Disaster Debris Management: Lessons from Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico

Effective disaster debris management requires more than resources and equipment — it demands seamless coordination across federal, territorial, and local agencies under extreme conditions. Moderated by a former FEMA contractor, this panel discussion will draw on recent experiences from Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, and explore the real-world coordination challenges that arise when disasters strike remote island communities.

Panelists will discuss issues such as overlapping roles and responsibilities, communication breakdowns, permitting bottlenecks, contractor mobilization and resource prioritization. Through case studies and firsthand accounts, the session will highlight strategies that improved collaboration and hard lessons learned when coordination fell short. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how proactive planning, clear operational frameworks, and strong interagency relationships can dramatically improve debris management outcomes during chaotic post-disaster environments. 

About the Speakers

Ryan Duckett, PE
Senior Engineer | Geosyntec Consultants

Ryan Duckett is a Senior Engineer with Geosyntec’s solid waste advisory practice and is based out of Richmond, Virginia. His expertise includes feasibility studies, options analysis, planning, and facility permitting, evaluation, and other professional services, combining both technical and management consulting skills. With a diverse background in ‘all things solid waste’, he takes an interdisciplinary approach to helping clients address complex solid waste challenges at the intersection of economics, operations, and infrastructure. A Professional Engineer registered in NC, VA, and PR, he is currently assisting with multiple large-scale state solid waste management plans, including an update to Puerto Rico’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and Debris Management Plan. Ryan also serves the industry in multiple ways: as a SWANA Old Dominion Chapter director, EREF Research Council member, and past president of the Virginia Composting Council. In 2023, he was honored as one of the American Society of Civil Engineers' “New Faces of Civil Engineering” for his work in organics management and diversion.

Roger E. Merritt, Jr.
Post-Collection Engineering Manager | Waste Pro

Roger Merritt is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of leadership experience across the public and private sectors, specializing in environmental engineering, solid waste management, and organizational transformation. He began his career with the State of Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, providing regulatory oversight for facilities statewide. He later joined Waste Management, Inc., overseeing financial operations, compliance, engineering, and maintenance for Georgia’s largest solid waste facility.

Roger has held key leadership roles, including Director of Engineering at EnviroSolutions and Associate Director for Prince George’s County, where he managed a $100M enterprise fund and drove a 50% increase in employee satisfaction through inclusive, hands-on leadership. As Senior District Manager for Waste Management’s Gulf Coast Area, he led multi-functional teams and large-scale operations. Later, as Executive Director for the U.S. Virgin Islands, he modernized the Territory’s infrastructure through an integrated solid waste management plan and led sustainability efforts during the recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.  In 2006, Roger was recognized by the Georgia Solid Waste Association of North America as the “Outstanding Solid Waste Professional of the Year.” That same year, Atlanta Magazine featured him in their September 2006 edition, highlighting the 130-acre closure of Live Oak landfill, marking this accomplishment as the largest single landfill capping project ever in the state of Georgia. 

Recently, Roger began working with Waste Pro as the Post-Collection Engineering Manager and is responsible for the management, planning, construction, and engineering for the Company’s portfolio of Landfills, Transfer Stations, and Material Recovery Facilities. Roger also serves as an international consultant, advising governments and organizations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States on sustainable waste management practices.  He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and an Executive MBA in Finance from Clark Atlanta University. Known for his results-driven leadership and commitment to developing talent, Roger remains a trusted mentor and respected voice in his field.

Irvin Slike
General Manager | Guam Solid Waste Authority

Irvin Slike has forty years’ experience in managing permitting, design, construction, operation, and closure of landfill facilities. He has managed solid waste collection and disposal programs for Frederick Maryland, Town of Windsor, and Manchester in Connecticut. He has also managed three Construction and Demolition landfill expansions, closures, and operations for Waste Management Inc. in the Orlando Florida area. Most recently Irvin was a Project Coordinator for the City of Winnipeg for its landfill capital program. He also facilitated the transition from rear loading collection to automated collection in the Town of Manchester and City of Winnipeg. Irvin has been the General Manager for the Guam Solid Waste Authority since October of 2021. He has been an active member and held leadership positions in the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) since 1986.

Stella Williams
Senior Geologist | Geosyntec Consultants

Stella Williams has a deep technical foundation in subsurface exploration, groundwater hydrology, and geotechnical evaluations, with an emphasis on sinkhole risk mitigation and corrective action planning. She managed high-profile projects for Fortune 500 companies, global infrastructure initiatives, and the oil and energy sector. Her experience further extends to working on large-scale solid waste management plans and developing solid waste systems. Throughout her career, Stella has led environmental site assessments nationwide and has managed numerous soil and groundwater investigations across the Southeast. Her work helps clients navigate complex environmental challenges, including hazardous materials management, risk management, disaster response, and the development of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs). 

Both public- and private-sector clients seek out Stella for her regulatory expertise and field leadership. She has served in key roles across a range of organizations, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where she contributed to regional emergency preparedness and response initiatives. Serving as an Infrastructure Branch Director (IBD) in the Public Assistance (PA) Program, Stella supervised the day-to-day operations, including field staff and infrastructure-related recovery efforts for federally declared disasters, requiring continued emphasis on providing leadership, management, and communication between State, Local Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) partners. In addition to her technical contributions, Stella is committed to advancing environmental stewardship and resilience. She is a member of the New Orleans Geological Society and Atlanta Geological Society, SWANA, and she served as a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mentor in the Atlanta Public School system.