of their electrical 

needs. 

Kessler Consulting, Inc. is a member of, or was awarded, the following:

Table of Contents 

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 

Response to RFP # 2012-20 

Solid Waste and Recycling Services Assessment 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Section 

Section – Page 

Cover Letter/Executive Summary ........................................................................................ C-1 

Capability Statement ........................................................................................................... D-1 

Résumés ............................................................................................................................... E-1 

Proposed Scope of Services ................................................................................................. F-1 

Fee ....................................................................................................................................... G-1 

Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... H-1 

Supplemental Information .................................................................................................. I-1 

KCI Proposals 2012\North Miami Beach\Table of Contents 

i

September 17, 2012 

Brian K. O’Connor 


Procurement Management Division 

17011 N.E. 19 th Avenue, Room 315 

North Miami Beach, FL 33162 

Re: 

RFP # 2012-20, Solid Waste and Recycling Services Assessment 

Dear Evaluation Committee: 

Kessler Consulting, Inc. (KCI) is pleased to submit this proposal in response to the abovereferenced 

RFP. When it comes to providing solid waste consulting services, KCI’s qualifications, 

experience, and demonstrated results are unsurpassed. We have helped our clients achieve 

some of the most effective solid waste and recycling operations, best service rates, and highest 

recycling revenue shares in the state. KCI, founded in 1988, is a niche firm that specializes in 

optimizing the business and operational efficiencies of municipal solid waste programs. 

Our résumé of solid waste work includes collection system analyses, strategic planning, 

recycling and waste reduction program development and implementation, rate and cost of 

service analyses, privatization analyses, code and ordinance assistance, procurements, bidding 

and proposal development, workshops and presentations, and media relations. We recognize 

the City’s desire to review its existing solid waste and recycling systems, develop strategic plans 

for improvement, and evaluate the prospect of privatizing services. Throughout the firm’s 24- 

year history, KCI has provided practical and innovative consulting services to more than 100 

public sector clients, including services exactly matching those desired by the City! If selected, 

KCI is willing to perform the services outlined under the Scope of Services in the RFP document. 

 

Proven Professional Experience, Qualifications, and Leadership 

KCI is highly regarded for our specialized solid waste services that are responsive to our 

clients’ needs and objectives. Our staff members are highly respected throughout Florida 

and the nation for their leadership and in-depth knowledge of current solid waste issues. In 

fact, KCI staff members currently hold positions as President of the Florida Chapter of the 

Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and as Vice Chair of Recycle Florida 

Today (RFT), the state’s only two solid waste organizations. Our reputation as a leading solid 

waste consulting firm is a result of our track record as a leading member of the state’s solid 

waste, reuse, recycling, and composting community. 

14620 N. Nebraska Ave., Bldg. D, Tampa, FL 33613 | Tel: 813.971.8333 | Fax: 813.971.8582 | www.kesconsult.com 

KCI Proposals 2012/North Miami Beach/Cover Letter

Executive Summary – North Miami Beach RFP # 2012-20 |9/17/2012| Page 2 of 2 

 

 

Unparalleled Project Team 

Although considered a Small Business Enterprise by Florida agencies, KCI has 12 full-time 

staff members in our Tampa office. We employ the largest Florida-based solid waste 

planning staff of any consulting firm. We have assembled a project team with unsurpassed 

experience and expertise. Senior staff, with a combined 100+ years of directly relevant 

experience will be responsible for this project. Team members have advanced degrees in 

environmental law, natural resource management, and economics; hands-on experience in 

collection operations; and expertise in financial analysis. Don Ross, Robin Mitchell, Miriam 

Zimms, and I are all leaders in the field of waste management and recycling, and are highly 

respected throughout Florida, the nation, and the entire industry for our leadership and indepth 

knowledge of current solid waste issues. As KCI’s President, I will serve as the Project 

Director and Don Ross, KCI’s Director of Operations with 24 years of solid waste experience, 

will manage the project. 

Customized Service 

Most importantly, we understand that there is no single right answer for everyone and that 

all solid waste is local. KCI has served numerous cities throughout South Florida for a 

number of years and has been on the forefront of recent disposal and processing activities. 

KCI is known for developing innovative approaches for meeting our clients’ objectives. Our 

team’s depth of knowledge, coupled with our understanding of the local and statewide 

marketplace and industry players, will bring about measurable results for the City. 

We look forward to the opportunity to work with North Miami Beach and to provide solid 

waste consulting services that are beneficial to the City. We are committed to providing the 

highest quality and value-added professional solid waste consulting services on time and within 

budget. 

Thank you for reviewing our submittal. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions 

or require additional information. 

Sincerely, 



mk@kesconsult.com 

14620 N. Nebraska Ave., Bldg. D, Tampa, FL 33613 | Tel: 813.971.8333 | Fax: 813.971.8582 | www.kesconsult.com 

KCI Proposals 2012/North Miami Beach/Cover Letter

North Miami Beach, Florida 

Response to RFP # 2012-20, Solid Waste and Recycling Services Assessment 

Section D, Capability Statement 

Section D: Capability Statement 

Firm History 

Over the last 24 years, Kessler Consulting, Inc. (KCI) has worked diligently 

to solidify our position as a leading solid waste planning and management consulting firm 

in the Southeast United States. Our professional reputation is unparalleled and is built from an 

impressive history of unique, on-point and results-based project experience, including the 

following core competencies: 

‣ Strategic planning experience with demonstrated results. Our firm is not interested in 

writing reports that merely sit on a shelf. We have helped clients achieve measurable 

results in their programs. For example, KCI has helped Charleston County, South 

Carolina more than double its recycling rate and 

reduce its annual solid waste budget by $18 million. 

‣ Contract negotiations and procurements with 

demonstrated results. KCI’s clients have achieved 

some of the best service rates and highest revenue 

for recyclable materials. 

‣ Oversight and development of the Recycling 

Training Course materials for the Solid Waste 

Association of North America (SWANA). 

‣ Oversight and management, since 2001, of the 

legislatively funded FORCE (Florida Organics 

Recycling Center for Excellence), a central 

clearinghouse for organics research, training, and 

promotion within the state. 

“The professionalism and 

expertise of Kessler Consulting 

staff in the solid waste and 

recycling field is unmatched. 

They are a valuable extension of 

our own staff and they have 

provided us with a wide array of 

technical assistance by 

leveraging their focused 

expertise.” 

Chad Grecsek 

Assistant Director of 

Environmental Services 

City of Deerfield Beach, FL 

‣ Development of a state-level strategic plan, or “Roadmap,” to achieve 75 percent 

recycling in Florida. The knowledge gained through this project will be put to practical 

use in helping North Miami Beach strive to maximize recycling. 

Our firm provides unrivaled expertise related to solid waste system evaluation and 

optimization, feasibility studies and program pilots, commercial and residential waste 

reduction, contracting and procurements, construction and demolition (C&D) debris recovery, 

organics processing, and education and outreach. 

We understand the unique solid waste needs of cities in South Florida, and we are confident 

that our project team can fully complete the tasks defined in the RFP and exceed overall project 

goals, having successfully provided and managed similar services for almost a quarter of a 

century. 

KCI Proposals 2012\North Miami Beach\D Capability Statement D-1




Commitment to Client Service 

Operating in this era of “big business,” with more and more critical functions outsourced, KCI 

stands out as a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firm that remains dedicated to the idea 

of personalized service. This level of service enables us to consistently assist our clients in 

achieving economically viable and environmentally sensible solutions for a host of solid waste 

management challenges. Our commitment to client 

service has helped our company remain flexible and 

responsive to changes in client needs – regardless of 

market changes. 

KCI’s business focus is solely on solid waste management 

systems and issues. We initially built our client base and 

professional reputation providing assistance with 

program evaluations and optimizations, grant proposal 

“KCI successfully recommended 

innovative approaches for systemwide 

changes to the County’s solid 

waste program that immediately 

increased operational efficiencies 

and resulted in significant cost 

savings to the County.” 

Joe Dawson 

Attorney 

Charleston County, SC 

preparation, and waste composition studies. When 

Mitch Kessler joined the firm in 1991, his background in 

integrated system design and expertise in contracting for 

solid waste services enabled the firm to respond to the growing demand for expanded solid 

waste management options and innovative collection and processing solutions. 

Our firm has been on the leading edge of focusing on sustainability in both the government and 

business sectors. With LEED ® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited 

professionals on staff, our project work now includes assisting local governments obtain Green 

Government certifications and project administration for Green Buildings. We have also 

developed green business certification programs, conducted workshops to green property 

managers, and created environmentally preferable purchasing policies and guidelines. 

Our professional reputation is perhaps best demonstrated by the long-term relationships 

enjoyed with our clients. Our firm’s proven track record includes work on more than 300 solid 

waste projects with more than 130 public and private sector clients, primarily throughout the 

Southeast. 

Our quality control and assurance program is straightforward and effective. All deliverables are 

reviewed by a minimum of three people. The original author of each deliverable is responsible 

for conducting a thorough review. The Project Manager then reviews the deliverable for 

technical accuracy and to ensure it meets the project requirements and expectations of the 

client. Depending upon the nature and complexity of the deliverable, an additional senior staff 

member may also be requested to conduct a technical review. The Project Director then 

examines the deliverable for approval, after which there is a final review by administrative staff 

for grammatical, typographical, or formatting errors. We strive for excellence in all of our work! 





Commitment to a Green Ethic 

At KCI, we believe in practicing the same methods for sustainability that we 

recommend to our clients. We are a certified carbon-neutral company, 

demonstrating our commitment to environmental stewardship through 

practical actions such as using only recycled-content paper, printing all final 

documents double-sided, and reusing wastepaper for printing drafts. Among 

other awards, KCI was recognized by the EPA as a WasteWise Small Business 

Program Champion in 2002. A recent internal waste audit revealed that we 

are diverting 82 percent of our waste stream from disposal through recycling 

and reuse. 

Leaders in the Solid Waste 

Industry 

Our staff is highly experienced and well respected within 

the solid waste industry in the Southeast and nationally. 

Throughout our 24-year history, KCI has played a 

leadership role in numerous industry organizations, and in 

helping to develop solid waste and recycling policies and 

programs. KCI staff members are dedicated professionals 

who are very committed to the industry. 

‣ Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) 

Author of SWANA’s Managing Recycling Systems training course 

Instructors for Recycling and Collection Systems and Compost Courses 

Former Vice Chair of the Waste Reduction, Recycling and Composting Technical 

Division 

Member of the Composting Course Development Committee 

Certified Construction & Demolition Debris Technical Associate 

Member of the Collection & Transfer Technical Committee 

‣ SWANA Florida Sunshine Chapter 

Current President 

Former Recycling Committee Chair 

Distinguished Service Award Recipients 

‣ Recycle Florida Today, Inc. 

Founding Chair 

Current Vice Chair 

Lifetime Achievement Award 

Recycler of the Year Award 

2002 Small Business 

Program Champion 

“[KCI] is very knowledgeable in 

the field of solid waste and 

recycling services.” 

Richard E. Lilyquist, P.E. 

Director of Public Works 

City of Lakeland, FL 





 

Former Chair of the Development Committee, Ad-hoc Legislative Committee, 

Conference Committee, and Communications Committee 

‣ Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Recycling Certification and 

Registration Technical Advisory Group, Waste Composition Technical Advisory Group, 

Compost Rule Technical Advisory Group, Certified Green Lodging Assessor 

‣ Practice GreenHealth and WasteCap C&D Resources – Members 

‣ U.S. Green Building Council – Member and LEED ® Accredited Professionals 

‣ Florida Green Building Coalition – Member and Committees’ Member 

Green Local Government Standards Committee and Standards Revision Author 

Commercial Building Standards Committee 

This section intentionally left blank. 





Florida Experience 

To demonstrate KCI’s Florida experience, the map below depicts cities and counties to whom 

we are providing solid waste consulting services or have provided services in the past. KCI also 

has national experience, with current clients in North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, 

Delaware, and Massachusetts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alachua County 

Baker County 

Bradford County 

Brevard County 

Calhoun County 

Citrus County 

City of Deerfield Beach 

City of Dunedin 

City of Ft. Lauderdale 

City of Ft. Pierce 

City of Hallandale Beach 

City of Indian Rocks Beach 

City of Jacksonville 

City of Key West 

City of Kissimmee 

City of Lakeland 

City of Oakland Park 

City of Plant City 

City of Sarasota 

City of Tallahassee 

City of Tampa 

City of Zephyrhills 

DeSoto County 

Emerald Coast 

Utilities Authority 

Gilchrist County 

Glades County 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf County 

Hardee County 

Hendry County 

Highlands County 

Hillsborough County 

Holmes County 

Indian River County 

Jackson County 

Leon County 

Levy County 

Manatee County 

Marion County 

Miami-Dade County 

Nassau County 

Okaloosa County 

Orange County 

Palm Beach County 

Pasco County 

Pinellas County 

Polk County 

Putnam County 

Sarasota County 

Seminole County 

Sumter County 

Town of Southwest Ranches 

Union County 

Wakulla County 


City of Deerfield Beach, FL 

City of Fort Lauderdale, FL 

City of Hallandale Beach, FL 

City of Jacksonville, FL 

City of Key West, FL 

City of Oakland Park, FL 

City of Sarasota, FL 

City of Tallahassee, FL 

City of Tampa, FL 

Charleston County, SC 

Hillsborough County, FL 

Pinellas County, FL 

Town of Southwest Ranches, FL 




On-Point Project Experience 

KCI has driven projects to achieve a broad range of goals. Each of our services is tailored to 

meet the individual needs of our clients. To demonstrate the breadth of KCI’s experience, the 

chart below lists clients to whom we have provided services similar in scope and complexity to 

those sought by North Miami Beach. 

Solid Waste Consulting 

Services Provided 

System Evaluation and 

Strategic Planning 

 

Service Costs, Rates, and 

Financial Analysis 

 

Service Procurements and 

Contract Negotiations 

 

Collection Efficiency, 

Optimization, and Pilots 

 

Collection and Processing 

Innovations/Improvements 

 

Ordinance Review and 

Development 

 

Recycling/Waste Reduction 

Technical Assistance 

 

Education and Outreach 

Program Assistance 

 

Feasibility Studies and Pilot 

Program Management 

 

Sustainability/Green 

Government Initiatives 

 

Commission Workshop 

Participation/Presentations 

 





Similar Project Experience 

KCI has recent and relevant experience with projects of similar size and complexity to those 

services sought by the City. To further expand on our project experience, brief descriptions are 

provided below for some of the most relevant projects. Our clients are the best way for us to 

demonstrate our qualifications and experience, and we encourage you to contact any of the 

individuals listed. 

Deerfield Beach, Florida 

Contacts: Burgess Hanson, City Manager, (954) 480-4263 

Chad Grecsek, Asst. Environmental Services Director, (954) 420-5562 

Solid Waste Services Assessment 

Period of Work: 2011 – 2012 

Key Personnel: Don Ross, John Burkett, Lisa Lamppert 

The City of Deerfield Beach Solid Waste & Recycling Division (Division) enlisted the services of 

KCI to develop a strategic plan for the Division. KCI developed an initial assessment and 

overview of the city’s solid waste operation, outlining initial findings and providing cursory data 

to help the city better understand its operations in preparation for its long-term operational 

plan for improvement. The assessment focused on management and organizational 

information, and general operational functions of the Division, analyzing the benefits of a 

potential privatization. KCI then developed the operational plan, which has since been 

implemented and has helped the Division realize more successful operations, thereby avoiding 

privatization. Currently, KCI is helping to implement a city-wide carted single stream recycling 

program, bringing Deerfield Beach to the forefront of recycling innovation in Florida. 

