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

Procurement Process Best Practices

Procurement process best practices designed to advance towards zero waste are evolving as communities and service providers look for cost-effective ways to develop agreements that align common interests in waste reduction, recycling and composting.

General Best Practices

  • Clearly communicate community zero waste goals and milestones throughout the procurement process.
  • Establish minimum zero waste standards and open price proposals only from those service providers meeting those standards.
  • Consider negotiation if prices and services are competitive and relationship is collaborative and communicative.
  • Consider local government ownership of transfer and/or processing facilities.
  • Separate collection from disposal contracts.

Detailed Procurement Best Practices

Each of these best practices includes links to local government case studies that made use of the practice.

  • Collaborative Negotiation vs. New Procurement
  • Local Government Billing or Lockbox
  • Mandatory Recycling and Composting
  • Minimum Zero Waste Standards & Best and Final Offer Process
  • Process Integrity Guidelines
  • Publicly Owned Facilities
  • Separate Contracts
  • Separate Technical and Price Evaluation
  • Start Early and Provide Zero Waste Information and Evaluation Criteria

Related Content

Contracting Best Practices

Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities

  • About the Tool
    • How It Works
    • Customize 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 Diego International Airport (Detailed)
    • San Francisco, CA
    • San Francisco International Airport
    • San Jose, CA
    • Seattle, 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
  • Full Contracts and Agreements
  • Sample Contract and Franchise Agreement 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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