Happy Holidays from Routeware: 2025 in Review, Holiday Waste Insights, and What’s Ahead for 2026

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to say thank you.

To the public works leaders, waste and recycling professionals, haulers, drivers, supervisors, and support teams across North America: you kept communities running through record volumes, tighter budgets, staffing challenges, extreme weather, and rising expectations for transparency and service reliability.

This year reminded us all of something incredibly important. Modern waste operations aren’t just about trucks, routes, data, and the most advanced waste management technology. They’re still about communication, trust, and people. And nowhere is that more visible than during the holiday season.

As we wrap up the year, here’s a look back at what defined waste and recycling in 2025, what the holidays teach us about smarter disposal, and what Routeware’s best waste management software is looking forward to in 2026.

2025 in Review: A Year of Smarter, More Connected Waste Operations

Across municipalities and private haulers, 2025 was a year of meaningful progress in waste management technology.

We saw more organizations move away from paper-based workflows and toward connected, digital operations. Cities adopted tools that gave supervisors real-time visibility. Haulers used data to reduce fuel costs, cut emissions, and improve service reliability. Community engagement shifted from reactive complaints to proactive education.

Key waste management technology themes from 2025:

• Increased adoption of route optimization and dispatch software
• Stronger focus on proof of service and data-backed reporting and decision-making
• Growing use of resident engagement tools to reduce contamination and confusion
• A shift toward “do more with less” operations, while maintaining quality

The takeaway? Digital transformation in waste and recycling is about making everyday work safer, clearer, and more sustainable.

The Holidays & Waste: Why This Season Matters More Than Ever

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, household waste increases by about 25%. During the holidays:

• Food waste spikes
• Packaging and mixed materials flood recycling streams
• Bulky items like trees, lights, and decorations overwhelm the standard collection
• Confusion leads to higher contamination rates and rejected loads

That’s why this year we launched 12 Days of Trash: A Complete Holiday Waste Survival Guide, a practical, step-by-step waste management education resource designed to help communities manage seasonal waste without overwhelming crews or systems.

What the Holidays Teach Us About Waste Operations & Management Software

Holiday waste highlights the same challenges waste management teams face year-round:

• Mixed materials are confusing without clear guidance
• Poor communication leads to wish-cycling and contamination
• One-size-fits-all messaging doesn’t work for complex waste streams

The waste management solution is about better information, delivered at the right time, in the right way.

Celebrating Progress in 2025: Wins Worth Highlighting

From Routeware’s best waste management software and experience in working with cities and haulers around the country, 2025 gave us plenty to celebrate across the industry:

• Lower contamination rates driven by better resident education and waste management technology
• Reduced emissions through optimized routing and smarter fleet management
• Faster response times thanks to real-time visibility for supervisors
• Improved trust between residents and service providers

Programs like holiday waste education campaigns, bulk item scheduling, and waste “wizard” tools showed that when residents understand what goes where, everyone wins—crews, communities, and the environment.

Looking Ahead: What 2026 Will Bring for Waste Management Software & Recycling

As we look toward 2026, several trends are shaping the future of waste operations, along with our top-rated waste management software solutions:

1. More Connected Fleets

Integrated platforms that connect in-cab tools, dispatch, reporting, and resident communication will become the norm—not the exception.

2. Data-Driven Planning

Cities and haulers will rely more heavily on performance data to justify budgets, staffing, and equipment. This will turn operational insights into long-term planning tools.

3. Smarter Community Engagement

Education through proactive outreach, seasonal guidance, and clear digital tools will reduce contamination before it starts.

4. Sustainability With Accountability

Environmental goals will increasingly require measurable proof in miles reduced, emissions avoided, and contamination lowered.

The future of waste management technology needs to be connected and focused on people. 2026 will push that forward faster than ever. And it starts by choosing Routeware’s preferred waste management software solutions.

A Holiday Thank You from Routeware

This holiday season, let’s commit to smarter disposal, clearer communication, and better habits for the planet, for our crews, and for every resident who depends on reliable service.

Happy holidays from all of us at Routeware. Here’s to a strong finish to 2025, and an even stronger, smarter 2026.

Get Started with Routeware’s waste management software solutions today.