Key West, Florida 

Contact: Jay Gewin, Public Services General Manager, (941) 329-6101 

Solid Waste Master Plan 

Period of Work: September 2010 – September 2012 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Robin Mitchell, Don Ross, Shane Barrett 

KCI recently developed a comprehensive Solid Waste Master Plan for the city. Project activities 

included an evaluation of current operations and staffing levels, a two-season waste 

composition study, a review of all solid waste contracts and ordinances, and a comparative rate 

analysis. Based on this information, KCI evaluated various programmatic options to optimize 

efficiency, improve customer service, and maximize waste diversion. Throughout the project, 

KCI took into account the city’s unique geographic location and demographics. As a result of 

the project, the city adopted the Solid Waste Master Plan, including a seven-point policy 

statement that will establish the city on a pathway to zero waste. 





Lakeland, Florida 

Contact: Rick Lilyquist, Public Works Director, (863) 834-6040 

Recycling Alternatives Analysis 

Period of Work: January 2012 – June 2012 

Key Personnel: Don Ross, Lisa Lamppert 

The City of Lakeland requested Kessler Consulting to conduct a recycling alternatives analysis to 

show side-by-side comparisons of six different recycling collection systems. The model 

presented financial implications of each system including labor, equipment, operating costs, 

fuel, administrative costs, recycling revenue, and disposal diversion. Statistical modeling was 

used to produce a full analysis of the implications of each alternative and a sensitivity analysis 

to identify which variable would present the greatest range of results. 

Recycling Processing Invitation to Bid and Contract 

Period of Work: January 2012 – May 2012 

Key Personnel: Robin Mitchell, Lisa Lamppert 

The City of Lakeland requested Kessler Consulting to develop an invitation to bid and contract 

for materials acceptance, processing, and marketing. A bid and contract was designed to 

competitively procure services for program recyclables and allow for the greatest percentage of 

revenue share to the city for inbound recyclables. The city was also engaged in a concurrent 

study to evaluate recycling collection alternatives which necessitated the solicitation of dual 

stream, single stream, and segregated cardboard pricing. 

Collection System Analysis 

Period of Work: December 2008 – November 2009 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Don Ross 

Kessler Consulting, working as part of an engineering team, was asked to conduct an analysis of 

the City of Lakeland’s solid waste collection system. In an effort to reduce costs and improve 

service, the city requested the team to evaluate a citywide conversion to once weekly 

automated residential collection from their current twice weekly manual garbage collection 

system. The project also included the analysis of the inefficiencies associated with city-provided 

alley collection services, as well as a review of current city provided rolloff collection service 

and a possible transition to a rolloff franchise collection system. Presentations were delivered 

to senior leadership including Lakeland’s City Commission, City Manager’s Office, and 

Department Directors. As a result, city staff was tasked with initiating a new residential 

collection system based on the team’s recommendations. Program elements include a public 

information campaign, a conversion to automated collection, once weekly pickups, and a 





variable sized container system (Pay-As-You-Throw), where residents will have the choice of 

containers based on the amount of waste they generate. 

Sarasota, Florida 

Contact: Doug Jeffcoat, Public Works Director, (941) 329-6101 

Recycling Alternatives Analysis 

Period of Work: July 2010 – November 2010 

Key Personnel: Robin Mitchell, Miriam Zimms 

KCI completed a study regarding opportunities to increase diversion of organics from disposal. 

The study included an overview of current management of organics, such as biosolids; a 

summary of organics processing technologies; identification of local processing facilities; and 

recommendations for a phased approach to expanding organics recovery. 

Service and Contractor Transition 

Period of Work: June 2010 – December 2010 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Robin Mitchell, Don Ross 

KCI played an active role assisting the city during a service and contractor transition. In addition 

to transitioning to a new service provider, the city was also converting from twice per week to 

once per week solid waste collection. KCI facilitated weekly transition team meetings; tracked 

and reviewed contractor deliverables, such as a mobilization plan and reporting forms; 

provided feedback on the outreach plan and materials; and provided hands-on oversight during 

all phases of the transition. 

Strategic Plan Implementation 

Period of Work: February 2009 – May 2010 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Robin Mitchell, Don Ross 

KCI assisted the city with implementing the key recommendations of the strategic plan 

previously developed by KCI. The primary task was assisting with an RFP for contracted 

collection, processing, and transfer services. Activities included developing the technical 

specifications for the RFP and contract, assisting with the pre-proposal meeting and addenda, 

reviewing proposals and prices, and negotiating the final contract. 

Solid Waste Management Strategic Planning 

Period of Work: November 2007 – July 2008 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Robin Mitchell 

KCI evaluated the city’s overall solid waste management system to identify opportunities to 

increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Project activities included an operational analysis of 

city-provided collection services, comparative analysis of contracted services and rates with 

those in other Florida jurisdictions, and evaluation of recycling program improvements. 

Contracted services include curbside collection of recyclables, recyclables processing, and 





transfer station operation. The resulting report and recommendations were presented to the 

City Council. 

Charleston County, South Carolina 

Contact: Joe Dawson, County Attorney, (843) 958-4003 

Review of Solid Waste Alternatives – Green Ribbon Program 

Period of Work: November 2008 – June 2009 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Don Ross, Miriam Zimms, Maureen Schaefer 

KCI is assisting Charleston County to “green” its solid waste management system. This project 

entails two phases of work. In Phase I, KCI conducted a broad-based review of the county’s 

options, including an independent audit of existing collection, processing, and disposal systems; 

assessment of emerging technologies; analysis of the remaining landfill life; and a professional 

opinion regarding the county’s waste-to-energy facility. The work culminated in the Nine Point 

Green Strategy which lays out Charleston County’s goal to develop and implement the premier 

solid waste management program in the Southeast. 

Development of Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan – Nine Point Green Strategy 

Period of Work: June 2009 – Ongoing 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Don Ross, Miriam Zimms, 

Robin Mitchell, Shane Barrett, Maureen Schaefer 

In Phase II, KCI has provided technical advice in the closure of the county’s waste-to-energy 

facility and privatization of the MRF; conducted a two season comprehensive waste 

composition study; recommended and directed implementation of operational improvements 

to the landfill and compost programs; developed and managed a Request for Information 

regarding alternative technologies; and researched and developed pilot programs to evaluate 

single stream and automated collection, food waste composting, and commercial recycling. KCI 

has provided technical assistance in contract management; single stream and automated 

collection, commercial recycling, food waste composting pilot program implementation; and 

organizational development 

Collection Operations Assessment, Improvement and Single Stream Implementation 

Period of Work: June 2009 – Ongoing 

Key Personnel: Don Ross 

As a result of a system-wide assessment of the county’s collection and hauling operation, KCI is 

currently assisting the county with the development and implementation of an operational 

improvement plan. The plan includes equipment and design upgrades at rural convenience 

centers to improve payloads and driver productivity, improvements to its recycling drop-off 

program to control costs, and the design and implementation of a countywide cart-based, 

single stream residential curbside program. Using the latest in collection technology, KCI has 





developed a single stream program that includes radio frequency identification (RFID) for asset 

tracking, route visualization, and real-time data collection to accurately measure participation 

and set-out rates in order to enhance programs and drive continual improvement. 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Contact: Albert Carbon, Director, Public Works, (954) 828-5290 

Disposal and Processing Procurement Assistance 

Period of Work: July 2012 – Ongoing 

Key Personnel: Don Ross, Shane Barrett 

KCI is currently assisting the city in developing an RFP for the disposal of garbage and 

processing of yard waste, bulk trash, and program recyclables. Project activities include working 

with city staff to understand objective, developing the technical specifications, drafting price 

forms and revenue sharing language, as well as reviewing the completed procurement 

package. The RFP is being designed to allow vendors to propose on a variety of disposal and 

processing options. The goal of the RFP is to maintain a high level of customer service while 

maximizing recycling, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. 

Route Balancing 

Period of Work: October 2011 – May 2012 

Key Personnel: Don Ross, John Burkett, Lisa Lamppert 

Due to recent annexation, the rebalancing of solid waste collection routes was necessary. KCI 

provided the technical services necessary to assist the city and its franchise hauler with this 

rebalancing effort. The goal was to maintain high service levels; optimize franchise hauler 

equipment utilization; reduce noise and truck traffic in the neighborhoods; identify operational 

efficiencies that may result in better contract pricing for collection services; and reduce the 

city’s carbon footprint. The service types re-routed include garbage, yard waste, recycling, and 

bulk trash collection. To ensure a smooth transition, KCI was also involved in the transition and 

implementation processes of all service day changes between the city and its franchise hauler. 

Rate Analysis Case Study 

Period of Work: September 2011 – October 2011 

Key Personnel: Don Ross, Maureen Schaefer 

KCI assisted the city with an assessment of all solid waste services currently being provided, 

including those being provided as part of the city’s Sanitation Fund, Clean City initiative, and 

other programs funded by Sanitation that are part of other departments. Based on this basecase 

service level, KCI identified, researched, and compared up five cities with similar 





characteristics as Ft. Lauderdale and identified the solid waste service levels being provided, the 

associated sources of funding, and the rate and fee structure. This information will be used to 

assist the city’s rate consultant with upcoming rate analysis work. 

Evaluation of Resource Recovery System Benefits and Options 

Period of Work: July 2008 – August 2009 


The city entered into an inter-local agreement with Broward County, which expires in 2013, to 

participate in a Resource Recovery System (RRS) for solid waste disposal and recyclables 

processing services. KCI assisted with analyzing the services and benefits the city receives from 

the RRS and the costs associated with these services, as well as evaluating options available to 

the city in lieu of entering into a new inter-local agreement. A final report was presented to city 

staff outlining long-term disposal recommendations. KCI also assisted the city with reviewing 

and analyzing recent inter-local and disposal service agreements proposed by the RRS and 

Wheelabrator Technologies that would potentially change the system. Proposed system 

changes included the creation of an independent district, governance and board compilation, 

core system services, and service fees. The objective was to advise the city in making solid 

waste decisions that are in the best long-term interest of the city and its citizens. Savings as a 

result of this work were expected to save the city nearly $2 million annually. 

Recycling in Recreational Areas 

Period of Work: May 2008 – June 2010 

Key Personnel: Robin Mitchell, Shane Barrett 

KCI assisted the city with a state-funded project to establish recycling along public beaches, in 

parks and marinas, and in beachside businesses. In addition to preparing a grant proposal, KCI 

prepared the beach recycling program plan, assisted with development of signage and outreach 

materials, conducted a waste and recyclables composition study to evaluate recovery rates, 

conducted a beachgoer survey to evaluate public response to the program, and prepared all 

project reports. 

RFPs for Disaster Debris Management and Disaster Debris Monitoring 

Period of Work: May 2006 – March 2007 


KCI assisted the city in developing RFPs for both disaster debris management and monitoring. 

Project activities included working with city staff to identify priority issues related to these 

RFPs, communicating with FEMA personnel for clarification on reimbursement requirements, 

preparing the technical specifications for both RFPs, and identifying potential vendors. Vendors 

were selected for both services and contracts awarded. 

Rate Analysis 

Period of Work: April 2006 – August 2006 

Key Personnel: Robin Mitchell 





KCI assisted in determining an appropriate rate structure to establish a hurricane reserve. 

Following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, the city wanted to establish a reserve account 

to pay for future hurricane-related expenses not covered by FEMA. Project tasks included 

reviewing operational, contractual, and financial information; developing a financial projection 

model to evaluate several rate scenarios; and preparing a recommended rate structure. 

Hallandale Beach, Florida 

Contacts: Mark Antonio, City Manager (954) 457-1300 

John Chidsey, Public Works Director, (954) 457-1600 

Long-Term Disposal and Processing Contract Negotiation 

Period of Work: April 2011 – August 2011 


Kessler Consulting, Inc. assisted the City of Hallandale Beach with negotiating the renewal term 

of the city’s short-term disposal and processing agreement. Due to the transforming disposal 

market in South Florida, the city decided to extend its short-term agreement for a term of five 

years with a five-year renewal at a lower disposal rate and a lucrative recycling rebate. With 

Kessler Consulting’s assistance, the city is expected to save and/or receive approximately $3.5 

million over the initial term of the renewed agreement. 

Short Term Disposal and Processing Options Analysis 

Period of Work: 2010 


Due to limited local disposal and processing options, the City of Hallandale Beach was direct 

hauling its solid waste and recyclables long distances. KCI conducted a field level operational 

assessment, analyzed the city’s collection program, and identified improvement opportunities. 

Through program and area research, KCI was able to secure a local, short term disposal and 

processing outlet at much lower disposal rates. With our assistance, the city is now exploring 

long-term disposal and processing options through a competitive procurement process. The city 

saved more than $600,000 in disposal and operating costs over the life of the one-year 

agreement. 

Collection Efficiency Study and Long-Term Disposal and Processing Procurement 



In the second phase of work for the City of Hallandale Beach, KCI reviewed and finalized the 

short-term disposal and processing agreements and prepared the technical specifications for 

the long-term competitive procurement of these services. In addition, KCI assisted the city in 

reaching its long-term efficiency and diversion goals by completing the second phase of the 

Solid Waste Enterprise Fund collection operation analysis including an evaluation of current 





recycling practices. This evaluation included a review of user fee rates to identify opportunities 

for residential recycling incentives, a development of a multi-family recycling program and 

implementation strategy and an assessment and improvement recommendations of current 

education and outreach practices. 

Oakland Park, Florida 

Contact: Kenneth Resor, Assistant Public Works Director, (954) 630-4458 

Solid Waste Disposal Assistance 

Period of Work: February 2009 – May 2010 


The city entered into an inter-local agreement with Broward County, which expired in 2011, to 

participate in a Resource Recovery System (RRS) for solid waste disposal and recyclables 

processing services. KCI analyzed the services and benefits the city receives from the RRS and 

the costs associated with these services, as well as evaluated options available to the city in lieu 

of renewing the inter-local agreement. KCI also assisted the city with a preliminary feasibility 

study estimating the cost to the city for construction and operation of a solid waste transfer 

station and analyzed the use of rail or truck transportation. The primary objective of this project 

was to assist the city in making solid waste decisions that are in the best long-term interest of 

the city and its citizens. 

Recycling Analysis 

Period of Work: October 2007 – January 2008 


KCI conducted a preliminary analysis of Oakland Park’s recycling program and provided options 

for increasing participation and optimizing operational efficiencies. The analysis included both 

residential and commercial recycling. The final report offered short-term and long-term 

recommendations to improve recycling programs and expand recycling. 

Sarasota County, Florida, 

Contact: Gary Bennett, Solid Waste General Manager, (941) 861-6102 

Collection Contract Assistance 

Period of Work: November 2009 – April 2010 

Key Personnel: Robin Mitchell, Don Ross, Shane Barrett 

KCI conducted a comparative analysis of the county’s collection rates with those in other 

Florida jurisdictions. Special focus was given to procurements or negotiations completed within 

the last five years, and the resulting change in rates. KCI also drafted an RFP and updated the 

collection contract to be utilized if the county decided to conduct a competitive procurement 

rather than renegotiate with its existing franchisee. 





