Donald Birnesser is a professional consulting engineer experienced in environmental and site assessment, permitting, engineering, economics, procurement, construction, operational assessment, and expert witness services. His project experience includes solid waste recycling, material recovery, composting, transfer, resource recovery and conversion technology, disaster recovery, and landfill facilties . He has performed civil, environmental, and mechanical engineering for projects providing solutions to public and private clients in 23 states in the U.S. and two provinces in Canada.

Mr. Birnesser received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and is completing his Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. In 2012, Mr. Birnesser earned his Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) in the Solid Waste Management specialty from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. He is a Certified Transfer Station Manager with Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). Mr. Birnesser has also served as President of the SWANA Pennsylvania Keystone Chapter and has served on the national faculty for the SWANA Managing Transfer Station Systems certification course since 2006. In 2012, SWANA staff selected him to receive the first Commitment to Service Faculty Award. He is currently updating the Managing Transfer Station Systems certification course for SWANA.

During his fellowship, Mr. Birnesser will continue his work from the past year evaluating existing solid waste facilities in Saint Petersburg, suggesting performance and economic improvements in comparison to similar facilities in the United States. He will work with Professor Dr. Maria Liubarskaia at the Saint Petersburg State University of Economics.