Mappost How To Reduce Municipal Waste Collection Costs and Environmental Impact Through Route Optimization

How to reduce municipal
waste collection costs and

environmental impact through
route optimization
eBook by Mappost
HOW TO REDUCE MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION COSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THROUGH ROUTE OPTIMIZATION eBook by Mappost 1
Introduction:
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
Preventing waste from being created is the best way to reduce it. This is a
top priority for the European Union, with various directives and action
plans seeking to reduce the number of materials used in production,
extend product lifespan, and ensure more efficient product design. The sorting of waste puts extra strain on the collection process
and leads to an increase in refuse collection vehicles on the road.
Still, waste generated per capita is increasing and with it grows the Where previously all waste was mixed and required a single
relevance of proper waste management and recycling in particular. As trip, now different waste fractions need separate collection and
part of its Waste Framework Directive, the EU has set out a municipal transportation, resulting in more emissions, noise pollution, and
waste recycling rate goal of 55% by 2025, improving incrementally to higher expenses.
60% by 2030 and to 65% by 2035.
This is generally viewed as an acceptable trade-off. The benefits
Among other things, this presents logistics and infrastructure challenges of improved recycling outweigh the increase in environmental
– citizens must have easy access to recycling containers, waste collection and operational costs. Nevertheless, to hinder these harmful
and transportation fleets must be expanded with suitable vehicles, and side-effects, the EU is calling on member states to optimize
the capacity of recycling centers must be increased. their waste collection logistics.
There are several compatible ways to go about this – switching to a cleaner
fuel (CNG, electric), using low-emission vehicles, installing Stop-Start
systems, training drivers in eco-driving techniques. However, studies
show that optimized route planning is the single most impactful
factor that should be prioritized above everything else.
There is also a strong business case for doing so. Waste collection and
transport costs constitute up to 50-75% of total waste management
expenditures. Collection route optimization allows reducing related
costs by up to 40% and serves as a prime example of an economically
viable green initiative.
Waste collection and transport

costs constitute up to 50-75%
of total waste management
expenditures.
In this eBook, we’ll take a closer look at the challenges faced by waste
collection operators, explore what a modern route optimization solution
looks like, and dive into how to best assess available solutions.
Challenges of
waste collection
and transport
Waste collection and its processes are on the brink of massive change
with increasing regulation, a growing focus on sustainability, and rapidly
developing technologies pushing to make the industry more eco-friendly
and cost-effective.
Waste management service providers will feel the pressure to adapt –

if they won’t make use of the available opportunities to reduce costs,
decrease emissions, and provide a better service, then they will struggle
to win tenders in the future and respond to the requests of demanding
investors. New investors, in particular, are those that typically push for
the revision of outdated practices that leave a lot of money on the table.
Costs
The logistics of waste collection constitute up to 70% of total waste
waste collection and
management expenditures. This number varies greatly between different
service providers, depending on the particular area of operations and transportation make up a
existing practices. significant portion of costs
Still, waste collection and transportation make up a significant
even for the best-positioned
portion of costs even for the best-positioned operators, which operators, which means its
means its optimization can be extremely financially rewarding. optimization can be extremely
Especially so because public procurement typically offers fixed funding
across several years and any optimization translates into present profit
financially rewarding.
and a future competitive advantage.
International
regulations and
regional
pressure Various EU-wide and regional initiatives are both, directly and indirectly,
shaping what the future of waste collection will look like.
The number of refuse collection trucks on the road is increasing as a

