Fighting Curbside Contamination: How Routeware Aligns with SWANA’s Best Practices for a Greener, Cleaner Future

Recycling does more than help the planet — it’s a critical part of building sustainable, efficient public services. But contamination in curbside recycling programs remains a stubborn challenge. A recent report from SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation, “Best Practices for Reducing Curbside Recycling Contamination and Code Enforcement,” highlights the scale of the problem — and points toward solutions that cities across North America are starting to adopt.

In this post, we’ll look at what SWANA found, why it matters, and how Routeware tools are uniquely positioned to help waste & recycling programs reduce contamination, improve resident trust, and deliver more sustainable results.

What SWANA’s Report Says

Some of the key findings from the SWANA study:

• Contamination significantly raises costs and undermines the effectiveness of curbside recycling programs.
• Tagging contaminated carts and refusing service to those that don’t comply (non-servicing) can reduce contamination by as much as 59%, with about 75% of tagged households less likely to reoffend.
• Enforcement (code enforcement, fines, inspection) and outreach both matter — education helps, but without follow-through, it’s hard to sustain improvements.
• Examples are drawn from jurisdictions like Orange County, Miami-Dade, San Francisco, and others; some municipalities are already implementing these best practices.

Why It Matters for Sustainability & Operations

• Cost savings — Less contamination means fewer rejected loads at MRFs, less wasted processing effort, and lower overall waste management expenses.
• Environmental payoff — Cleaner recycling streams reduce waste sent to landfills; fewer missed or rejected materials means more recycling can re-enter the circular economy.
• Trust and resident satisfaction — When residents see that their recycling is processed properly, confidence in the program grows—and participation tends to improve.
• Regulatory risks & opportunities — With sustainability targets getting more specific and citizen expectations rising, municipalities need data, process, and measurable results to stay ahead.

How Routeware Puts SWANA’s Recommendations Into Practice

Routeware’s platform is built to help waste & recycling programs implement many of SWANA’s best practices more efficiently and transparently.

SWANA Practice	How Routeware Helps
Cart tagging & non-service enforcement	Routeware can track which carts are tagged, record reasons for non-service, and generate reports on repeated offenders for targeted outreach.
Resident education & outreach	Use data-driven insights (areas with high contamination), map visualizations, and public communication tools to inform households what’s accepted and what’s not.
Enforcement & code compliance	Tools for logging incidents (photos, dashboards), integrating with municipal enforcement workflows, and creating audit trails when disputes arise.
Performance tracking	Metrics for contamination rates, service rejections, cost of contamination, which households re-offend — enabling continuous improvement.
Integration with broader sustainability goals	Reduction in contamination improves recycling yield, lowers greenhouse gas emissions from processing, reduces landfill hauling, all feeding into municipal sustainability reports.

Real-World Examples & Wins

Here are how some Routeware customers (and others) are already moving the needle:

• Miami-Dade County, Florida was mentioned in the SWANA report. Given the county’s size and the diversity of collection zones, contamination is a major concern. Tools that allow granular data (neighborhood-level tracking, photos, resident history) are especially valuable here.
• Operations using Routeware for contamination work:
  • City of East Hants, Nova Scotia
    East Hants is using Routeware to track and document rejected loads, giving staff a clear picture of which routes have recurring contamination issues. That data drives targeted education and faster resolution.
  • City of Nashville, Tennessee
    Nashville’s waste division uses Routeware to flag and photograph contaminated carts in real time. Drivers can record evidence, and supervisors can instantly communicate with residents, reducing disputes and keeping the recycling stream clean.
  • City of Sunnyvale, California
    Sunnyvale leverages Routeware’s in-cab technology and reporting tools to monitor recycling quality across routes. By identifying patterns, the city has reduced contamination and improved MRF acceptance rates.
  • RRRASOC – Southwest Oakland County, Michigan
    This regional authority adopted Routeware to unify reporting and contamination tracking across multiple member communities. Consistent data collection helps ensure each city’s residents get accurate feedback about recycling mistakes.
  • Momentum Recycling (Utah & Colorado)
    Momentum Recycling uses Routeware’s photo and cart-tagging features to manage contamination in its curbside glass recycling program, resulting in cleaner loads and better processing outcomes.
  • City of Orlando, Florida
    Orlando’s Solid Waste Division has deployed Routeware to document contamination, communicate with residents, and measure improvements over time. The system provides a full audit trail to support policy and education efforts.

Steps Waste & Recycling Leaders Can Take Now

If you’re leading a curbside recycling program and looking to reduce contamination, here are action items to consider — especially with tools like Routeware at your disposal:

1. Audit your current contamination rate by area — which ZIP codes or routes have high rejection rates or contamination?
2. Implement cart tagging & non-service policies in problem zones — use consistent criteria and clearly communicate with residents.
3. Set up photo/documentation tools so drivers can flag contaminated carts in real time and offices can follow up.
4. Use resident communication/education: educational campaigns via mail, social media, stickers, or resident portals to clarify what is and isn’t recyclable.
5. Track your metrics and adjust: contamination % over time, cost to MRFs, resident feedback, volumes of accepted recyclable material.
6. Integrate sustainability reporting: show how contamination reductions translate into lower greenhouse gas emissions, cost savings, and environmental benefits.

Why Routeware Is Your Partner in Cleaner Recycling

With Routeware, waste & recycling programs can:

• Reduce contamination faster
• Use data rather than guesswork to target problem areas
• Demonstrate accountability and transparency to residents and regulators
• Achieve sustainability goals and cost savings at the same time

If you’re planning your next sustainability push in waste & recycling—or want to explore how clean-stream recycling can save money and improve service — let’s talk.