Roger Merritt
The Board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority announced Sunday that Roger E. Merritt Jr. has been selected by the board as executive director of WMA and will start his tenure today.
"With his selection, the board looks forward to the dynamic and innovative changes he will bring to move the authority closer toward fulfilling its mission and vision as set forth in its enabling legislation, bylaws and priorities established by the board," the board said in its release.
Mr. Merritt was part of an exodus of executives who departed WMA early 2018. WMA had announced the departure in a release issued Thursday, March 1 2018, but gave no explanation as to why he left. In its Sunday release, WMA said Mr. Merritt returns to the authority after being vetted among a field of applicants both local and national.
The authority said Mr. Merritt would continue the job he started during his first tenure in bringing the authority into compliance with local and federal consent-decree mandates, while improving operational efficiency. He also will be responsible for implementing organizational priorities established during the board’s annual meeting held this past February, according to the release.
"Merritt is a highly experienced leader in the waste management industry in both the private and public sectors for nearly 25 years. His expertise and record of success includes a role as Associate Director for Prince George’s County’s Waste Management Division," WMA said. "Mr. Merritt’s responsibilities included managing a $100M enterprise fund for the collection and processing of solid waste, household hazardous waste, bulk and recyclable materials. Serving the best interest of the public, Merritt’s cost savings initiatives saved the County nearly $30 million."
The authority added, "As the Director of Landfill Engineering for EnviroSolutions (ESI), he provided oversight for their construction projects in the northeast and developed environmental programs at landfills and transfer stations to ensure regulatory compliance. His strong background in both engineering and finance saved ESI over $21 million."
After he left WMA in 2018, Mr. Merrit, according to the authority, managed and provided oversight for hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal in the Gulf Coast Area as the Senior District Manager with private-sector conglomerate Waste Management, Inc. He was responsible for financial performance, environmental compliance, fleet maintenance, engineering, construction and project management, WMA said.
The board thanked Acting Chief Operating Officer Ann Hanley, "who stepped up to provide continuity of leadership as Interim Executive Director, along with her team, during the process of selecting a permanent executive director."