Recyclables Processing Contract Renegotiation and Procurement 

Period of Work: June 2007 – October 2009 

Key Personnel: Robin Mitchell, Shane Barrett 

KCI initially assisted the county in negotiating an extension to its 

existing processing contract. When an agreement could not be 

reached between the county and the contractor, KCI assisted with a 

competitive procurement process. Project activities included 

conducting a comparison of processing revenue received in Sarasota 

County with that received in other Florida jurisdictions, evaluating 

current market indices, preparing technical specifications for the RFP, assisting with the preproposal 

conference and proposal review, and providing technical assistance during 

negotiations. 

Comprehensive Commercial Waste Reduction Strategy 

Period of Work: November 2003 – March 2005 

Key Personnel: Miriam Zimms, Shane Barrett 

KCI developed a comprehensive strategy and action plan to increase commercial waste 

reduction. The project first entailed benchmarking existing commercial recycling through a 

business survey, service provider questionnaire and meeting, review of county data, and 

development of a methodology for visually auditing commercial loads delivered to the landfill. 

KCI then developed a final strategy that provides a prioritized action plan with short-term and 

long-term recommendations. 

Residential and Commercial Collection Procurement 

Period of Work: October 2003 – December 2004 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Robin Mitchell, Shane Barrett 

KCI assisted with the procurement of collection services for solid waste, recyclables, and yard 

trash. Residential collection also included bulk waste, used oil and oil filters, tires, electronics, 

and white goods. Project activities included reviewing the previous procurement process and 

documents, and assisting county staff and management with clearly defining their goals and 

objectives, selecting a procurement process and developing an invitation to bid (ITB) to best 

achieve the county’s objectives, providing assistance throughout the bid process, including 

participating in the pre-bid meeting, responding to vendor questions, preparing ITB addenda, 

reviewing bidder qualifications, and compiling bid results. 





Jacksonville, Florida 

Contact: Bob Johnson, Special Assistant to the Mayor, (904) 630-7612 

Collection Rate Analysis, Contract Negotiations, and Procurement 

Period of Work: 1996, 1999, 2004, 2006 


KCI assisted with three rate reviews and two rate negotiations for three residential solid waste 

and recycling collection contracts. Project activities included a cost-of-service evaluation and 

rate comparison between publicly and privately provided collection services within the city, 

comparative analysis of service contracts and rates in other Florida jurisdictions, and 

development of pro forma rates and rate justifications. KCI also assisted with negotiating 

collection rates with the three private contractors, which resulted in annual savings of up to 

$1.9 million. The most recent activities also included providing technical assistance during a 

procurement process for one of the service districts. 

Procurement of Recyclables Processing Services 

Period of Work: March 2004 – March 2005 


KCI initially assisted the city with an emergency bid for processing services because the city’s 

existing contract was about to expire. This was a short-term contract that then enabled the city 

to conduct a normal competitive procurement. Project activities included developing technical 

specifications for a market index, technical review of the bid document and addendum, and 

participating in the pre-bid meeting. The end result was an increase in net revenue to the city 

of more than 100 percent. 

Rate and Fee Analysis 

Period of Work: May 2007 – June 2007 


KCI researched tip fees for solid waste, yard waste, and construction and demolition debris; 

franchise fees for commercial solid waste collection; and host fees for privately owned disposal 

facilities. We identified cities and counties to research, researched and compiled the 

information and prepared summary spreadsheets for comparison purposes. 

Tallahassee, Florida 

Contacts: Rick Fernandez, Assistant County Manager, (850) 891-8580 

Reginald Ofuani, Solid Waste Director, (850) 891-5450 

Cynthia Barber, Environmental Policy and Energy Services Director, (850) 891-8363 

Operations and Collection Assessment 

Period of Work: January 2012 – Ongoing 

Key Personnel: Don Ross, Maureen Schaefer 





KCI was contracted to provide technical assistance through economic and operational 

assessments for solid waste and recyclables and assist with the development of the rate 

structure for collection services. The goal of the project is to determine overall operational 

efficiency levels, program cost effectiveness, evaluate the solid waste system, and identify 

opportunities for improvement. 

The Greening of Florida: A Solid Waste Management Roadmap 

Period of Work: October 2007 – December 2009 


Through a state-funded project, KCI developed a new plan – or “Roadmap” – to re-energize the 

state’s recycling efforts. Project activities included an extensive review of states with “highperforming” 

recycling programs; research of the effectiveness of the policies and programs 

utilized in these states; and evaluation of the potential effectiveness of these policies and 

programs in Florida. The resulting Roadmap provides a comprehensive, forward-thinking, 

implementable strategic plan aimed at maximizing recycling in Florida. 

Commercial Rate Study 


Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler 

KCI conducted a planning-level assessment of solid waste service (SWS) revenue, expenses, and 

services with the objective of determining potential user fee rate increases needed to offset 

revenue shortfalls. This work activity involved an iterative process with SWS leadership to 

assign revenue and expenses to specific services (i.e. residential, commercial container, roll-off, 

barrel and recycling services). Subsequently, various service level and user fee rate increases 

were assessed. The study was framed by city leaders’ commitment not to raise residential rates 

even though they had remained unchanged for over 10 years. The study reached the 

preliminary conclusion that a commercial rate increase in the range of 25% would be sufficient 

to eliminate projected SWS deficits. 

Operational Analysis of City-Provided Collection Services 



KCI conducted an analysis of the city SWS Department’s operations and finances. Based on the 

preliminary results of the commercial rate study described above, KCI conducted a more 

detailed analysis. The project considered three SWS collection functions: residential service, 

commercial recycling, and commercial service. The operational analysis involved analyzing 

equipment, personnel, and financials; developing performance metrics; and developing 

recommendations for efficiency improvement and cost reductions. The financial analysis 

entailed compiling revenue and expenditures for each type of service performed by SWS and 

developing customer rate scenarios. The goal was to eliminate the deficit currently incurred by 

SWS for residential services. The analysis concluded that significant opportunities exist to 





improve SWS residential service performance and reduce cost. The analysis identified specific 

recommendations for operational change and for further analysis. 

Solid Waste Rate Review 



KCI provided assistance to the Utility Business and Customer Services Department to conduct a 

review and analysis of solid waste user fees and cost of service in order to maintain existing 

customer services. The base year for the analysis was Fiscal Year 2008. The analysis concluded 

that current user fees were insufficient to meet budgetary needs of the SWS. The residential 

service generated a revenue shortfall while commercial service generated a surplus. Overall, a 

$2.2 million revenue shortfall was projected. It was recommended that a combined strategy of 

cost reductions and rate increases be implemented in order to balance the solid waste fund 

while maintaining current levels of service. 

Collection Procurement, Contract Negotiation and Service Transition 

Period of Work: September 2004 – October 2006 


KCI assisted with developing technical specifications and the contract for an ITB. At the City 

Commission’s direction, KCI negotiated lower rates than initially bid with the sole bidder by 

identifying key factors that would enable the vendor to lower the rate. We also assisted prior to 

and during the transition period during which service changed from twice per week backdoor 

service to once per week curbside. The transition occurred with minimal complaints from the 

public. 

Collection and Processing Systems Evaluation 

Period of Work: 2000 – 2005 

Key Personnel: Mitch Kessler, Miriam Zimms, Shane Barrett 

KCI conducted a collection and processing systems evaluation to address issues and prepare a 

comprehensive long-term strategic approach for the city’s solid waste management system. 

Project activities included: 

Operational assessment, including a collection rate analysis and an evaluation of all level-ofservice 

options based on costs, operational efficiency, and community objectives. 

Pay study analysis for solid waste and recycling collection drivers. 

Review of customer education and outreach programs to identify methods to increase 

participation, recovery rates, and program efficiency. 

Processing system evaluation, including processing contract renegotiations that resulted in 

net revenue to the City of $35 per ton of recyclables processed. 

(Note: Contract initially negotiated in 1998; amended in October 2005; extended in 2008.) 





Resources and Availability 

All project work will be conducted out of KCI’s office in Tampa, Florida. As previously 

mentioned, we have built an extensive in-house Resource Center containing current and 

relevant solid waste information, as well as a database of solid waste program information for 

various jurisdictions that is continually updated. Our working relationship with other industry 

experts allows us to easily network and gain quick access to information. Your experienced 

Tampa-based Project Manager, Don Ross, will plan project activities to maximize the benefits of 

onsite visits. Our location in Tampa provides quick access via air travel to South Florida which 

includes many daily non-stop flights from Tampa International Airport. We also have 

videoconferencing capabilities to cost-effectively “meet” with our clients whenever needed. 

Our team is available virtually or in-person at all times. 

KCI is a certified service provider of Re-TRAC and the rest of 

Emerge Technologies’ line of web-based solid waste and 

recycling data collection and management tools. Re-TRAC, the 

tool selected by Florida’s Department of Environmental 

Protection to manage statewide solid waste data, enables solid waste managers to collect and 

evaluate data from a variety of sources, including franchise haulers, facility scale house, 

recovered materials processors, businesses, or other sources of solid waste and recycling data. 

Our staff is our most valuable asset. The chart below demonstrates the years of solid waste 

experience of our key project team members and their current availability to add value to the 

City’s project. The combined availability of our project team equates to more than 300 hours of 

professional time per month. Staff resumes are provided in Section E. 

KCI Project Team 

Solid Waste Experience 

Name 

Responsibility 

Solid Waste Years with Time 

Experience KCI Availability 

Mitch Kessler Project Director 27 years 21 years 15% 

Don Ross Project Manager 24 years 5 years 20% 

Robin Mitchell Senior Consultant 23 years 12 years 15% 

Miriam Zimms Senior Consultant 21 years 13 years 20% 

Shane Barrett Consultant 10 years 8 years 25% 

Lisa Lamppert Consultant 1 year 1 year 20% 

Maureen Schaefer Research Analyst 4 years 4 years 20% 

John Burkett Research Analyst 5 years 2 years 20% 


Task 

3 

Task 2 

Task 1 




Proposed Project Timeline 

KCI is available to begin this work within 15 days of a contract award and receipt of purchase order. The timeline below reflects a 

strategy for a final plan to be completed in conjunction with the City’s budget development process. Depending on the specific scope 

negotiated and readily-available data, this schedule may be adjusted. 

# Task or Major Element Start Finish Duration 

2012 

Nov 

Dec 

Jan 

Feb 

Mar 

Apr 

2013 

May 

Jun 

Jul 

Aug 

Sep 

1 Kickoff Meeting 

11/15/2012 11/15/2012 

0d 

2 Task 1: Evaluation & Assessment 

11/15/2012 3/15/2013 

121d 

3 Summary or Presentation of Assessment 3/19/2013 

3/19/2013 

0d 

4 Task 2: Analysis & Operational Plan 

3/19/2013 

6/15/2013 

89d 

5 

Operational Plan 

6/17/2013 

6/17/2013 

0d 

6 Other Technical Assistance 

6/20/2013 

8/14/2013 

56d 





Client Feedback 

KCI is known for our ability to think strategically and to develop practical solutions to critical key 

solid waste issues. Our clients are the best demonstration of the quality and value of our 

services. 

Provided below are the results of a recent, anonymous survey of our clients. KCI requested our 

clients to rate our knowledge and skills and the client services we provide, using the following 

descriptions: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor. The tables below summarize the results 

of this survey. As you will see, 100 percent of our clients rated our knowledge and skills, and 

clients services as either Excellent or Very Good. 

Knowledge & Skills of 

Kessler Consulting Staff 

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor 

Knowledge of the Solid Waste Industry: 94% (30) 6% (2) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Problem solving capabilities: 69% (22) 31% (10) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Presentation skills (Public Speaking, Presentations, 

Communication, etc.): 

71% (22) 29% (9) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Clarity and Conciseness of Deliverables: 69% (22) 31% (10) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Project Managers' skills and performance: 84% (27) 16% (5) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Client Services Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor 

Ability to listen to our clients and understand their 

objectives: 

62% (20) 38% (12) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Responsiveness to our clients: 78% (25) 22% (7) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Professionalism of your Kessler Consulting Project 

Team: 

88% (28) 12% (4) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Integrity of Kessler Consulting’s staff: 88% (28) 12% (4) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 

Overall opinion of Kessler Consulting’s client service: 81% (26) 19% (6) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 


Section E: Résumés 

Because of the importance we place on the opportunity to work with North Miami Beach, KCI 

has assembled a project team with unsurpassed experience and expertise. Senior staff, with a 

combined 100+ years of directly relevant experience, will be responsible for project work. 

Individual team members have advanced degrees in environmental law, natural resource 

management, or business. 

Mitch Kessler, President of KCI, will service as Project Director. His 27 years of industry 

experience, combined with his legal training, provide unparalleled experience in contract 

development and negotiations. Mitch will have final responsibility for all aspects of project 

work, and is ultimately accountable for all services provided 

by our firm. 

Don Ross, Director of Operations, has experience managing 

solid waste collection operations for both private and public 

sector organizations, and will be the Project Manager. Don 

will have final responsibility for the direction and 

coordination of all tasks, and will have ultimate 

responsibility for product quality. 

Robin Mitchell, Senior Consultant, has a rich background in 

policy development and applies this knowledge to KCI’s 

projects related to planning, financial analysis, contract 

procurements, and regulatory. 

“KCI is comprised of highly 

dedicated professionals with the 

willingness and dedication to 

meet our goals in spite of narrow 

time constraints. Their 

knowledge of the industry, 

general trends, and constituents 

was essential to completing this 

project in the available time.” 

Robert Briggs 

Finance Director 

Seminole County, FL 

Miriam Zimms, Senior Consultant, has a background in business that allows for a creative 

approach to applying marketing principles to solid waste management. Miriam has designed 

and managed comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs for municipalities, 

institutions, and private corporations. 

The expertise of our senior project team will be complemented by KCI’s consultants and 

research analysts, with extensive experience researching solid waste issues and a “can-do” 

attitude when it comes to problem solving. Our staff has logged significant time functioning 

together as a team and each has specific skills and experience to contribute. Utilizing the 

strengths of each team member will allow KCI to bring about the most efficient results for the 

City. 

KCI Proposals 2012\North Miami Beach\E Résumés E-1



Section E, Résumés 

Mitch Kessler 

President and Project Director 

Mitch Kessler has 27 years of solid waste experience 

and has managed or directed more than 200 

projects. His legal training and broad background in 

solid waste management and business make him a 

Project Director who is an industry leader with the 

history and experience to deliver results for our 

clients. 

Mitch is a nationally recognized expert in the 

procurement and operations of solid waste 

collection systems and materials recovery programs 

and facilities, and is especially knowledgeable in 

collection and market development issues as they 

relate to the economic viability of solid waste and 

recycling programs. 

Mitch is currently President of the Florida Sunshine 

Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North 

America (SWANA). He also serves as an instructor 

for the Recycling Certification Course sponsored by 

SWANA, and is a member of the SWANA committee 

that developed the Manager of Composting 

Operations Certification Course. 

Because of Mitch's special knowledge of state and 

national solid waste management issues, he has 

held a number of leadership positions in the field. In 

addition to the affiliations and leadership roles listed 

in the sidebar, Mitch served on the Technical 

Advisory Committee (TAC) for the development of 

Florida’s Registration for Recyclers Rule. He also 

served as a principal investigator for an FDEPsponsored 

food waste diversion study conducted by 

the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and 

Agricultural Sciences Center for Biomass Programs 

and FORA. 

