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  1. Home
  2. Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities
  3. Contract Language
  4. Contracting Best Practices

Contracting Best Practices: Reward Workers for More Diversion

Related Content

  • All Contracting Best Practices
  • All Procurement Process Best Practices

Contracts can require contractors to compensate, train and manage workers to reward waste diversion. Management, technical assistance personnel, drivers, and customer service representatives can be incentivized to prioritize waste reduction and increase recycling and composting. For example, the contractor could contractually commit annual zero waste training requirements and to a worker incentive fund, which would be relatively easy to audit and monitor.

Advantages

  • Raises contractor capabilities: Training requirements support stronger community program implementation and outreach.
  • Achieve diversion results: If workers are given training or economic incentives, they are more likely to figure out ways to reduce waste.

Disadvantages

  • Potential increased costs: Added costs for incentives and training could increase cost of service; however, the program could be structured to increase training requirements and incentive payments without increasing overall costs.
  • Potential compensation complications: Incentive payment requirements could create problems for employers if the contract interferes with company or labor compensation practices.

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
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Last updated on March 14, 2025
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