side-effect to people sorting waste because now each fraction of waste
requires either a specialized vehicle or repeat trips. This means up to
80% more driven distance while more than doubling the number of
routes. For collection service providers, this results in higher expenses in
the form of fleet expansion and growing fuel costs, as well as contributes
to the growing complexity of efficient fleet management as multiple
vehicles will be visiting the same location.
The vehicles themselves are under scrutiny – meeting lower CO2 emission
requirements often calls for switching to new, greener waste collection
trucks. Such vehicles tend to vary in size, which results in different
requirements to optimize for. If, however, these vehicles are used
suboptimally and spend more time on the road than they should, this
can have the adverse effect of increasing emissions and operational costs
rather than reducing them.
Studies have shown that optimized route planning is the single most
impactful factor that should be prioritized above everything else – it’s
better to have a suboptimal vehicle run on an optimal route than
an optimal vehicle run on a suboptimal route. Of course, the goal is
to have both better vehicles and better routes, however, for maximum
effect, service providers should aim to find the best available vehicle for
the best route and not the other way around.
On top of all this, there is constant pressure from municipalities and citizens
to improve the quality of service by ensuring the timely collection of waste
it’s better to have a at non-intrusive hours and minimizing noise pollution, all while observing
suboptimal vehicle run on an certain safety precautions, such as avoiding school areas when children
are about and making fewer risky maneuvers on the road.
optimal route than an optimal
vehicle run on a suboptimal The dynamic environment brings further challenges in the shape of
route roadworks and weight/size restrictions, that demand responsive and
customizable routing solutions tailored for the area of operations.
Driver experience
alone is no longer
sufficient
Waste collection and transportation is an industry that has long relied
on individual drivers and the knowledge they have developed over years
of operations. An experienced driver will know the region and all its
quirks and features like the back of their hand – shortcuts, best ways to
approach points, and even things like where to watch out for a dog or
who to call to access gated waste containers.
The benefits of a
modern route
optimization solution
Experience shows that an advanced route optimization solution can
reduce logistics-related expenses by up to 30-40% while tackling
that an advanced route
the challenges highlighted above. The potential savings depend greatly optimization solution can
on the current practices, vehicles, and systems of the company, as well reduce logistics-related
as the location it operates in. Nonetheless, even a 5% reduction can be a
game-changer in improving a service provider’s profitability and ability expenses by up to 30-40%
to compete.
A modern optimization solution can also alleviate the internal pressure
and stress that teams deal with day in and day out by offering easier
planning – such a solution can reduce manual planning-related efforts
by 40-60%. Plus, equipping all drivers with tools that enable conducting
efficient collection routes eliminates overreliance on individuals.
Companies can trust any driver to complete the work in the best way
possible and don’t have to panic every time a tenured driver takes a
vacation or retires.
Key requirements
of a comprehensive
modern routing
solution Route optimization for efficient waste collection is significantly more
complex than it may seem at first glance. As operators are well aware,
collection efficiency is more than just about getting from one address
to the next in the fastest way possible. It’s not even about addresses,
it’s about collection points and custom locations, such as parks, yards,
beaches, and more.
To produce an efficient route, the solution must consider collection point

specifics, driving permissions, idling periods, and more. Additionally, it
must be tailored to its environment, consider driver knowledge, integrate
with existing systems, and be responsive to real-time data.
Route-related
optimizations
To assist with efficient waste collection, municipalities often grant
refuse collection trucks permission to make turns that are illegal to other
vehicles, drive in reverse through one-way streets, and move through
private zones inaccessible to regular traffic, all of which must be taken
into account as part of route calculations.
Similarly, things such as vehicle size and weight impact where and when
a waste collection vehicle can travel. Other trucks (e.g. semi-trailers)
of similar height, width, and weight are typically barred from traveling
through urban areas, hence, infrastructure can pose a challenge in the
form of low bridges, narrow streets, and weight limits. For example, a
truck may be able to cross a bridge when empty, but exceed the load
limit when full.
Labor-related
optimizations
Drivers deal with a lot of non-standard scenarios on their collection
routes. One of the most common ones is accessing waste containers
in gated and restricted areas. Typically, the drivers will have an access
code or a key, but sometimes they must call someone to open the
gate. Accordingly, the solution must provide drivers with the necessary
Drivers deal with a lot of
information ahead of time so that a collection point can be serviced as non-standard scenarios on
quickly as possible. their collection routes.
The same goes for airports, prisons, military territories, and other
restricted areas that require certain procedures to enter and might only
be accessible during particular hours and by approved drivers. Beyond
location-specific time constraints, other time-related considerations
come into effect for minimizing noise pollution, avoiding traffic, and
improving safety.
Sustainability- An optimal solution will minimize how long a vehicle spends waiting
in one spot. The main causes for vehicle idling are congestion and time
related spent on manual labor. To that end, avoiding traffic and optimizing the
efficiency of workers must be a core part of the solution, which must
consider the current status of the road network, as well as equip workers
optimizations with the necessary location-specific information to minimize idle time.
Synergy between
cutting-edge data
science and real-
world know-how
In order to provide truly optimized routes, a modern solution In order to provide truly
must employ the newest and most suitable algorithms, e.g. optimized routes, a modern
Simulated Annealing, and the latest scientific developments in graph
theory, discrete optimization, operations research, as well as be open solution must employ the
to integrating future discoveries. newest and most suitable
algorithms
The science behind optimization algorithms is advancing rapidly, as is They must also be guided by experts in
overall computational capacity, producing a diverse range of options, each waste collection to ensure that the resulting
suitable for different situations – there can be substantial differences (3- solution and used algorithms are suitable for
5%) between the result produced by different optimization algorithms. the environments it’s designed for and take
Hence, it’s not just about picking and integrating the latest algorithm into consideration all the intricacies of waste
but having a deep understanding of the complex differences between collection and transportation.
the various options at hand and their applicability to the particular
case and location. Given that logistics makes up a significant portion of In the same vein, the solution should include
overall costs, choosing a service provider that keeps up-to-date with the tacit knowledge accumulated by drivers
or even contributes to the latest optimization algorithm developments over years of hands-on experience. This type
will ensure that you always work with the best and most cost-effective of knowledge is often undocumented, yet
solution. essential for completing collection rounds in
an efficient manner. As such, a modern routing
Research teams and data scientists must be involved in adopting these solution must also be able to intake field
latest developments to the nuances and real-world challenges of waste data, which can be used for further company
collection and transport through the codification of area- and industry- decision-making and optimization.
specific rules and continuous optimization of weighting structures.
Implementation
and maintenance
tailored to regional
specifics
Every area of operations is different and any optimization system must
consider regional specifics to produce the best result, as well as be
flexible enough to adapt to custom requests. To that end, codifying
and integrating the aforementioned driver knowledge—a veritable
archive of regional DOs and DON’Ts—is essential. As is the solution’s
ability to respond to custom route modifications when, for example,
locals complain about noise due to waste collection taking place at
unwelcome hours.
Enable more
efficient labor and
collaboration with
clients
The resulting tool is a sophisticated, compute-intensive system that
must be able to operate with thousands of data points, integrate with
existing systems in real-time, perform continuous calculations, and run
and automate complex optimization tasks, all of which must be made
accessible to drivers and waste collection operators through a simple
and understandable user interface.
Beyond being able to reduce logistics expenses by up to 40% and cut the
effort required for planning in half, an optimized solution also enables
companies to make meaningful operational decisions about the waste
collection ecosystem at large and properly and transparently evaluate
employee performance. More than that, it can elevate how waste
collection providers engage with stakeholders, going from being just
a service provider meeting specific requirements to working together
on solving the pressing environmental issues of today and being seen
as an integral contributor and a trusted strategic advisor.
The best way
to assess a new
solution
Most waste collection service providers already employ some digital
it’s good practice for
solutions to streamline their operations. These typically take the shape
of basic, non-specialized routing tools (e.g., GPS/GNSS post factum companies to evaluate
reporting tools) and management systems that are paired with driver various potential solutions
experience to ensure smoother collection rounds.
with the help of short-
While such solutions can help marginally improve general efficiency, they term trial periods and pilot
fall short in providing the game-changing outcome that can be achieved projects.
by advanced, comprehensive, and specialized route optimization tools.
Implementing the type of modern solution described in this eBook is
one of the best ways for a waste collection company to significantly
improve its efficiency and profitability.
That said, the implementation of a new system is a major undertaking,
requiring substantial financial and time investment.
Therefore, it’s good practice for companies to evaluate various