Formal Education 

University of New Hampshire, NH 

JD, Environmental Law, 1984 

Purdue University, IN 

MA, American Studies, 1981 

BS, Management, 1979 

State University of New York, NY 

AAS, Horticulture, 1976 

Supplemental Education 

SWANA Certified Recycling Manager 

SWANA Certified Composting 

Systems Manager 

SWANA Certified Instructor for 

Recycling, Collection & Composting 

Affiliations & Leadership Roles 

Solid Waste Association of North 

America (SWANA), Florida Sunshine 

Chapter, Board of Directors (2005- 

current); current President 

Recipient of SWANA Professional 

Achievement Award, August 2012 

Recycle Florida Today, Inc. (RFT), 

Chair (4 years), Board of Directors (8 

years) 

Florida Organics Recyclers 

Association (FORA), founding Chair 

National Recycling Coalition (NRC), 

Florida representative for RFT 

United States Composting Council 





Mitch Kessler (cont.) 

As Project Director, Mitch is responsible for project success and client satisfaction. A few of the 

recent projects that he directed are summarized below. 

 

 

 

Solid Waste Management Alternatives, Phase I, Charleston County, SC 

Mitch designed and managed an independent audit of the county’s waste stream and 

solid waste management operations. The audit included an in-depth analysis of 

program costs and systems including collection, waste-to-energy and landfill disposal, 

compost, and MRF operations. Mitch directed research into emerging alternative 

technologies. Based on audit results, program and system recommendations were 

developed for an efficient and cost-effective integrated solid waste management 

program. 

Green for Green Plan, Phase II, Charleston County, SC 

Mitch is currently directing a project to transition from reliance on a waste-to-energy 

facility to implement the county’s Nine Point Green Strategy based on 

recommendations made in Phase I. The plan includes implementing an interim transfer 

and disposal solution; improving the capacity and efficiency of existing operations 

(compost, landfill, MRF); developing a Request for Information to explore alternative 

technology options; building alliances with local municipalities; and developing longterm 

waste reduction and recycling solutions through a comprehensive plan. 

Collection/Processing Evaluation and Procurement, Sarasota, FL 

Mitch directed an overall system evaluation of the city’s internal collection operations 

and contracted collection, recyclables processing, and transfer services. This led to an 

RFP for collection, processing and transfer services, as well as converting from twice per 

week to weekly collection of solid waste. 

Mitch has received the following industry awards: 

Distinguished Service Award, 2008, Solid Waste Association of North America 

George Kirkpatrick Lifetime Commitment Award, 2006, Recycle Florida Today 

Outstanding Contribution Award, 2002, Solid Waste Association of North America 

Exceptional Leadership Award, 1997, Florida Organics Recyclers Association 

Prior Employment History 

Organics Recycling Incorporated, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Business 

Development 

Resource Integration System, Vice President and Director of Consulting Services 

Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., Waste Reduction and Recycling Specialist 





Don Ross 

Director of Operations and Project Manager 

Don Ross has more than 24 years of experience 

managing solid waste collection and transfer 

operations for both private and public sector 

organizations. 

Prior to joining Kessler, Don was the Solid Waste 

Division Director for the City of Dunedin, Florida 

where he oversaw the management of municipal 

collection operations for the city. 

Prior to moving to Florida with his family, Don 

held a variety of management level positions 

with private sector waste companies, including 

13 years with Waste Management, Inc., where 

Don was the Connecticut Market Area Director of 

Operations. At Waste Management, Don was 

responsible for three collection hauling 

companies, three solid waste transfer stations, 

150 collection routes, and 250 employees at four 

operations serving Southwest Connecticut where 

Don had profit and loss responsibility for $60 

million in annual revenues. 

At KCI, Don has managed or assisted with the 

following projects: 

 

Collection Contract Options Analysis, 

Hillsborough County, FL 

Don is currently managing a project to 

assist the county to conduct a 

competitive procurement for collection 

services. Project activities have included 

identification of advantages and 


University of Phoenix, AZ 

BS, Business Management 


SWANA Certified Collection Systems 

Manager 

SWANA Certified Instructor for 

Recycling and Collection Manager 

Training 

Emergency Management Institute, MD 

FEMA Debris Management 



America (SWANA), Florida Sunshine 

Chapter, Board of Directors (2006- 

2010) 

Recipient of Chapter’s Distinguished 

Service Award – November 2008 

Recycle Florida Today (RFT), Board of 

Directors, Vice Chair 

Pinellas County Board of County 

Commissioners Technical Management 

Committee Vice-Chair (2006-2008) 

American Public Works Association 

disadvantages of the two options, rate comparisons, evaluating potential service 

modifications, and multiple Board presentations. Based on recent Board approval, KCI is 

now assisting the city with the development of a competitive procurement for collection 

services, which will be valued at approximately $500 million over the life of the contract. 

 

Operations Assessment and Disposal Contracting, Hallandale Beach, FL 

Don managed a project assessing city-operated collection programs and negotiating 

long-term disposal and processing outlets. Prior to executing the disposal and 





Don Ross (cont.) 

processing agreement negotiated by KCI, the city hauled waste and recyclables 52 miles 

roundtrip and paid a high disposal fee and received no rebate for recyclables. Over the 

life of the six-year disposal and processing agreement negotiated by KCI, the city will 

realize a savings of more than $4 million. 

 

 

 

 

Collection System Analysis, Lakeland, FL 

Don analyzed the city’s existing collection system and prepared recommendations to 

improve the economic efficiency of various aspects of the system. The analysis included 

implementation of automated collection, conversion from twice weekly to once weekly 

collection, changes to alley collection and recycling services, and possible franchising of 

roll-off collection. As a result, city staff was tasked with implementing once a week 

automated collection and a variable rate, Pay-As-You-Throw program. 

Single Stream Collection Pilot and Implementation, Charleston County, SC 

Don designed and implemented a pilot program to evaluate the benefits of single 

stream recycling, and to determine the best approach for countywide implementation. 

Using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, participation rates were 

documented at nearly 70 percent. In addition, waste diversion increased by over 100 

percent. Based on pilot results, Don is now assisting the county with the planning, 

equipment procurement, and implementation of a cart-based recycling program for 

110,000 homes. 

Collection Service Procurement and Transition, Manatee County, FL 

Don assisted with all aspects of implementing a new service contract following an RFP 

for residential and commercial collection, which included transitioning from one service 

area to two areas. Project activities included reviewing transition plans, developing a 

punch-list of activities, and facilitating transition meetings. 

Collection, Processing and Transfer Service Transition, Sarasota, FL 

Don assisted with all aspects of transitioning into a new service provider and new level 

of service. City-provided residential collection changed from twice to once per week. 

Project activities included developing and monitoring punch-lists for operational 

activities and outreach activities, facilitating transition meetings with city crews and the 

new contractor, reviewing the contractor’s operational plans, and providing onsite 

assistance during the first week of the transition. 


City of Dunedin, Florida, Solid Waste Director 

Waste Management, Inc., Market Area Director of Operations – Connecticut 





Robin Mitchell 

Senior Consultant 

Robin Mitchell has 23 years’ experience in 

integrated solid waste management, with special 

expertise in program evaluations, strategic 

planning, collection and processing procurements, 

rate analyses, waste composition and generation 

studies, and recycling/waste reduction program 

development and implementation. 

Her combined background in policy development 

and practical application makes her especially 

qualified in the areas of strategic planning, program 

evaluation, and regulatory compliance. 

A few of the recent projects Robin has conducted 

are summarized below. 

Greening of Florida: A Solid Waste 

Management Roadmap, Tallahassee, FL 

Robin managed this ambitious project to 

develop a new “Roadmap” to re-energize 

the state’s waste reduction and recycling 

efforts. The resulting document provides a 

comprehensive, forward-thinking, strategic 

plan aimed at maximizing recycling in the 

state. 


University of Florida, FL 

MS, Environmental Science, 1988 

Kutztown, PA 

BA, Environmental Science, 1978 


SWANA Certified Recycling Systems 

Manager, 2002 


Recycle Florida Today, Inc., current 

Board member and Communications 

Chair 


America (SWANA) 

National Recycling Coalition (NRC) 

Community Recycling, Inc., Atlanta, 

GA, Founder and former Board 

member 

 

 

Strategic Planning and Service Procurement, Sarasota, FL 

Robin managed a project that first involved a comprehensive analysis of the city’s 

collection, processing, transfer, and disposal system. Based on recommendations 

resulting from this analysis, Robin then assisted with a competitive procurement for 

contracted services that resulted in a 26 percent savings over the previous contract. In 

addition, city-provided garbage collection converted from twice to once per week. 

Solid Waste Master Plan, Key West, FL 

Robin is managing a project to develop a comprehensive Solid Waste Master Plan for 

the city, with a pathway toward “zero waste.” KCI has evaluated all aspects of the 

existing collection, processing and disposal system. Initial recommendations for shortterm 

improvements have been provided, with long-term recommendations to be 

included in the Master Plan. 





Robin Mitchell (cont.) 

 

Strategic Solid Waste Planning, Durham, NC 

Robin is KCI’s project manager to assist with a comprehensive evaluation of the city’s 

existing solid waste facility and processing, transfer and disposal contracts. Based on 

initial input from KCI, the city immediately tripled the revenue it receives for recyclable 

materials. Recommendations for other improvements have been provided and a 

competitive procurement for services is anticipated. 

 

 

 

MRF Technology Review and Feasibility Study, Pinellas County, FL 

Robin oversaw an evaluation of existing processing capacity in the Tampa Bay area and 

analysis of the need for additional capacity. Project activities included a review of stateof-the-art 

MRF technologies based on literature review, interviews with industry 

experts, and site visits in Florida and California. 

Procurement of Recyclables Processing Services, Polk County, FL 

Robin recently managed a project to assist the county with an RFP for processing 

services. The project resulted in a three-fold increase in the revenue the county will 

receive for recyclable materials. 

Flow Control/Collection/Disposal Evaluation, Okaloosa County, FL 

Robin managed a project to assist the county with evaluating collection and disposal 

options. Because of waste flow control issues, a decision was reached to renegotiate 

collection and transfer/disposal contracts with the existing contractors. 

Robin has received the following industry awards: 

Federal Environmental Executive’s “Closing the Circle Award,” 1996, for work to 

enhance government affirmative procurement 

U.S. EPA Bronze Medal, 1995, a team award for implementing the “Recycling Means 

Business” program 

U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste “Team Excellence Award,” 1995, for work on the 

Recycling Market Development Task Force and “Jobs Through Recycling” initiative 

U.S. EPA Region 4 Bronze Medal, 1990, a team award for revising and redeveloping the 

Regional model RCRA permit 


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Waste Reduction Specialist 

Florida Defenders of the Environment, Executive Director 





Miriam Zimms, LEED ® AP 

Senior Consultant 

Miriam Zimms has 21 years’ experience in solid 

waste management program development and 

implementation. She has designed and managed 

comprehensive waste reduction and recycling 

programs for municipalities, institutions, and 

private corporations. 

Miriam's background in business allows for a 

creative and economic approach to applying 

marketing principles to solid waste management. 

Specifically, she brings expertise in program 

marketing and management, identifying the 

marketing environment/audience, distribution and 

logistics, segmentation and targeting of industrial 

and consumer buyers, focus groups/surveys, 

advertising/public relations, and public policy. 

Miriam has served in a leadership role in numerous 

state and national solid waste organizations, as 

noted in the sidebar, and also served as an 

instructor for the Institutional, Commercial and 

Industrial Section of the Florida Department of 

Environmental Protection (FDEP) Recycling 

Coordinator’s Training Certification Course. 

At KCI, Miriam has managed or assisted with the 

following projects. 

 

Green for Green Plan, Phase II, Charleston 

County, SC 

Miriam is developing commercial, school, 

events, and institution recycling programs as 

part of an integrated solid waste management 


Stetson University, FL 

BBA, Marketing, 1989 


SWANA Certified Composting 

Systems Manager, 2005 

SWANA Certified Recycling Manager, 

2001 

FDEP Certified Recycling 

Coordinator, 1993 


SWANA’s Waste Reduction, 

Recycling, and Composting Technical 

Division, former Vice Director 

SWANA Florida Sunshine Chapter’s 

Recycling Committee, former Chair 

Recycle Florida Today, Inc., former 

Board member 


America 

National Recycling Coalition 

SunFest of Palm Beach County, 

former Environmental Chair 

system. She is also evaluating and making recommendations to improve the residential 

curbside recycling program as part of the county’s program to achieve a 40 percent 

recycling goal. 





Miriam Zimms (cont.) 

 

Commercial Waste Reduction Action Plan, Wake County, NC 

Miriam led the development of a strategic plan for reducing disposal of commercial, 

industrial, and institutional (CII) waste. Project activities included analyzing past and 

present CII initiatives, assessing local market conditions, evaluating options to achieve 

greater CII waste reduction, and developing the strategic plan. 

 

 

 

 

Food Waste Diversion Project, Mecklenburg County, NC 

Miriam recently assisted with a food waste diversion study for commercial and residential 

generators. The study helped the county to benchmark generation and identify the gaps 

and opportunities for food waste collection, processing and marketing. It was the first 

step towards establishing the feasibility of a countywide food waste diversion program. 

Pre-consumer Food Waste Composting Demonstration, Sumter County, FL 

Miriam managed a composting demonstration for source-separated food waste 

(vegetative waste and animal by-products) from supermarkets. The project demonstrated 

proper design and operations and helped to promote diversion of this major source of 

food waste in Florida. 

Construction and Demolition Recovery Incentives, Sarasota County, FL 

Miriam managed a project to increase recovery of C&D debris using appropriate 

incentives. Project activities included researching program incentives, assessing the 

county’s existing C&D infrastructure, and developing a pilot program plan. She also 

developed and coordinated a local builder pilot participation program, prepared a 

measurement and valuation system, and prepared outreach/educational materials. 

Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence (FORCE), Sumter County, FL 

Miriam served as Project Manager for all 10 years of the FORCE project, which was a 

cooperative effort between FDEP and Sumter County. FORCE, initially funded by a $3.5 

million legislative appropriation, was created to address the need for environmentally 

sound and economically feasible methods for recycling organics and agricultural wastes. 


 

 

Florida Power & Light Corporation, Waste Minimization & Recycling Coordinator 

Developed waste reduction and materials management programs and marketed the 

program to 14 power plants, 82 service centers, and 32 office complexes in the utility’s 

34 service areas/counties throughout Florida. Assisted the company in reducing its 

annual solid waste collection budget from $1.2 million to $265,000. 

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, FL, Recycling Program Development 

Coordinator 

Responsible for the residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational waste 

reduction programs and supervised a staff of nine people. 





Shane Barrett 

Consultant 

Shane Barrett has been with KCI for eight years 

after beginning his solid waste career with FDEP’s 

Waste Reduction and Recycling Section in 

Tallahassee. He has assisted senior consulting staff 

with various project-related work including pilot 

program development, waste composition study 

preparation and oversight, grant preparation and 

implementation, data analysis, processing contract 

management, educational material development, 

and various research projects. 

Shane has special expertise in and advanced 

knowledge of a variety of software programs and 

research tools. Because of his exceptional support 

skills, he has become a vital member of the projects 

on which he has assisted, a few of which are 

summarized below. 

 

Commercial Waste Generation Study, Key 

West, FL 

Shane is currently planning a commercial 

waste generation study for the city. The 


Florida State University, FL 

BS, Biological Sciences, 2001 


Florida DEP Contracts/Grants 

Manager Certified, 2002 

Florida DEP Certified – Florida Green 

Lodging Assessor, 2005 


Recycle Florida Today, Inc., Board of 

Directors 


America 

National Recycling Coalition 

goal of the study is to determine the average density of waste disposed by various types 

of commercial businesses. This information will be used to determine whether a 

different billing structure is needed to more equitably allocate disposal costs based not 

only on the volume, but also the density, of the waste generated by various types of 

businesses. 

