What Gershman, Brickner & Bratton does

Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) is an international solid waste management consulting firm founded in 1980, headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, and operating with a fully virtual workforce since November 2021. The firm serves public-sector agencies (federal, state, county, municipal, and territorial governments such as the U.S. EPA, NYC Department of Sanitation, Miami-Dade County, the City of Chicago, Guam Solid Waste Authority, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) as well as private-sector organizations across the U.S. and 16+ countries. Service delivery is anchored in seven practice areas: strategic solid waste management planning, technical evaluation and planning, business and financial planning, sustainability and circular economy (including disaster debris planning), collection and route optimization, system administration and receivership (notably a Court-appointed Clean Water Act receivership in Guam from 2008), and expert witness services.

The firm's 'technology' is not software but accumulated domain methodology: a proprietary Sustainable Materials Management Hierarchy integrating environment, economy, and equity; deep familiarity with U.S. solid waste regulatory frameworks; and bench strength of SWANA-certified professionals and degreed engineers. Commercial activity is direct-to-client B2B consulting, sold through thought leadership (industry publications, conference speaking, the GBB Circular newsletter, and the GBB Access! on-demand briefings) and by leveraging SWANA, ASTSWMO, and CDP Accredited Solutions Provider relationships.

Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements priced on a custom, quote-basis per scope, with multi-year contract cadence; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm has no external funding rounds, no institutional investors, and no acquisitions; ownership remains concentrated among the three co-founders (Harvey Gershman, Robert H. Brickner, Timothy J. Bratton). The company became carbon-neutral in 2021 and holds CDP Accredited Solutions Provider status, with quantifiable client outcomes including up to $6M/year in Baltimore collection re-routing savings and Allentown rates 50–70% below neighboring municipalities.

Name

Gershman, Brickner & Bratton

Legal name

Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.

Website

https://gbbinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gershman, Brickner & Bratton is a Vienna, Virginia-based solid waste management consulting firm founded in 1980, providing strategic planning, technical evaluation, financial, sustainability, and operations advisory services to public-sector agencies and private organizations across the U.S. and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: GBB generates revenue through providing consulting services to public and private sector clients for solid waste management planning, technical evaluation, business and financial planning, sustainability consulting, collection and route optimization, system administration and receivership, and expert witness services. Services are delivered through project-based engagements tailored to each client's unique requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GBB is an international solid waste management consulting firm that provides independent, objective advice to public- and private-sector organizations. The company helps clients plan and implement solid waste management programs through strategic planning, technical evaluation, business and financial planning, sustainability and circular economy consulting, collection and route optimization, system administration and receivership, and expert witness services. Engagements are delivered as customized, project-based consulting tailored to each client's unique requirements.

