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  1. Home
  2. Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities

About the Managing and Transforming Waste Streams Tool

Learn More
  • How to Use the Tool
  • Terms and Definitions
  • Filter Descriptions and Qualitative Rankings
  • Map of Featured Cities and Counties

The Managing and Transforming Waste Streams Tool features a table of 100 measures communities can employ to reduce waste and recover materials. By using interactive functions (sorting, searching and/or filtering), local planners can explore best practices in the form of ordinances, policies, programs, contracts, outreach & technical assistance, and infrastructure development, with the objective of creating a list of strategies tailored to their community's needs and capabilities.

The tool also includes over 300 implementation examples from communities across the U.S., including links to local ordinances and program websites, as well as model language for amending service provider contracts or franchise agreements. The measures and implementation examples capture nuances in approaches local governments can take and illustrate opportunities to phase in more stringent practices over time.

This tool can provide decision support to:

  • municipal, territory, and Tribal agency staff and decision-makers working on solid waste plan updates or zero waste plans
  • regional and state agencies coordinating waste management planning for a group of local agencies
  • other parties who are familiar with their community's solid waste management system and interested in community-based initiatives

It was developed by a team of zero waste consultants and solid waste program managers making informed observations from hands-on work in communities, with contributions from EPA.

How It Works

  • Customize the list to your community's priorities according to qualitative rankings for diversion potential, upstream impacts, and various implementation factors
  • Sort the list alphabetically by sector
  • Search by keyword for policy/program, sector, or material
  • Hide from view measures already being implemented in your community
  • Highlight measures you would like to prioritize for further scoping
  • Access implementation examples from other communities and online resources (online version only)
  • Print or copy & paste your customized list for use in a planning document

Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities

  • About the Tool
    • How to Use the Tool
    • Terms & Definitions
    • Filter Descriptions and Qualitative Rankings
    • Featured Cities and Counties
  • The Planning Tool
  • Featured Examples and Resources
    • Browse by Topic
    • Examples and Resources (#1-50)
    • Examples and Resources (#51-100)
  • Contract Language
    • Case Studies
      • Austin, TX
      • Berkeley, CA
      • Boulder, CO
      • Fresno, CA
      • Napa, CA
      • Renton, WA
      • San Diego International Airport
      • San Francisco, CA
      • San Francisco International Airport
      • San Jose, CA
      • Seattle, WA
    • Full Contracts and Agreements
      • Berkeley, CA
      • Renton, WA
    • Contracting Best Practices
      • Align Costs to Rates
      • Commercial Bins
      • Direct Materials to Markets
      • Disposal Payments
      • Education and Outreach
      • Incentives and Penalties
      • Increase Diversion
      • Innovations Clause
      • Market Organic Materials
      • Multi-Family Customers
      • Purchasing Preferences
      • Separate Compensation from Rates
      • Source Separation
    • Procurement Best Practices
      • Collaborative Negotiation vs. New Procurement
      • Local Government Billing or Lockbox
      • Mandatory Recycling and Composting
      • Minimum Zero Waste Standards
      • Process Integrity Guidelines
      • Publicly Owned Facilities
      • Separate Contracts
      • Separate Technical and Price Evaluation
      • Start Early
    • Sample Contract and Franchise Agreement Clauses
Contact Us
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Last updated on October 22, 2024
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