 

 

Recyclables Composition Study, Sarasota, FL 

Shane recently completed a composition study of incoming recyclables for the city. The 

study included the sampling and sorting of dual stream materials to determine the 

overall composition of curbside recyclables collected from residents. Study results 

revealed an increase in container composition and, therefore, an increase in the average 

market value of the city’s recyclables. 

Comprehensive Waste Composition Study, Charleston County, SC 

As WCS supervisor, Shane was responsible for developing the sorting event plan, 

protocols, and sampling schedule for this two-season study. He also coordinated with 

haulers, acquired all equipment, and oversaw all onsite activities, including daily setup, 

worker training, sample selection, and sorting. Shane also completed the data analysis 

and report preparation. 





Shane Barrett (cont.) 

 

Beach Recycling Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Shane worked closely with city staff to implement a recycling program along a stretch of 

beach and at certain city parks and marinas. Shane assisted with drafting the beach 

recycling plan and developing educational materials for the program. He also conducted 

an audit of the recycling program and a beachgoer survey to evaluate the effectiveness 

of the program. 

 

 

 

 

 

Statewide Electronics and Donation Center Surveys, Seminole County, FL 

Shane assisted with developing questions for both a residential survey and a donation 

center survey. He also compiled results of the donation center survey and drafted the 

final reports for Seminole County and FDEP. 

Building a Cost Effective Commercial and Institutional Electronics Recovery Program, 

Alachua County, FL 

Shane helped establish an in-house demanufacturing program that was initiated to 

generate revenue from internal computer parts, as well as a monitor evaluation and 

separation program that was implemented as a cost avoidance measure. Shane also 

drafted educational materials for the project including a press release, brochures, 

website recommendations, flyers, and a BMP guide for proper end-of-life management 

of e-waste by businesses. 

Comprehensive Waste Composition Study, Miami-Dade County, FL 

Shane served as sort supervisor for this project. This study is unique in that sorting 

activities take place at three different facilities and, therefore, each seasonal event 

lasted two weeks. 

Comprehensive Waste Composition Study, Pinellas County, FL 

Shane served as sort supervisor for this two-season study that targeted nine generator 

sectors. In order to achieve statistical validity, a sufficient number of samples were 

needed and, therefore, each sorting event lasted two weeks. For this study, KCI 

identified and targeted more than 160 loads of waste from 11 haulers over the four 

week period. The results of this study were used to evaluate the potential waste 

diversion that might be achieved through countywide curbside recycling, as well as 

other program improvements. 

Wood Reuse and Exchange Center, Sumter County, FL 

Shane developed educational materials for this project, assisted in developing the pilot 

study, drafted safety guidelines and tracking procedures. He also assisted with 

developing a BMP manual for wood wastes and coordinating a statewide wood waste 

workshop. 


Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Specialist I 





Lisa Lamppert 

Consultant 

Lisa Lamppert joined KCI in 2011 and is one of the most 

recent additions to the KCI team. Lisa is an expert 

problem-solver who specializes in strategic assessment 

and development, process improvement, and change 

management. Prior to joining Kessler Consulting, Lisa 

ran her own consulting firm which offered innovative 

management solutions including business coaching, 

strategic planning, operational audits, financial 

reviews, and customized management training 

programs. 

 


University of Tampa, FL 

John H. Sykes College of Business 

MBA, Management Concentration 

BS, Management, Finance Minor 


Professional Development Trainer 

Solid Waste Strategic Plan, Deerfield Beach, FL 

Lisa is coordinating the development of the 

City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division 

Organizational Change Coach 

University of Tampa MBA Coach 

operational plan. After an initial assessment 

and overview of the city’s solid waste 

operation, an operational plan was initiated. This detailed document presents 

recommendations for collection service models, operations, personnel, best practices 

and safety, fleet and equipment, tools and software, and financial structure. 

 

 

 

Route Rebalancing Analysis, Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Lisa provided technical service to the city and its franchise haulers with the rebalancing 

of the city’s solid waste collection routes. The project goal was to develop routing 

options to provide a safe environment for collectors/haulers as well as residents, 

balance daily pickups, limit non-productive driving time, consolidate civic associations, 

synchronize routes, and minimize collection changes. The project also identified 

operational efficiencies and helped to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. 

Service Rate Analysis, Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Lisa assisted in the preparation of the final report that compared the solid waste 

services currently being provided by the city with other cities having similar 

characteristics as Ft. Lauderdale. The analysis identified the solid waste service levels 

being provided, associated sources of funding, and the rate and fee structures. 

Recycling Alternatives Analysis, Lakeland, FL 

Lisa is conducting a recycling alternatives analysis for the city to show side-by-side 

comparisons of six different recycling collection systems. She is developing a model that 

shows the financial implications of each system, and producing an analysis of the 

implications of each for the city. 





Maureen Schaefer 

Senior Research Analyst 

Maureen Schaefer joined KCI in 2008, where she 

specializes in research, program development and 

systems analysis. Maureen has more than 27 years 

of experience in business management, financial 

analysis, administration, and human resources. 

Prior to joining KCI, Maureen was a Business 

Development Analyst in the Government Sector for 

Achieve Global. 

Projects in which she has assisted are summarized 

below. 

Review of Solid Waste Management 

Alternatives – Phase I, Charleston County, 

SC 

Maureen assisted with an independent audit 

of the county’s waste stream and practices. 

She conducted a survey of municipalities 

within the county in order to establish an 

understanding of their residential and 

commercial waste collection practices. She 

also conducted research and drafted issue 

papers in support of an evaluation of waste 

diversion and disposal options and emerging 

technologies. 


The Amos Tuck School of Business 

Administration at Dartmouth College 

MBA, 1983 

University of Maryland 

BA, English Language & Literature, 

1974 


SWANA Certified Construction and 

Demolition Manager, 2008 

Effective Project Management 

Certificate, USF, December 2009 

LEED® Green Associate, USGBC, 

November 2010 


Practice Green Health Care 

C&D WasteCap Resources 

 

State-Wide Recycling Roadmap, Tallahassee, FL 

Maureen assisted with this project to develop a comprehensive, forward-thinking, 

implementable strategic plan aimed at maximizing waste reduction and recycling in the 

State of Florida. She researched and analyzed leading-edge program and policy 

strategies to increase commercial and C&D recycling from across the United States. 


Achieve Global, Business Development Analyst 

Tally Systems Corporation, Human Resources and Facilities Manager 

FISCO, Vice President 





John Burkett 

Research Analyst 

John Burkett joined the KCI team in 2010, focusing 

on collection route audits, solid waste system 

assessments, and organics composting. Prior to 

joining KCI, John was a Program Manager in charge 

of byproduct management for dozens of Fortune 

500 manufacturing facilities in North America. 

Projects in which he has assisted are summarized 

below. 

 

Solid Waste Services Assessment, Deerfield 

Beach, FL 

John assisted the city with the assessment of 

its Solid Waste and Recycling Division, 

including on-site meetings and process 

evaluations. The work consisted of analyzing 

the city’s operational data, and examining 

the effectiveness of existing programs in 

preparation for a long-term strategic plan, 


Indiana University 

School of Public and Environmental 

Affairs - BS, Management, 2004 


Project Management Certificate, USF 

August, 2011 


Member, Tampa Bay Association of 

Environmental Professionals 

Member, Recycle Florida Today 

completed in April 2012. John worked closely with city staff to identify opportunities for 

improvement to facilitate a collaborative renovation of the Division, while focusing on 

the city’s established missions and goals. 

 

Collection Services Assistance, Hillsborough County, FL 

John researched a number of collection program options to determine how the county 

could best meet its solid waste system priorities. His research encompassed Florida 

jurisdictions, home to over 14 million residents, and helped to develop a general 

understanding of the widespread use of the latest collection technologies and new 

industry trends being put to use elsewhere in the state. 

 

Field Audit and Reconciliation of Commercial Solid Waste Accounts, Tampa, FL 

John completed a collection route audit project for the City of Tampa, focusing 

specifically on commercial bulk waste customers within the city. He conducted field 

audits by integrating waste generation observations with collection crews, recording 

actual waste volumes collected at over 600 commercial customer locations. John 

compared his observations to the city’s current billable rates per account, and identified 

more than $350,000 in annual lost revenue. He completed the project by conducting 

site visits to notify customers of billing discrepancies. 


Allegiant Global Services, Program Manager 

WIT Trans, St. Louis Branch Manager 


Section F: Proposed Scope of Services 

The Request for Proposal (RFP) outlined a number of tasks the City would like completed as 

part of this consulting engagement. All of these services are familiar to us; Kessler Consulting 

regularly performs these exact services for our clients and are confident we can exceed the City 

of North Miami Beach’s expectations! 

We offer the following proposed scope of solid waste consulting services, separated into three 

main tasks. 

Task 1: 

Evaluation of Solid Waste Division (Division) Operations 

In Task 1, KCI will evaluate the existing solid waste collections operations and service levels 

currently being provided to the City’s residents and commercial businesses. During this 

component, KCI will benchmark the City’s operations against other similar systems. KCI will 

also conduct a study to examine the advantages and disadvantages to the City for privatization 

of solid waste collections operations, and evaluate the recent responses that the City received 

in response to its collection RFP. KCI will develop preliminary recommendations during Task 1. 

Provided below are the activities we anticipate conducting as part of this task: 

‣ Meet with City staff to discuss the City’s existing collection system and develop a project 

plan. 

‣ Request and review documents and data necessary to evaluate the system. 

‣ Conduct field level observations, operational staff interviews, ride-alongs, and route 

audit based data collection with integrated City personnel and/or departments. 

‣ Evaluate recordkeeping, data management, revenue assurance systems, and existing 

user rates and fee structures. 

‣ Research comparable organizations and benchmark findings against current City 

operations. 

‣ Conduct a Public vs. Private collection services evaluation to identify the advantages and 

disadvantages of privatization and conduct a full review of the City’s collection services 

proposals. 

‣ Identify and review with City staff the program components and options that could 

potentially lower costs, improve efficiency, or otherwise help the City meet its 

objectives. System elements to be reviewed include, but are not limited to, labor 

requirements; fleet requirements; equipment maintenance costs and procedures; 

health, safety, and risk management; operating budgets; application of new technology; 

and the City’s current solid waste and recycling data. 

KCI Proposals 2012\North Miami Beach\F Scope of Services F-1



Section F, Proposed Scope of Services 

Task 1 Deliverables: 

‣ Participation in kick-off meeting and a site visit. 

‣ Summary or presentation of project progress at conclusion of evaluation. 

Task 2: 

Analysis and Operational Plan 

In Task 2, KCI will assist the City in the development of a Solid Waste System Operational Plan. 

Based on the previously completed evaluation of the Division’s operations, benchmarking 

study, and privatization evaluation, KCI will conduct a thorough analysis and develop an 

Operational Plan for the Division. 

The Operational Plan will illustrate the Division’s mission, and establish system goals for the 

next five-year planning horizon. 

Provided below are the activities we anticipate conducting as part of this task: 

‣ Analyze benefits of operational efficiencies identified in Task 1. 

‣ Analyze the Division’s labor requirements, production, and current workforce levels in 

order to develop staffing model recommendations. 

‣ Develop tools to assist the City in measuring improvement progress over time. System 

metrics to be compared include, but are not limited to, customer rates, operational 

metrics, and system costs. 

‣ Develop an equipment replacement strategy. 

‣ Identify “value added” sustainable solid waste services the City does not currently 

provide, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of including same as part of an 

integrated program. 

‣ Develop Solid Waste system recommendations. 

Task 2 Deliverables: 

‣ Draft Operational Plan document including recommendations for City comment. 

‣ Final Operational Plan and recommendations, or participation in presentation with City 

staff, Management, and/or elected officials. 

Task 3: 

Operational Plan Implementation and Other Technical Assistance 

KCI will assist the City with the implementation of the program changes outlined in the planning 

process in Task 2 and any other technical assistance identified by City staff. Tasks and activities 

performed under this task will vary greatly depending upon the strategies approved by the City. 

Based on available budget, such assistance might include, but would not be limited to, the 

following: 




Section F, Proposed Scope of Services 

‣ Assist the City during any collection service transition period, including coordinating and 

facilitating transition meetings, reviewing transition plans, and preparing public 

education materials related to the transition. 

‣ Assist in developing language for any necessary ordinance changes. 

‣ Assist in developing and drafting program education and outreach materials. 

‣ Assist City staff with the development of a strategy to meet county and state level 

mandates and goals. 

‣ Other services as requested. 

KCI has recognized that once initiated, project priorities may change. KCI’s phased approach to 

this project reflects the possibility of change. By compartmentalizing these activities, certain 

tasks can be completed independently of others. At project initiation, KCI will work with the 

City to refine the activities to insure that if the City’s priorities shift, so can the project elements 

and its related costs to bring about the desired results most efficiently and cost-effectively. 


Section G: Fee 

Provided below are the Kessler Consulting staff members that will be available to the City. As 

you can see, the City will receive our most highly experienced staff at very competitive rates. 

Kessler Consulting typically works on a time-and-materials basis to deliver the greatest value to 

our clients. Based on our very competitive hourly rates and our staff’s high level of expertise, 

we believe KCI provides the greatest value for our client’s investment, because in any 

consulting engagement, time is the commodity. Competitive rates maximize the time available! 

Our rates include all overhead and direct and indirect costs. All expenses (travel, copies, 

postage, etc.) are billed at cost without markup. 

POSITION EMPLOYEE RATE 

Project Director/Principal Mitch Kessler $180/hour 

Project Manager Don Ross $135/hour 

Senior Consultants Robin Mitchell, Miriam Zimms $135/hour 

Consultant Lisa Lamppert $85/hour 

Research Analysts John Burkett, Maureen Schaefer $70/hour 

Admin/Technical Support Lisa LeVine $50/hour 

As outlined in the Proposed Scope of Services detail, Section F of this submittal, KCI offers the 

following phased and tasked approach to the solid waste and recycling services assessment 

requested. KCI believes it is essential to first review the system and analyze the options 

available in Phase I, and then based on these results, design a plan and implementation 

strategy in Phase II that best meets the goals and objectives of the City. Provided for each major 

task is the expected total work hours for our staff and the cost of service. 

Task 1 

Task 2 

‣ KCI will initiate the project by conducting a systematic “top-to-bottom” review of the 

City’s current solid waste system. We expect this task to take approximately 120 days. 

Estimated Cost for Task 1 Activities: $20,115 

Estimated total staff hours: 208 

‣ KCI will assist the City in the development of a Solid Waste Operational Plan to establish 

system goals for the next five years. We expect this task to take approximately 90 days. 

Estimated Cost for Task 2 Activities: $23,075 


KCI Proposals 2012\North Miami Beach\G Fee G-1



Section G, Fee 

Task 3 

‣ It is difficult to predict at this time the level of effort required for Task 3, 

Implementation and Other Technical Assistance. This task is budget-dependent and will 

be considered an ancillary task, based on remaining budgeted funds after the 

completion of Tasks 1 and 2. 

Estimated Available Funds for Task 3 activities: $6,730 


KCI recognizes that once initiated, project priorities may change. As previously stated, in order 

to best accommodate the needs of the City, KCI’s phased approach to this project reflects the 

possibility of change. By compartmentalizing these activities, certain tasks can be completed 

independently of others. At project initiation, KCI will work with the City to refine the activities 

to insure that if the City’s priorities shift, so can the project elements and its related costs to 

bring about the desired results most efficiently and cost-effectively. 

This section intentionally left blank. 