potential solutions with the help of short-term trial periods and
pilot projects. Testing a solution over a few days can produce concrete
results that can be compared to previous performance and, depending
on how efficient the current system is, should demonstrate a certain
level of improvement and suggest potential ways for increasing
customer satisfaction. Running such tests and collaborating with
experts also serves to unearth optimization opportunities that were
previously missed.
Finding the optimal solution enables waste collection companies to

gain a competitive advantage, advance the quality of service, improve
financial performance, and minimize environmental impact.
Conclusion
Collection route optimization can reduce related costs by up to 30-
40% depending on the current state of the system, however, even a
5% reduction can be a game-changer in improving a service provider’s
profitability. Such substantial improvements can only be achieved by
employing comprehensive, state of the art technology that is tailored to
the particular needs of a company and the region it operates in. Modern
route optimization tools can help complete collection rounds faster, with
fewer vehicles, and with lower emissions.
The shift to greener and more efficient waste management is already

taking shape and will only accelerate as various regulations and profit-
driven considerations force companies to either evolve or be left behind.
To keep up with the rapidly developing industry and technology, trying

out different systems every few years will help companies with making
the best decision for ensuring operational excellence, as well as keep
internal and external stakeholders satisfied.
Contact us at
www.mappost.eu
office@mappost.eu
eBook by Mappost

Mappost How To Reduce Municipal Waste Collection Costs and Environmental Impact Through Route Optimization

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Mappost How To Reduce Municipal Waste Collection Costs and Environmental Impact Through Route Optimization

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How to reduce municipal

waste collection costs and

Waste collection and transport

Waste management service providers will feel the pressure to adapt –

The number of refuse collection trucks on the road is increasing as a

To produce an efficient route, the solution must consider collection point

optimizations with the necessary location-specific information to minimize idle time.

Therefore, it’s good practice for companies to evaluate various

Finding the optimal solution enables waste collection companies to

The shift to greener and more efficient waste management is already

To keep up with the rapidly developing industry and technology, trying

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