Organics is an important topic across the US, and many states are rolling out new requirements at the government, business and household levels. With a focus on decreasing landfilled organics — a key contributor to carbon emissions that result when food breaks down in air-starved landfill conditions — waste haulers like Gaeta Green Environmental Services in Staten Island, N.Y. have been busy preparing to support customers with new and improved organics collection services.

Indeed, in New York — both the city and the state — new laws regulating organics disposal will go into effect and become enforceable in 2022.

At the state level, the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law went into effect January 1. The law requires businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of two tons of wasted food per week to  donate what they can and recycle the rest (as long as they’re within 25 miles of an organics processor).

In New York City, commercial organics requirements officially took effect July 31, 2020. Due to the pandemic, however, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will not issue penalties to certain businesses that meet minimum requirements for organic waste generation until July 31, 2020. This gives covered businesses a bit more time to start separating organic waste for proper recycling.

With so much focus on organics, Gaeta Green has been proactively upping its game across the business to ensure they’re operating in the most efficient, effective manner possible to serve new and growing organics accounts. 

In 2021, the company partnered with Routeware to equip 11 of its trucks with on-board computers and cameras with photo and premium video capability. They’re also leveraging Routeware’s true route optimization software, EasyRoute, to streamline routes, decrease miles driven, and capture important information about the company’s decreasing carbon footprint.

“Routeware has definitely helped with efficiency,” says Rachel Lattanzio, chief operations officer. “We analyze our routes, which helps us cut down on emissions to fulfill our environmental mission.”

That’s important for a hauler serving as many customers as Gaeta Green does.

The company serves New York City with residential and commercial solid waste hauling services, including demolition and scrap metal recycling. The company also operates a transfer station.

In addition to saving on time, fuel, and emissions, Lattanzio says the truck cameras are helping with safety and communication, too.

“The cameras have been a great addition. There’s less contention between customers and employees, and we are able to prove what’s happening on a route. The cameras take a way a lot of the ‘gray’ area,” she says.

When a customer calls to report a missed collection, staff can check images captured at the curb and share them with callers in real time.

By operating from the same set of facts, “it’s helped create more of a trusting relationship between drivers and office staff. There’s less of a ‘he said, she said’ – and that’s been a big plus.”

Cameras also capture valuable information that help protect drivers and the company.

“The cameras help with safety,” Lattanzio says. “If there is an incident or accident, the trucks are equipped at all angles.”

Routeware integrates with the scales at the company’s transfer station. Trucks, too, are fitted with GPS that gives supervisors visibility into live vehicle movement, speed, sudden acceleration, harsh braking events, and miles traveled.

Another plus: Drivers actually like using the in-cab tablets.

In the past, drivers made notes on paper route sheets, then handed them to office staff to type into a database. Now they type notes directly into their tablets, and a virtual assistant takes care of the rest overnight, making sure nothing gets missed.

“On-board computers give our drivers more independence and empowerment,” Lattanzio says.

The new digital process saves paper, too.

“We are trying to be as green as possible,” she says, “so eliminating paper is a big step for us.”

Learn more. Check out our Success Stories to learn how our customers serve their communities by providing essential waste and recycling services that protect our planet.