KCI Proposals 2012\Pompano Beach\5 Pricing G-2

RFP No. 2012-20 Solid Waste and Recycling Services Assessment 

6.3 REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE 

It is the responsibility of the contractor/vendor to provide a minimum of three (3) government agency references 

other than North Miami Beach using this form and providing this information with your submission. Failure to do so 

may result in the rejection of your submission. 

Giving reference for: (Bidder)_______________________________________________________________ 

Firm giving Reference: ___________________________________________________________________ 

Address:___________________________________________ 

Phone:____________________________________________ 

Fax:______________________________________________ 

Email: ___________________________________________ 

1. Q: What was the title of the contract or job assigned to Bidder? 

A: 

2. Q: What was the scope or work/services assigned to Bidder? 

A: 

3. Q: What was the dollar value of the contract? 

A: 

4. Q: Have there been any change orders, and if so how many? 

A: 

5. Q: Do they perform on a timely basis as required by the agreement? 

A: 

6. Q: Was the consultant easy to get in contact with? 

A: 

7. Q: Would you use them again? 

A: 

8. Q: Overall, what would you rate their performance? (Scale from 1-5) 

A: 5 Excellent 4 Good 3 Fair 2 Poor 1 Unacceptable 

9. Q: Is there anything else we should know, that we have not asked? 

A: 

The undersigned does hereby certify that the foregoing and subsequent statements are true and correct and are made 

independently, free from vendor interference/collusion. 

Name: __________________________________________ Title _____________________________________________ 

Print Name: ______________________________________ Date: ___________________________________________ 

Page 35 of 46


6.9 SOURCE OF INFORMATION 

How did you find out about this solicitation? Check all that applies. 

1. www.citynmb.com 

2. www.demandstar.com 

3. Daily Business Review 

4. The Miami Herald 

5.Referral/word- of mouth 

Specify Source: _____________________ 

6.Search Engine/Internet search 

7.E-mail, newsgroup, online chat 

Specify Source:______________________ 

8.Banner or Link on another website 

9.Flyer, newsletter, direct mail 

10.Other 



Page 41 of 46


6.11 SWORN STATEMENT ON PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES 

THIS FORM MUST BE SIGNED AND SWORN TO IN THE PRESENCE OF A NOTARY PUBLIC OR OTHER 

OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER OATHS. 

1. This sworn statement is submitted to the CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 

by:___________________________________________________________________ 

(print individual’s name and title) 

for: _____________________________________________________________ 

(print name of entity submitting sworn statement) 

whose business address is: ___________________________________________________________ 

and (if applicable) its Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is: _____________________. 

(If the entity has no FEIN, include the Social Security Number of the individual signing this sworn statement: 

_______-_________-_______.) 

2. I understand that a “public entity crime” as defined in Paragraph 287.133(1)(g), Florida Statutes, means a violation of any 

state or federal law by a person with respect to and directly related to the transaction of business with any public entity or 

with an agency or political subdivision of any other state or of the United States, including but not limited to, any bid or 

contract for goods or services to be provided to any public entity or an agency or political subdivision of any other state or 

of the United States and involving antitrust, fraud, theft, bribery, collusion, racketeering, conspiracy, or material 

misrepresentations. 

3. I understand that “convicted” or “conviction” as defined in Paragraph 287.133(1)(b), Florida Statutes, means a finding of 

guilt or a conviction of a public entity crime, with or without an adjudication of guilt, in any federal or state trial court of 

record relating to charges brought by indictment or information after July 1, 1989, as a result of a jury verdict, non-jury trial, 

or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. 

4. I understand that an “affiliate” as defined in Paragraph 287.133(1)(a), Florida Statutes, means: 

1. A predecessor or successor of a person convicted of a public entity crime; or 

2. An entity under the control of any natural person who is active in the management of the entity and who has 

been convicted of a public entity crime. The term “affiliate” includes those officers, directors, executives, partners, 

shareholders, employees, members, and agents who are active in the management of an affiliate. The ownership 

by one person of shares constituting a controlling interest in another person, or a pooling of equipment or income 

among persons when not for fair market value under an arm’s length agreement, shall be a prima facie case that 

one person controls another person. A person who knowingly enters into a joint venture with a person who has 

been convicted of a public entity crime in Florida during the preceding 36 months shall be considered an affiliate. 

5. I understand that a “person” as defined in Paragraph 287.133(1)(e), Florida Statutes, means any natural person or 

entity organized under the laws of any state or of the United States with the legal power to enter into a binding 

contract and which bids or applies to bid on contracts for the provision of goods or services let by a public entity, or 

which otherwise transacts or applies to transact business with a public entity. The term “person” includes those 

officers, directors, executives, partners. Shareholders, employees, members, and agents who are active in 

management of an entity. 

6. Based on information and belief, the statement, which I have marked below, is true in relations to the entity 

submitting this sworn statement. (Indicate which statement applies). 

Neither the entity submitting this sworn statement, nor any of its officers, directors, executives, partners, 

shareholders, employees, members, or agents who are active in the management of the entity, nor any affiliate of 

the entity has been charged with ad convicted of a public entity crime subsequent to July 1, 1989. 

The entity submitting this sworn statement, or one or more of its officers, directors, executives, partners, 

shareholders, employees, members, or agents who are active in the management of the entity, or an affiliate of the 

entity has been charged with and convicted of a public entity crime subsequent to July 1, 1989. 

The entity submitting this sworn statement, or one or more of its officers, directors, executives, partners, 

shareholders, employees, members, or agents who are active in the management of the entity, or an affiliate of the 

entity has been charged with and convicted of a public entity crime subsequent to July 1, 1989. However, there has 

been a subsequent proceeding before a Hearing Officer of the State of Florida, Division of Administrative Hearings 

and the final Order entered by the Hearing Officer determined that it was not in the public interest to place the entity 

Page 43 of 46


SECTION 7.0 SAMPLE AGREEMENT FOR BIDDER INFORMATION ONLY 

DO NOT EXECUTE 

SAMPLE AGREEMENT- DO NOT FILL OUT 

CONTRACT TITLE AND NUMBER 

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this ____ day of __________, 2011 by and between 

_________________., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of ____, having its 

principal office at __________________ (hereinafter referred to as the "Contractor"), and the City of North Miami 

Beach, a political subdivision of the State of Florida, having its principal office at 17011 NE 19 th Avenue, North 

Miami Beach, Florida 33162 (hereinafter referred to as the "City"), 

WITNESSETH: 

WHEREAS, the Contractor has offered to provide the materials and/or services and to be bound by the 

Plans and the terms and conditions of the Invitation to Bid (ITB) No. __________, which includes the General 

Terms and Conditions of Invitations for Bids, Specifications, Bid Forms, and associated addenda attached hereto 

and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A", and the terms of Contractor’s Proposal attached hereto and incorporated 

herein as Exhibit "B"; and 

WHEREAS, the Contractor has submitted a written proposal dated November 4, 

_____ , hereinafter 

referred to as the "Contractor’s Proposal", the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set 

forth herein; and 

WHEREAS, the City desires to procure from the Contractor such services for the City, in accordance with 

the terms and conditions of this Agreement. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the 

parties hereto agree as follows: 

1. The Contractor agrees to provide the materials and/or services pursuant to and to be bound by the Plans 

and the terms and conditions of the Invitation to Bid, which includes General Terms and Conditions of Invitations for 

Bids, Specifications, Bid Forms, and associated addenda and the terms of which are incorporated herein by 

reference as if fully set forth herein and attached hereto as Exhibit "A", and the Contractor's Proposal attached 

hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "B". 

2. The CITY agrees to abide by and to be bound by the terms of the Invitation to Bid, which includes General 

Terms and Conditions of Invitations for Bids, Specifications, Bid Forms, and associated addenda as attached hereto 

and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A", and by the terms of Contractor's Proposal attached hereto and incorporated 

herein as Exhibit "B". 

3. Contractor shall deliver materials and/or provide services in accordance with the terms of the Invitation to 

Bid, Bid Forms and addenda attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A" and with the terms of 

Contractor's Proposal attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "B". 

4. The City agrees to make payment in accordance with the terms of the Invitation to Bid, Bid Forms and 

addenda attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A" and with the terms of Contractor's Proposal 

attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "B". 

5. This Agreement and attachments hereto constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and its 

provisions shall not be amended, except in writing, after formal approval by both parties. 

6. This Agreement will commence on ________________ and expire on ________________ unless 

Contractor is otherwise notified by the City. Any extension to this Agreement shall be in writing. The City Manager 

is authorized to extend or terminate this Agreement on behalf of the City. 

7. In addition to any other contractual indemnification provisions in Exhibit A or Exhibit B in favor of the City, 

Contractor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the City harmless from any and all claims, suits, actions, damages, 

causes of action, and attorney’s fees, arising from any personal injury, loss of life, or damage to person or property 

sustained by reason of or as a result of the products or materials used or supplied in the performance of this 

Page 45 of 46


Agreement. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have made and executed this Agreement on this 

________ day of __________________________________, 2011. 

CONTRACTOR 

By: ______________________ 

(Signature) 

Name: ___________________ 

(Print) 

Title: ____________________ 

Date: ____________________ 

Attest: ___________________ 

Corporate Seal/Notary Public 

Corporate Seal/Notary Seal 

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH 

By: ______________________ 

Lyndon L. Bonner, City Manager 

Date: ____________________ 

Attest: ___________________ 

Pamela L. Latimore, City Clerk 

Approved as to form 

and legal sufficiency 

________________________ 

Darcee S. Siegel, City Attorney 

Page 46 of 46

JOSEPH DAWSON, III 

COUNTY ATTORNEY 

CHARLESTON 

---_....__ COUNTY I 

._._._"~ 

SOUTH CAROl.INA 

March 1,2010 

Telephone: 843.958.4010 

Facsimile: 843.958.4017 

jd awson@chal'lcstoncounly.org 

Lonnie J-lamilton III, Public Services Building 

4045 Bridge Vicw Drive 

NOrlh Charleston, South Cmolim129405-7464 

Mitch Kessler 

Kessler Consulting, lnc 

14620 N. Nebraska Ave. Bldg. D 

Tampa FL 33613 

Re: 

Letter ofRecommendation 

Dear Mitch: 

1 write this letter to recommend the services of Kessler Consulting lnc., to potential clients. 

Charleston County hired Kessler Consulting lnc., ("KC1") in October of 2008 to perform a 

comprehensive analysis ofits solid waste program with the goal ofincreasing the County's recycling 

rate and to establish the premier solid waste program in the Southeast. KCl has been meticulous and 

insightful in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the County's program. To that end, the 

County chose to further its relationship with KCI by tasking it with developing a strategic plan to 

create and assist the County with implementing an innovative, cutting-edge solid waste program for 

the County. KCl has performed most ofthis work under my direct supervision. 

KC1's focus at the County is aimed at maximizing recycling and minimizing the need for the landfill 

as the primary disposal option. KCl successfully recommended innovative approaches for systemwide 

changes to the County's solid waste program that immediately increased operational 

efficiencies and resulted in significant cost savings to the County. KCl has been invaluable in 

assisting my office with reviewing and negotiating contract terms and provisions with prospective 

vendors that have limited the County's liability and created efficient public/private partnerships 

within our community. 

KCl is a premier solid waste consulting firm. 1 find KCl's work to be superior, timely, and 

extremely thorough. The KCl staff is professional, knowledgeable, efficient, and KCl has 

demonstrated a dedication to helping Charleston County beyond a consultant/client relationship. 1 

am particularly impressed with KCl's ability to communicate complex ideas and concepts simply 

and plainly. KCl has done a great job communicating with all levels oflocal government to include 

the media and the public. Based upon KCl's standards ofexcellence, 1 would highly recommend 

your company to any organization looking to redesign or enhance its solid waste program. 

\"J~J_A~Co,, S£,.~~> - 

Jo~eph Ddwson, III 

Charleston County Attorney 

\\'\\'\\'.Ch'H·lc~toncou lll~·.org

August 19, 2008 

Alachua County 

Environntental Protection Deparhnent 

Chris Bird, Director 

Mr. Mitch Kessler 


14620 N. Nebraska Ave., Bldg. 0 

Tampa, FL 33613 

To Whom It May Concern: 

Please accept our sincere thanks for the tremendous effort that you and your staff put into the Alachua 

County Recycling and Education Grant awarded by the Florida DEP. KCI successfully developed the 

synergy necessary to complete this project on time and with an outcome that exceeded our expectations. 

The grant, entitled "Building a Cost Effective Commercial and Institutional Electronics Recovery Program" 

was designed to develop and implement a sustainable and cost-effective operational and marketing 

program to reduce the costs of disposal, increase material recovery and provide a wide variety of 

marketing and educational materials for business E-scrap management. 

I want to particularly mention Miriam Zimms, Adam Schlachter and Shane Barrett for their relentless 

pursuit of excellence, their strong research skills, and their firm grasp of the subject matter. The vast 

insight and experience in managing such a large project that your staff demonstrated during the course of 

the grant was invaluable to the County. The attention to detail, the interpersonal and technical skills 

demQnstrated and the ability to focus cmd deliver a high-quality, usable product is a testament to your 

staff.' 

Thank you for developing or executing the final products: an informal focus group, BMPs for both 

donation centers and recycling/hazardous waste managers, employee and owner education materials, 

demanufacturing program analysis, and a business e-scrap collection event. All items have been very 

favorably received by the staff of the FDEP, our department, by other county governmental agencies and 

by'the target audience: the businesses and institutions throughout our County. Additionally, Alachua 

County was recently selected by the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association as 

the recipient of the 2008 Best Education/Public Outreach Program. The award was due in part to the 

outstanding contribution made by the Kessler Consulting staff in developing the educational materials and 

brochures as part the E-scrap grant. 

I would highly recommend Kessler Consulting, Inc. to other governmental agencies or businesses 

seeking the services of a consulting company to develop a comprehensive electronics recycling program 

within the confines of the solid waste and recycling industry. 

Sincerely, 

I

Board of County Commissioners 

State of Florida 

August 31, 2007 

Miriam, 

Just a note to say thanks for all of the hard work that you and others have put into getting 

the proposals prepared for submission to DEP. There is no way that we could have ever 

put together a package like you did. I really feel fortunate to have you and Kessler 

Consulting representing us in this endeavor. I look forward to working with you all as 

the process progresses. 

Best wishes, 

Courthouse 

101 E. James Lee Blvd. • CresMew. FL 32536 

(850) 689-5030 • FAX: 689~5059 

Courthouse Annex 

1250 N. Eglin Pkwy. • Shalimar. FL 32579 

(850) 651~7100 

1804 Lewis Turner Blvd.. Suite 100 

Fort Walton Beach. FL 32547 

(850) 651-7105 • FAX: 651-7142

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 

PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA 

COMMISSIONERS, 

eAR8AAA SHEEN 1000 • CHAIRMAN 

KAFlEN WILl.IAMS SEEL • VICE CHAIRMAN 

CAlVIN O. HARRIS 

SUSAN LATVALA 

JOHN MOFlRONI 

A06ERT B. S~ART 

KENNETH T. WELCH 

January 7, 2003 

PINELLAS COUNTY UTILITIES 

SOLIO WASTE OPERATIONS 

3095· 114'~ AVENue NORTH 

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. 33716 

PHONE. (727) 464·7565 

FAX: (727) 464·7713 

Re: Lener ofReference for Kessler Consulting. Inc. 


