Pulse

Loureiro’s collaborative effort at the site of the residential transfer station on Brixton Street in West Hartford was best described by Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Steve Diaz as a “three-legged stool.”

“It’s the town, the state, and us, and we’re managing all of it,” says Steve.

The vision for the Brixton Street center originated with West Hartford’s Mayor, Shari Cantor, and Department of Public Works (DPW) Director, John Phillips. They saw an opportunity to reimagine the Town’s 18-acre open-air recycling facility, where residents currently dispose of household waste in dumpsters. The goal: to create a state-of-the-art Material Management Center. While the specifics of what 'state-of-the-art' would entail were initially undefined—ranging from anaerobic digestion and composting to an expanded indoor transfer station—one thing was clear from the start: Loureiro was going to play a key role in the project.

“We have a strong relationship with the Town of West Hartford,” says Steve. “Their vision was to develop their existing landfill into a comprehensive Material Management Center, providing West Hartford’s residents various options for waste disposal, from composting to expanded recycling programs.”

In September 2021, Loureiro partnered with the Town to draft a Request for Proposals (RFP) for capping and closing the existing landfill. After competitively bidding and securing the project, Loureiro began crafting the initial plans and navigating the complex permit application process.

By late 2022, Loureiro submitted the closure plan to Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), kicking off an in-depth review process. Despite bureaucratic hurdles that lasted nearly a year, the team worked hand-in-hand with the Town and State, addressing critical concerns like implementing environmental safeguards for the nearby Trout Brook, overcoming community resistance, and navigating town council deliberations. These efforts ultimately paved the way for project approvals and set the stage for the next phases of development.

“By capping and closing the landfill, we’re eliminating a financial liability for the Town and giving them back a clean, usable property,” Steve explains.

Loureiro’s success in West Hartford has also positioned our company as a go-to partner for municipalities seeking efficient ways to solicit and procure environmental and engineering services. Through an agreement to provide an on-call contract for architecture and engineering (A/E) services, Loureiro was able to secure the design and construction management of the Material Management Center in West Hartford - without participating in a formal RFP process.

“On-call contracts are a win-win for municipalities and for us,” says Steve. “They streamline the process, allowing Cities and Towns to engage our services quickly and efficiently.”

This approach is now being leveraged by Business Development Manager John Sullivan as he works to introduce Loureiro to communities across Connecticut in hopes of building similar relationships. He’s had success already in Towns like Clinton and Weston.

“This project has touched every aspect of our company, from LEA to LCI to LBC,” says John. “From drilling borings for landfill investigations and environmental testing, utilizing the talents of our Building and Land Engineering group, to securing fill suppliers and managing design efforts and construction logistics, it’s a true team effort.”

The vision for West Hartford’s new facility will include permitting for expanded waste streams, such as food scraps and bulky items like furniture and appliances, which residents currently need to schedule separately. Loureiro is also assisting the Town in pursuing grants from DEEP, potentially worth millions, to help fund the construction.

“We’re well positioned to lead these efforts,” adds John. “After the success of the Plainville landfill, we saw an opportunity for us to become big players in the waste management game, and we wanted to step up. We established Loureiro Material Management Solutions, LLC this year with that goal in mind, and have been looking at new avenues for work.”

As the Material Management Center in West Hartford moves closer to reality and similar projects gain traction across Connecticut, Loureiro is proving that thoughtful planning and strong partnerships can transform challenges into mutually-beneficial opportunities.

“The future of waste management lies in regional solutions,” says John. “We’re helping Towns reimagine how distressed properties can be repurposed for recycling and waste reduction, creating long-term benefits for the environment and the community.”