Product overview

Gershman, Brickner & Bratton (GBB) is an international solid waste management consulting firm offering a portfolio of professional consulting services rather than a software product or platform. The company's service offerings include Strategic Solid Waste Management & Planning, Technical Evaluation & Planning, Business & Financial Planning, Sustainability/Circular Economy/Disaster Debris Planning, Collection & Route Optimization, System Administration & Receivership, and Expert Witness Services. These services help public- and private-sector clients plan and implement integrated waste management programs that improve efficiencies, save money, enhance customer service, and protect the environment. GBB has operated since 1980 and maintains a virtual workforce structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Solid Waste Management & Planning Provides innovative, strategic solid waste management plans addressing specific client objectives including waste characterization, collection, transport, storage, processing, and disposal. Includes public outreach, waste characterization studies, and grant research assistance for government and private-sector clients.
• Technical Evaluation & Planning Evaluates, plans, develops, procures and implements programs and facilities for sustainable solid waste management, including commercial/industrial recycling, waste-to-energy, materials recovery facilities, residential recycling, transfer stations, composting, and landfill services.
• Business & Financial Planning Assists with financial analysis, full cost accounting studies, procurement process management, revenue and rate strategies, business development, market research, and corporate programs for solid waste management operations.
• Sustainability, Circular Economy & Disaster Debris Planning Provides holistic sustainability planning solutions including sustainability in building design and construction/demolition, circular economy strategies, eco-industrial parks development, retail business waste management, and disaster debris management planning.
• Collection & Route Optimization Conducts collection analyses for jurisdictions including evaluations of collection equipment, vehicle/crew configurations, administrative practices, and public education activities to improve service and achieve cost savings.
• System Administration & Receivership Provides hands-on management expertise for solid waste operations including managing planning and day-to-day operations of divisions, transfer stations, household hazardous waste programs, landfill oversight, and waste-to-energy facility assistance. Includes court-appointed receivership engagements such as the Guam Solid Waste Receivership.
• Expert Witness Services Provides expert witness and dispute resolution services on cases involving waste characterization, market characteristics, waste flow control, regulatory interpretation, environmental liability, technology performance, tipping fees, and contractual disputes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guam Receivership success - built modern solid waste system including compliant landfill, recycling program, and household hazardous waste disposal center
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Sustainable Business NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB is a member of the American Sustainable Business Network, an organization dedicated to advancing and promoting sustainable business practices. This membership supports GBB's commitment to environmental sustainability and connects the firm with like-minded organizations.
• Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB maintains active membership and involvement in SWANA and its state chapters. GBB staff hold SWANA certifications and frequently present at SWANA conferences. Harvey Gershman received SWANA's prestigious Lawrence Lecturer Award in 2019.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB has joined the CDP Accredited Solutions Providers program for the Cities, States and Regions Consultancy Partners category, serving as an environmental service provider vetted to help disclosing organizations with environmental data and sustainability leadership.
• Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance (SWEEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB is a member of SWEEP, a non-profit group that aims to promote continuous improvement toward a zero-waste society that is environmentally restorative, economically productive, and socially just.
• Municipal Waste Management AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB maintains membership in the Municipal Waste Management Association, connecting with other professionals in the municipal solid waste management field.
• Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB holds membership in ASTSWMO, an association of state and territorial solid waste management officials.
• Northeast Recycling CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB maintains regional membership in the Northeast Recycling Council supporting recycling initiatives.
• Maryland Recycling NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBB maintains regional membership supporting recycling in Maryland.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Global design and consultancy firm with significant environmental and solid waste capabilities. Competes for municipal waste planning and circular economy mandates, typically as part of larger multi-disciplinary engagements.
• HDR Inc. Large global engineering and consulting firm with a solid waste practice that competes for municipal planning and infrastructure engagements. HDR's broader water/transportation portfolio makes it a frequent one-stop-shop alternative to GBB.
• Burns & McDonnell: Engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with environmental and solid waste capabilities serving municipalities and private clients. Competes for solid waste master planning and infrastructure procurement projects.
• Brown and Caldwell: Environmental engineering and consulting firm serving municipalities and industry. Brown and Caldwell's work in solid waste and recycling system planning overlaps with GBB's strategic and technical planning offerings.
• Tetra Tech: Leading environmental engineering and consulting firm serving public and private clients across water, waste, and sustainability. Tetra Tech's solid waste practice competes directly for GBB's municipal planning and procurement work.

Direct peers

• Resource Recycling Systems (RRS): Consulting firm dedicated to recycling and sustainable materials management. RRS competes with GBB on municipal recycling planning, circular economy strategy, and zero-waste program design.
• Cascadia Consulting Group: Environmental and sustainability consulting firm focused on waste prevention, recycling, and materials management. Cascadia's municipal and private-sector client base overlaps with GBB's recycling and circular economy practices.
• SCS Engineers: Long-standing environmental engineering and consulting firm specializing in solid waste management. SCS Engineers serves municipal and private-sector clients on landfill, recycling, and waste system planning — closely paralleling GBB's core service mix.

Emerging players

• Closed Loop Partners: Investment and consulting platform focused on circular economy and waste reduction infrastructure. Overlaps with GBB's circular economy and sustainability practices, particularly for private-sector and eco-industrial park engagements.

Others

• Hilco Global (Environmental / Valuation): While not a direct competitor, Hilco provides asset valuation and advisory services in environmental and industrial sectors that can intersect with GBB's business and financial planning work for waste operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GBBinc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gershman, Brickner & Bratton