Kessler Consulting, Inc., has provided solid waste planning and consulting assistance to the Pinellas County 

Department ofSolid Waste 0pel1ltions since 1999. In addition, I have known the fInn for a number oryears prior to 

that. The linn's extensive knowledge ofsolid waste issues and programs in Florida, their ability to think cl'Clltively, 

and their direct approach in making recommendations make them unique in solid waste consulting finns. 

Kessler Consulting has provided assistance with a wide range ofissues and have specitically assisted Pinellas County 

in the following areas: 

• Conducted 11 two-season waste composition study and developed Florida's first computerized waste 

composition model, which is currently available on the Department orEnvironmental Protection (DEP) 

website (http://www.dep.stnte.fl.uslwasteclcanupl) 

• Evaluated a full range ofsolid waste coUection options, including franchising, licensing, and Countyprovided 

services, and developed dJaft licensing standards 

• Provided technicalassistlUlce with a publidprivatc Solid Waste Collection Task Force and participated in 

meetings with COWlty Commissioners 

• Conducted an analysis ofthe County's recycling drop-off centers and assisted with improving our service 

agreement, which will reduce service costs and increase revenue share 

• Assisted with development oftwo Innovative Recycling Grants, one which was funded in 2000 and the other 

which ranked 4 lb and is likely to be funded in the 2003 funding cycle 

• Currently assisting the County with evaluating and improving our commercial recycling program and CoWlty 

office ",,"-cycling contract. 

I have a great deal ofrespect for the starr ofKessler Consulting and highly reconunend them to other government or 

private sector entities seeking consulting expe-rtise in solid waste management. U you would like additional 

infonnation regarding the work Kessler Consulting has conducted for Pinellas County, please feel free to contact me. 

Sincerely, 

Warren N. Smith 

Solid Waste Director 

Pinellas County Utilities 

P, .. ILL".COU .. TY 

UDoo 

·Pinenas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer-· Member·Pinellas Partnership lor 8 Drug Free Worl

From: DAVE DERRICK [mailto:DDERRICK@kissimmee.org] 

Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:39 PM 

To: Robin Mitchell; COLLEEN PUGLISI; Peter Engel; Peter Engel (Greennet) 

Cc: Mitch Kessler 

Subject: RE: Final Presentation 

I just wanted to take a minute to thank each and every one of you on a job well done. I 

know this project was hectic at times, but the final product was exactly what I had 

envisioned. The City Manager and Finance Director both commented positively on the 

report and with a 5-0 City Commission approval we couldn’t do any better! I especially 

wanted to thank, and recognize, Robin for the excellent job she did presenting the power 

point to the Commission. It made my job very easy and we accomplished what we set 

out to do. I look forward to working with all of you with our future solid waste needs! 

Thanks again, 

Dave

July 29, 2010 


RE: KESSLER CONSULTING, INCORPORATED 

This letter is being written on behalf ofKessler Consulting, Incorporated. 

The City of Indian Rocks Beach recently had the firm of Kessler Consulting, Incorporated 

perform a Solid Waste Collection System Analysis. 

Within the scope of the contractual requirements, Kessler Consulting, Incorporated was tasked 

with providing consulting services that included but were not limited to: Ordinance review, 

service levels, service locations, standardization of containers, fleet replacement schedules, 

equipment maintenance, health, safety and risk management, operating budgets, application of 

new technology, intergovernmental coordination of services, staffing levels and long term 

planning. 

Kessler Consulting, Incorporated provided exceptional service and industry specific knowledge 

for the aforementioned contract with the project being completed in a timely manner and within 

budget. 

This office attributes the high level of professionalism and quality workmanship to personal 

involvement and work ethic standards. 

In closing, it is a pleasure to work with consultant of this caliber and the City of Indian Rocks 

Beach envisions a continuation of such a fine working relationship. 

Should you have any questions or require further comment, please feel free to contact me. 

N ROCKS BEACH 

cc: 

Calvin Warren, Community Services Supavisor 

File

_____f_N_VI_R...:O_N_M_fN_TA_L...:S_fR_V_'_C_f_S_D_f_~_A_R_TM_f_N_T 

~ 

-----j SEMINOLE CbuNTY 

IIOIll[)"-'~ 

"'All IW ( 1I0K I 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

The Seminole County Environmental Services Department Division of Solid 

·vvasta has had Kessler Consulting, Inc. (KCI) pertormlng services over the past 

year. Their work has been concentrated in the areas of performance 

improvement of our Small Materials Recovery Facility (SMRF), and most recently 

in rate negotiation support for contract hauler collection rates. 

We have been extremely pleased with KCI's work efforts, especially the extent of 

resources available to assist the Seminole County in our efforts. KCI is 

comprised of highly dedicated professionals with the willingness and dedication 

to meet our goals in spite of narrow time constraints. Our rate negotiations were 

completed in the unbelievably short time of ten days. Their knowledge of the 

industry, general trends, and constituents was essential to completing this project 

in the available time. 

We have enjoyed working with this team over the past year and have renewed 

their contract for the upcoming year as well. If you are interested in discussing 

any specifics of their performance, please feel free to call me at (407) 665-2148. 

With best regards, 

~. Briggs, Jr. 

Finance Manager 

RKBJr:brb 

500 WEST LAKE MARY BLVD SANFORD FL32773-7499 TELEPHONE (407) 665-2000 FAX (407) 665-2019

{\hLAHASSEE 

September 16,2008 


Kessler Consulting, Incorporated 

14620 North Nebraska Avenue, Building D 

Tampa, Florida 33613 

Dear Mr. Kessler; 

I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Miriam Zimms of Kessler Consulting, Inc. 

throughout the building process, "concept to concrete", of the City's Solid Waste 

Administration Building Addition and Renovation. This project was the City's first 

attempt at achieving certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

(LEED) Green Building rating system. Not only did we achieve certification but also the 

next level up which is silver. 

Miriam was part of the LEED team and instrumental in managing the recycling effort. 

She showed a high degree of leadership and became a source of information for the 

whole team. Her rapid responses were both accurate and concise. 

I was impressed with her knowledge of the solid waste and recycling industries and her 

responsibility and sensitivity as to how it relates to the City of Tallahassee's own 

objectives toward a more environmentally responsible infrastructure. 

I am also working with Miriam as part of the Greening the Government and Three 

Building Assessment projects. She has been and continues to be the proactive force in 

both of these endeavors. Her resourcefulness and skills have helped our City of 

Tallahassee obtain the Florida Green Building Councils Green City silver certification, 

making us the second city in the state to achieve this distinction. She is presently 

leading our City to becoming Platinum certified. 

The results of Miriam's work are nothing short of exceptional. She was fun to work with, 

intelligent and forthcoming. I look forward to working with her again and I would highly 

recommend her for any project of this type. 

Sin,yerely, 

'" j 

V 

ve . Williams, AlA, LEED AP 

Program Architect 

Facilities Management 

City of Tallahassee 

300 S. Adams St. 

Tallahassee, FL 32301-1731 

Phone: 850-891-0010 TDD: 711 

talgov.com 

JOHN R. MARKS, III 

Mayor 

ANITA R. FAVORS 

City Manager 

ALLAN J. KATZ 

Mayor Pro Tern 

JAMES R. ENGLISH 

City Attorney 

ANDREW D. GILLUM 

Commissioner 

GARY HERNDON 

City Treasurer-Clerk 

DEBBIE LIGHTSEY 

Commissioner 

SAM M. McCALL 

City Auditor 

MARK MUSTIAN 

Commissioner

MANATEE COUNTY 

FLORIDA 

April 14, 2008 

Mr. Mitch Kessler 




Dear Mr. Kessler: 

Please accept our sincere thanks for the tremendous effort that you and your staff put into 

the Manatee County solid waste hauler contract negotiations. The insight and experience 

that you brought to this process was invaluable. Equally important was your 

professionalism. You successfully developed the synergy necessary to complete this 

project on time and with an outcome that exceeded our expectations. 

The results of this negotiation process speak for thelTIselves. The waste hauler contracts 

will provide Manatee County with reliable service at a much lower cost than could have 

been achieved without your efforts. On behalf of our citizens and solid waste customers, 

please accept our sincere thanks. 

We look forward to working with you in the future. 

Sincerely, 

~ 

Ed Hunzeker 

County Administrator 

Copy to Board of County Commissioners 

Dan Gray, Director, Utilities Department 

County Administrator's Office 

Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 1000, Bradenton, FL 34206-1000 * Street Address: 1112 Manatee Ave W., Bradenton, FL 34205 

PHONE: 941.745.3717:;: FAX: 941.745.3790 

www.mymanalee.org 

AMY STEIN " GWENDOLYN BROWN "JANE VON HAHMANN " RON GETMAN "DONNA HA YES * CAROL WHITMORE * JOE MCCLASH 

District I District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7

August 2012 

Volume 14/Issue 43 

Client Updates 

New Assignments 

KCI Out and About 

SWANA Turns 50 

Recycler of the Year 

Award 2012 – Robin Mitchell 



14620 N. Nebraska Ave. 

Building D 


Telephone (813) 971-8333 

Fax (813) 971-8582 

www.kesconsult.com 

Permission is granted to reprint 

any portion of this newsletter 

in whole or in part. 

Printed on 80% recycled paper 

“The Wheels on the Trucks 

Go Round and Round.” - Don Ross 

From time to time Kessler Consulting, 

Inc. (KCI) features an employee so that 

you can get to know more about them both 

professionally and personally. 

It is always good to have people on 

your team whose energy and enthusiasm 

is contagious – natural leaders with 

new ideas and 

a desire to 

always pursue 

better ways of 

doing things. 

KCI’s Director 

of Operations, 

Don Ross, is an 

industry leader 

who tackles 

challenges 

head-on to find 

the best solutions. 

Don joined 

KCI in 2008, bringing with him tremendous 

operational expertise in collection systems. 

Mr. Ross has 23 years of solid waste experience 

under his belt, having managed 

collection and transfer operations for both 

public and private sector organizations. 

Prior to joining KCI, Don served as the Director 

of the Solid Waste Division for the 

City of Dunedin, Florida. Earlier in his 

career he held a variety of management 

positions for private waste companies, including 

13 years with Waste Management, 

Inc. Don was the Connecticut Market Area 

Director of Operations for Waste Management, 

overseeing several hauling companies 

and transfer stations, 150 collection 

routes, 250 employees, and was responsible 

for $60 million in annual revenues. 

Don applies this formidable portfolio of 

1966 2012 

hands-on experience to benefit his clients. 

Within KCI, Don utilizes his skill as an 

effective Project Manager. He has managed 

numerous collection-related projects 

including conversion from manual to 

automated collection and dual to single 

stream recycling, implementation of Radio 

Frequency 

Identification 

(RFID) systems 

and Pay-as-youthrow 

(PAYT) 

programs, route 

optimization 

planning, rate 

analyses, and 

operational 

feasibility and 

assessment 

studies. 

Don has taken 

a special interest 

in the role technology plays in solid 

waste collection systems and he recognizes 

that technological advancements 

are making rapid changes in this area. 

He says “I want to leverage technology to 

improve and protect the wellbeing of collection 

employees and to advance the science 

of solid waste collection across the 

Southeast.” Don’s love of all things “tech” 

and his eagerness to increase collection 

efficiency through data management has 

kept KCI at the forefront of the current 

trend toward applying new technologies 

to collection operations. He believes that 

technological innovation and data tracking 

can optimize solid waste collection operations 

to the benefit of staff and customers 

alike. “If you don’t measure it, you can’t 

manage it!” is Don’s motto. 

Continued on page 3


On June 6, the SC Department of Health and 

Environmental Control (DHEC) granted the Compost 

facility of Charleston County, SC approval to operate 

the first composting operation for both food and yard 

waste in the state. This enables the County to expand 

its commercial food waste collection pilot to a permanent 

program as part of its efforts to achieve a 40% recycling 

goal. Additionally, with grant writing assistance from 

KCI, the County was 

awarded a $50,000 

grant by DHEC to help 

fund its investment in 

a glass beneficiation 

system to support its 

countywide expansion 

from dual to single 

stream recycling. 

Leon County’s Board of County Commissioners 

recently approved a three-phase strategy, developed 

with KCI’s assistance, to establish an economically 

viable, long-term solid waste management system that 

enhances waste diversion and sustainability. Currently, 

KCI is assisting with Phase 1 - obtaining a long-term 

disposal solution for the County. 

KCI conducted an analysis of the City of Lakeland’s 

solid waste collection system as part of the City’s effort 

to reduce costs and improve service. Based on KCI’s 

report and recommendations, City staff is initiating a new 

residential collection system that includes a conversion 

to automated collection. 

With assistance from KCI, Okaloosa 

County is negotiating a contract 

amendment to transition from twice 

weekly to once per week garbage 

collection, and from recycling bins 

to carts. Based on a recent pilot 

program, the County expects significant 

increases in recycling tonnage as a result. 

After an extensive 1½ year planning 

process, KCI has completed a Solid 

Waste Master Plan for the City 

of Key West. This plan provides 

recommendations for the City to make 

incremental advancements in recycling 

and waste diversion that will put it on a 

path toward its stated goal of zero waste. 

The plan is scheduled to be presented to the 

City Commission at the end of August. 

KCI completed a Recycling Strategy report for the City 

of Tallahassee’s Solid Waste Services department. The 

report will help guide the City’s recycling programs over 

the next 8 years in its effort to help the State reach its 

75% recycling goal. 

KCI organized and conducted site visits to state of the 

art composting facilities in several states for a private 

client. An Organics Management Plan will evaluate 

technology options and determine the one best suited 

for the project, given the client’s operating cost and other 

parameters. 


The City of Indian Rocks Beach has requested that 

KCI conduct a collection systems strategic plan to prepare 

for an upcoming transition to cart-based collection. 

Project tasks for this Phase include identifying container 

needs, review of proposed ordinance changes, public 

outreach and education assistance, and presentation to 

City Officials. 

The City of Pompano Beach selected KCI to conduct 

a solid waste services assessment. KCI will evaluate 

the City’s current programs, review collection options, 

and develop a rate and cost of service analysis for the 

identified options. 

KCI is pleased to once again be chosen by Sarasota 

County to provide Solid Waste Consulting Services. As 

a selected vendor, KCI looks forward to continuing our 

10-year relationship with the County and adding value to 

upcoming projects. 

The City of Tallahassee’s Environmental 

Policy and Energy Resources (EPER) department 

selected KCI to assist with implementing a two-building 

waste reduction implementation plan. 

KCI’s recommendations from a 

previous study are being implemented 

to expand the City’s 

existing Start Thinking about 

Recycling (STAR) program 

that targets employees, 

facilities management, and 

administration. 

2 | August 2012

KCI 

Out 

& About 

SWANA 

Congratulations, 

Mitch! 

As part of SWANA’s Recycling Manager E-Training 

Series, Miriam Zimms presented “Planning an 

Education and Outreach Program.” Participants 

learned how to design, measure, and execute a 

cost-effective and action-oriented program for their 

community. Mitch Kessler presented Processing 

of Recyclables and shared how to research, plan, 

budget for and execute cost-effective processing 

contracts. 

Miriam Zimms also presented The Role of Waste 

Assessments (WA) in a Successful Commercial/ 

Institutional Recycling Program for SWANA’s 

monthly E-Webinar. 

Maureen Schaefer presented 

Construction & Demolition 

- Building Blocks to Recycling 

at the SWIX/DEP C&D 

Recycling Workshop in 

Orlando. Maureen spoke to 

the audience about programs 

across the country and how 

to target and plan for C&D 

recovery within the building 

community. 

