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

Contracting Strategies and Best Practices

See also: Procurement Process Best Practices

A wide range of contracting strategies designed to advance towards zero waste are being used by local governments. Many contracting best practices align incentives between the local governments, contractors and generators to fund for diversion programs and facilities and encourage waste reduction, recycling, and composting.

Detailed Contracting Best Practices

  • Align Costs to Rates
  • Direct Materials to Local Markets
  • Education and Outreach
  • Equal Capacity Commercial Bin Size and Frequency
  • Equal Services for Multi-Family Customers
  • Incentives and Penalties
  • Innovations Clause
  • Limit or Eliminate Disposal Payments
  • Purchasing Preferences (Green Vehicles & Products)
  • Require Productive Market Use of Yard Debris and Other Organic Materials
  • Reward Workers for More Diversion
  • Separate Compensation from Rates
  • Source Separation Requirement or Preference

Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities

  • About the Tool
    • How It Works
    • Customize the Tool
    • Terms & Definitions
    • Filters
    • Featured Cities & Counties
  • The Planning Tool
  • Featured Examples & Resources
    • Browse by Topic
    • Examples & Resources: 1-50
    • Examples & Resources: 51-100
    • Community-Driven Solutions
  • Contract Language Case Studies
    • Austin, TX
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Boulder, CO
    • Fresno, CA
    • Napa, CA
    • Renton, WA
    • San Diego International Airport
    • San Diego International Airport (Detailed)
    • San Francisco, CA
    • San Francisco International Airport
    • San Jose, CA
    • Seattle, WA
  • Contract Strategies & 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
  • Example Contract & Franchise Agreements
  • Example Contract & Franchise Clauses
    • Example Franchise Agreement
  • 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
Contact Us About Managing and Transforming Waste Streams
Contact Us About Managing and Transforming Waste Streams to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 16, 2026
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