On-Call Solid Waste Data Analysis and Economic Services

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has a long-standing commitment to evidence-based management of Seattle's leading-edge solid waste reduction programs. Our work relies on extensive datasets that span system inputs, including tonnage, material composition, customer behavior, and financial performance, to shape solid waste incentives, programs, and policies that advance the City's Zero Waste goals . As the volume and complexity of solid waste data continues to grow, SPU requires expert-level consultation backed by rigorous methods and advanced analysis to unlock the value of our data and deliver new insights. We seek a consultant who can not only wrangle, arrange, and visualize large data sets, but also evaluate, interpret, and clearly communicate findings from those datasets to inform strategic decision-making and long-range financial and service planning. The selected consultant team will apply best management practices in policy and program evaluation, using applied economic analysis, to assess the effectiveness, equity, and feasibility of SPU's solid waste incentives, programs, and policies. The team will also produce high-quality analytical products—such as reports, presentations, data visualizations, and strategic data storytelling materials—that clearly communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. This work requires demonstrated expertise in research , economic and data analysis, including modeling , forecasting , program evaluation , data visualization , and strategic data storytelling . Through this contract, SPU will gain expert-level analytical support to evaluate, measure, and report on the outcomes and impacts of solid waste programs, policies, and financial incentives. The consultant will work closely with SPU staff to: Program Evaluation — Design and execute evaluations using applied economic analysis, including needs assessments, outcome and impact evaluations, and equity analyses. Synthesis & Reporting — Integrate data, economic theory, and analytical methods into clear written reports and presentation materials with well-defined talking points. Recommendations — Identify key insights and develop actionable recommendations for SPU decision-makers. Data Visualization — Use compelling visualizations and strategic storytelling to translate technical findings for non-technical audiences. Industry Publications — Prepare and place articles in solid waste industry publications on behalf of SPU. Reproducible Code — Deliver clean, well-annotated, production-ready code that SPU staff can easily replicate. Solid Waste Data Analysis — Conduct research and economic or data analysis on tonnage, materials, customer trends, financial data, and other system metrics; synthesize findings into reports and presentations. Waste Characterization — Analyze waste characteristics such as density, capture rates, and banned material prevalence; assess longitudinal patterns and document key findings and recommendations. This contract is designed to enhance the public value of SPU's solid waste services by leveraging our extensive data assets to continuously improve the performance and measurement of SPU's policies, incentives, and programs. The consultant's work will support the development and implementation of solid waste incentives, programs, and policies that are equitable , effective , and aligned with SPU's strategic goals and Seattle's broader Zero Waste vision .