While attending the Recycle Florida Today (RFT) 

Summer Conference held in St. Pete Beach Don 

Ross presented “The Single Stream Tsunami.” 

Participants learned a step-by-step approach to 

evaluating and implementing new technology and 

program elements in their own operation. Robin 

Mitchell spoke about “Charting a Path toward 

Zero Waste.” Robin explained to attendees how 

communities can plan for, measure, and develop 

programs that reach upwards of 75% or more in 

their diversion rates. In addition, Miriam Zimms 

spoke about the “Mecklenburg County, NC Food 

Waste Diversion Study.” 

Don Ross and Mitch Kessler led technical 

sessions at the 50th Anniversary WASTECON in 

Washington D.C. Don discussed the benefits of 

RFID, GIS, and geo-spatial data collection and 

analysis in a presentation titled “Data is King: If 

You Don’t Measure It, You Can’t Manage It!” 

Mitch presented “Share the Love: Public Private 

Partnerships that Work!!” Mitch shared the 

elements of a successful partnership and best 

practices in contract negotiation. 

MITCH KESSLER SWANA 2012 PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 

PRIVATE SECTOR RECIPIENT 

Please join us in saluting our founder 

and president Mitch Kessler for improving 

the solid waste industry through nearly 

30 years of leadership and innovation 

in demonstrating the value of waste as a 

recoverable resource. And congratulations 

to SWANA on its 50th anniversary! 

KCI staff members were www.kesconsult.com 

featured in 

the 50th Anniversary Special 813.971.8333 Edition | Tampa, FL 

of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) 

Management magazine. Miriam 

Zimms was on the front cover with other 

industry leaders. According to SWANA, 

Miriam was placed on the cover as one 

of the longest certified members of the 

organization. Don Ross was featured 

on page 89 and is seen dancing the 

YMCA with Pinellas County’s own Bob 

Don Ross Continued from page 1 

Kessler Consulting, Inc. is a solid waste management 

consulting firm specializing in planning and business 

management services for clients across the US. 

Hauser. KCI would like to congratulate John Skinner and 

the rest of the Solid Waste Association of North America 

(SWANA) staff on 50 years of a job well done! 

Don volunteers as a certified instructor for the Solid Waste 

Association of North America (SWANA), in both the Managing 

Recycling Systems and Managing MSW Collection Systems 

courses. He sees teaching as an opportunity to help others 

grow in the industry by sharing his many years of experience. 

Don’s passion for life shows through his famously youthful 

smile and the energy he brings to both work and play. 

His many personal interests include motorsports, where 

he has raced with the likes of “old blue eyes,” Paul Newman, 

and photography, for which he maintains a website 

(www.dpross.blogspot.com) to share photos of his adventures 

both at home and abroad. He enjoys taking his boat out for 

an afternoon of water skiing, but most importantly, he enjoys 

spending time with his wife Krissy, laughing, traveling, and enjoying 

her special talent for cooking. An eternal optimist, Don 

always looks for a positive outcome to every situation. We are 

all grateful to have him here at KCI! 

3 | August 2012

Recycler of the Year Award 2012 – 

Robin Mitchell 

Recycle Florida Today (RFT), Florida’s 

statewide recycling association and trade group, 

has selected Robin Mitchell as 2012 Recycler of 

the Year. The award was presented during the 

RFT Annual Conference and Exhibition in St. Pete 

Beach, Florida in June. Robin was honored for her 

contribution over the years to the 

organization, and her involvement 

since 1992 in waste reduction, 

recycling, and green programs in 

the industry both in the private and 

public sectors. 

Robin’s most recent contribution 

was preparing a Roadmap 

to help the State of Florida evaluate 

the best alternatives for reaching 

a 75% recycling goal. Robin 

has been instrumental in helping 

to prepare collection and MRF 

contracts for multiple jurisdictions 

Susan 

Chapman 

in FL that have provided for some of the lowest collection 

costs for garbage, recyclables, yard waste 

and bulky waste, while at the same time increasing 

the revenue share for recyclables recovered 

and sent to MRF processors. Prior to joining KCI, 

Robin was the Executive Director for the Florida 

Defenders of the Environment, 

Gainesville, and the Waste Reduction 

Specialist, for the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), Region 4, Atlanta, GA. 

Robin 

Mitchell 

Robin has been with KCI for 13 

years and is the third employee 

that has been recognized by RFT 

for their contribution in Florida. 

Miriam Zimms was named 

Recycler of the Year in 2008 

and Mitch Kessler was given the 

Lifetime Achievement Award in 

2006. 



Going paperless? 

If you’d like to receive this newsletter 

electronically, please email us at 

general@kesconsult.com with your name, 

company name and email address and 

you’ll receive the next edition of 

“innovative times” electronically.

May 2012 

Volume 14/Issue 42 



KCI Out and About 

News Briefs 

Green Building and Recycling – 

Making the Connection 



14620 N. Nebraska Ave. 

Building D 


Telephone (813) 971-8333 

Fax (813) 971-8582 

www.kesconsult.com 

Permission is granted to reprint 

any portion of this newsletter 

in whole or in part. 

Printed on 80% recycled paper 

Growing a Food Waste Diversion Program: 

Trends in Food Waste Composting 

Communities all over Florida (FL) and 

the Southeast (SE) are exploring program 

options that will enable them to reach 

higher recycling goals. Organics recovery, 

including food waste collection and 

composting, is high on many local governments’ 

planning list. For 

example, Kessler Consulting, 

Inc (KCI) recently 

completed a Food 

Waste Diversion Study 

(Study) for Mecklenburg 

County, NC. The information 

obtained from 

this study will be used 

by Mecklenburg to evaluate 

the feasibility of a 

future food waste recovery 

pilot program and subsequent countywide 

recovery program aimed to help meet 

its goal of 35% waste reduction by 2018. 

Such goals are driving a second look at 

food waste. 

Another reason communities are exploring 

adding food waste diversion to their solid 

waste management program lies in the 

percent of the total waste stream that is organics. 

Once the capture of “low hanging 

fruit” such as newspaper, plastic, and aluminum, 

etc. is maximized, decision makers 

must look for new opportunities for greater 

diversion in meeting higher recovery goals. 

Based on extensive experience performing 

waste composition studies in the SE, 

we know that food waste comprises a significant 

portion of a community’s waste 

stream. Three recent studies bear this 

out: in Polk County, FL we found that food 

waste comprises 13 percent of waste; in 

Manatee County, FL food waste is 14 percent 

of all MSW; and in Charleston County, 

SC food waste makes up 19 percent of all 

county waste and as much as 27 percent of 

the waste in the downtown business area. 

As trends such as diminishing newspaper 

readership and reduced packaging 

continue, the proportion of food waste 

in the waste stream 

should continue to rise. 

Therefore, food waste 

recovery will be an increasingly 

critical focus 

for communities trying 

to achieve higher recycling 

goals. Charleston 

County, SC operates the 

first compost facility in 

SC that is permitted to 

accept food waste. The 

County is focusing on food waste recovery 

as part of its effort to achieve a 40 percent 

recycling goal. Already the compost operation, 

including the food waste program, 

has contributed to a threefold increase in 

the recycling rate. 

As part of its trend toward expanded 

sustainability programs, corporate America 

also is a major driving force in the growth 

of food waste collection and processing. 

Large businesses such as WalMart and 

Publix are demanding food waste collection 

services, and haulers are responding 

to the new business opportunity. For example, 

Walmart and Publix are collecting 

organic waste that includes produce, bakery, 

and floral materials to be composted. 

Additional facilities, both private and 

public, are in the planning stages across 

the SE. For example, the change to 

Florida’s composting facility regulations 

in 2010 allowed commercial composting 

facilities that process source separated 

Continued on page 3


KCI completed its Strategic Plan for the City of Deerfield 

Beach, FL that was designed to improve solid 

waste and recycling efficiencies and reduce operating 

costs. The City is now poised for success with a new 

automated single stream recycling program, offering 

rewards redeemable only at locally-owned businesses 

- an innovative approach to boosting the local economy. 

City annexations required the City of Fort 

Lauderdale, FL to conduct a route balancing analysis. 

KCI has concluded this work for the City. The results 

will allow the City to maintain high service levels, reduce 

vehicle noise and traffic in neighborhoods, and trim the 

City’s carbon footprint. It is estimated that the City will 

save over $19,000 annually and reduce its annual CO2 

emissions by over 12 tons. 

KCI conducted a commercial waste 

generation study for the City of Key 

West, FL to determine the average 

density of waste generated by various 

types of businesses. The information 

will be used to determine whether a 

more equitable commercial disposal fee 

structure is viable. 

The City of Tallahassee, FL, with technical assistance 

from KCI, is renegotiating its solid waste collection 

contract, as well as its recycling and processing 

contracts, and also is assessing future disposal options 

that may be available to the City. 

KCI completed a project for Hillsborough County, 

FL which evaluated the collection procurement options 

facing the County. The results 

were presented at a County 

Board workshop where it was 

determined that a competitive 

procurement would best serve 

the County. KCI was asked to 

spearhead the development of a 

request for proposals. The new collection contracts are 

worth an estimated $500 - $600 million over the next ten 

years. 

Indian River County, FL is conducting an RFP 

process for recyclables processing services with 

technical assistance from KCI. The County Commission 

recently approved negotiating a contract with the topranked 

vendor, ReCommunity. 

Manatee County, FL, with assistance from KCI, 

completed a two-season waste composition study. The 

County will use this information in future solid waste 

management planning, especially to help identify waste 

diversion opportunities. 

KCI conducted a composition study for Pinellas 

County, FL of the recyclables collected in the County’s 

drop-off recycling program. County staff will use this information 

to evaluate the existing processing contract 

and when procuring future services. 

Following an RFP process and with KCI’s assistance, 

the Town of Southwest Ranches, FL is negotiating a 

collection contract with the top-ranked proposer, Southern 

Waste Systems. Under the new contract, residential 

rates will decrease by approximately 38 percent. 


KCI is happy to be working with 

two new clients - Brevard County, 

FL, who is procuring solid waste 

collection services, and Leon 

County, FL, who is conducting a 

strategic planning process. 

We are also pleased to be working with the City 

of Lakeland, FL once again, assisting with two new 

projects – developing technical specifications for the 

procurement of recyclables processing services, and 

conducting a recycling alternatives analysis for the 

City’s residential recycling collection services. 

KCI is part of a team selected by Seminole County, 

FL to provide ongoing solid waste management 

consulting and engineering services. 

The University of Colorado – Boulder has asked 

KCI to conduct a review and analysis of University 

solid waste, recycling, and composting operations and 

recommend program changes to assist the University in 

reaching its Zero Waste goal. 

KCI is conducting a market assessment and providing 

technical assistance in the development of an operating 

plan for a new food waste composting facility for a 

confidential client. 

2 | May 2012

KCI 

Out 

& About 

Mitch Kessler presented “If the Shoe 

Fits: Challenges Facing Florida’s Solid 

Waste Industry Professionals” during 

the keynote session at the RFT/SWANA 

Winter Conference held in St. Pete 

Beach, FL. Don Ross presented “New Technology for 

Managing Contamination” and also facilitated a panel 

discussion on advancing Single Stream Recycling with 

technology. Miriam Zimms presented “Recycling at Work 

– How to Add Commercial Recycling to Your Program Mix” 

at that same conference. 

Recycling Training is coming to 

Florida! Mitch Kessler will be the 

lead instructor of the Managing 

Recycling Systems course, 

supplemented by other subject 

matter experts. This course will help to prepare you for 

the SWANA certification exam and advance your career! 

And it is being offered at a $220 discount! The course will 

be offered in conjunction with a full agenda of learning and 

networking opportunities at the SWANA Florida Summer 

Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach June 24 - 26. Visit the 

SWANA Florida website for additional information and 

registration: http://www.swanafl.org/ 

News Briefs 

Over the past six months, KCI has welcomed three new 

employees with Master degrees and various technical 

skills to continue to provide quality and innovative 

service to our clients. First, we welcome Lisa Lamppert 

who graduated from the University of Tampa (UT) with 

a Masters in Business Administration. Two teenage 

daughters, Jessica and Katlyn, keep her very busy and 

active. She previously worked in consulting and brings 

strong analytical and problem solving skills to our firm. 

Second, welcome to Sarah Sanford who graduated 

from the University of South Florida, having earned a 

Master’s of Science in Biology and a B.S. She and her 

husband, Paul, both work in consulting and have an 

adorable six month old daughter, Grace. Sarah brings 

dynamic research ability and expert mapping skills to 

our firm. 

Last, we welcome David Ver Eecke. David also 

graduated from UT with a Master’s of Science in 

Finance. David specializes in financial modeling and 

will be a key player in KCI’s work conducting rate and 

financial analyses. 

Please help welcome 

this dynamic group of 

talent to the growing KCI 

family! 

Food Waste Composting: Continued from page 1 

 

food waste to operate under registration rather than a solid 

waste permit, and allowing for the combination with yard 

waste. The new rule change made it more economically 

feasible and convenient to develop a facility and is enabling 

the growth of FL’s food waste composting infrastructure. FL 

DEP reports that 11 facilities now are permitted or registered 

to accept food waste for composting in FL. 

To close the loop on food waste recovery requires end 

users of the finished compost. Research recently conducted 

by KCI found evidence that demand for finished compost 

by end users in the agriculture sector exceeds supply. The 

SE is fertile ground to produce the compost needed to meet 

demand. 

KCI’s research for Mecklenburg County included a 

comparative analysis of several food waste recovery 

programs in the U.S. in order to identify key program 

elements that contribute to success. Figure 1 below shows 

each communities program components and diversion 

outcome. It should come as no surprise that programs that 

have some mandatory component generally report higher 

diversion rates. 

Figure 1.0 – National Commercial Diversion Programs 

San Francisco, CA 

Portland, OR 

Orange Co, NC 

Oakland, CA 

King Co, WA 

Charleston, SC 

Statutes or Regulations Food Waste Policy / Programs Waste Diversion 

YES* YES 

77% 

YES* YES 

> 60% 

NO YES 

56% 

YES YES 

55% 

NO YES 

48% 

NO YES 

32% 

* Indicates mandatory participation 

When planning and designing a food waste diversion 

program, start by identifying the generators, the quantity 

they generate, existing diversion programs, and compost 

demand. Assess opportunities for food waste recovery in 

your community in the following order: 1) food for people, 

2) food for animals, 3) food for the earth (composting), and 

4) food for disposal. With this information in hand, you can 

develop a program that fits your community’s unique profile. 

3 | May 2012

Green Building and Recycling – 

Making the Connection 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) just 

closed for public comments on LEED® 2012, 

the next version of the LEED® Green Building 

certification program. LEED® 2012 focuses on 

increasing the technical rigor of the rating system, 

improving the user experience, and providing 

measurement and performance tools. 

Two notable changes possibly affecting our 

industry apply to the Materials and Resources 

(MR) credit category for existing building operation 

and maintenance (EBOM) for buildings, schools, 

retail, data centers, hospitality, warehouses, and 

distribution centers. First, a new prerequisite, 

Ongoing Consumption Policy, requires an 

environmentally preferable purchasing policy. 

Second, it also requires an audit of the building’s 

waste stream of ongoing consumables to establish 

a baseline of the types of waste and the amount 

by weight or volume and to establish a solid waste 

management policy. 

The Ongoing Consumption Policy will also require 

the continuous tracking of waste streams and 

require a waste stream audit be conducted every 

five years or after a change in tenancy greater than 

20% by gross floor area, whichever occurs sooner. 

For more information visit: http://www.usgbc.org 



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