Curbside recycling only works when the stream stays clean. SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation recently underscored what many public works teams already feel on the ground: contamination drives up costs, creates safety risks (think lithium ion batteries and pressurized cans), and erodes public trust. The report highlights tactics that work like consistent cart tagging and temporary non-service and stresses the need for documentation, communication, and follow through.
Hauler Hero was built for that day to day reality. While we don’t do automated route optimization, our route management + driver app give municipalities and their vendor partners the tools to tag, document, communicate, and measure, so contamination actually goes down, not just gets talked about.
Tag and (when needed) temporarily don’t service contaminated carts: done consistently, this reduces repeat offenses.
Back it up with clear education (what’s in / what’s out) and simple, consistent follow-up.
Enforce when appropriate, but focus on evidence, transparency, and fair processes.
Track outcomes, so you can target hotspots, show improvement, and justify program changes.
Driver exceptions: From the Hauler Hero Android app, drivers select a standardized reason code (e.g., bagged recyclables, plastic film, battery, contamination/overflow) and mark a Skip / Non-Service event.
Photo evidence: One tap, time stamped photos attach to the stop, no camera roll juggling.
Instant sync: When connectivity returns, events and photos auto sync to the back office.
Audit trail: Every exception is stored with user, time, GPS, and images—ready for review.
Result: Consistent documentation that supports cart tagging and non service policies SWANA calls effective.
Hotspot identification: Supervisors can filter completed routes and exceptions to find streets/blocks with repeated issues.
Evidence packages: Export exceptions (with images) to share with communications teams or resident-facing portals.
Education partners: If you use a resident education tool (e.g., a “what goes where” service), our open API and data exports make it straightforward to pass the right signals to the right platform. (If you’re evaluating a specific education app, we’ll confirm API details and integration scope with you.)
Result: Education is targeted where it’s needed most and you can show before/after impact.
Complete, searchable history: Every service attempt, note, and photo lives with the location record.
Consistent workflows: Standardize “warn → tag → non-service” steps so crews and residents get a fair, predictable process.
Export to your systems: Need to hand off cases to a central code team? Export CSV/Excel or connect via API to case management or data warehouse tools (e.g., SQL Server, Power BI).
Result: Transparent, repeatable enforcement that reduces disputes and builds trust.
At-a-glance views: Route managers can see non service rates, exception counts, and notes by route/day.
Open data: Push to our own report system or download CSV for deeper trend analysis contamination by route, day, or neighborhood; time to resolution; repeat offense reduction over time.
Share outcomes: Turn reduction metrics into budget conversations with MRFs and leadership.
Result: You’re managing by numbers, not anecdotes.
Built for the cab: Large buttons, offline-first, and turn-by-turn navigation reduce taps and cognitive load.
Live route updates: Dispatch can drag-and-drop stops between drivers; tablets refresh in real time so drivers always see the current plan.
Safety reminders: Attach location specific SOP notes (e.g., “use side entrance,” “battery hotspot”) so crews arrive informed.
Result: Fewer misses, cleaner data, safer routes.
Every city and provider handles notifications differently. Hauler Hero gives you options without locking you in:
Proof packages (photos + reason): export per stop or in bulk.
Customer portal (for commercial users): Businesses can self-serve invoices, statements, and service history.
Public portals & messaging: Use our API/exports to feed resident-facing sites or messaging systems you already trust. If you’re considering a specific tool, we’ll confirm technical fit and outline the integration path.
(If you’re exploring proactive texts/emails for “in-route,” “arrived,” or “non-service,” we can scope that with your comms provider using our open API.)
Standardize reason codes for contamination/non-service in Hauler Hero.
Train drivers to attach photos for every tagged cart (offline works; sync later).
Pick two routes with high issues and run a 30 day pilot: tag + non-service + targeted outreach.
Analyze weekly data with Hauler Hero's built in reporting; track repeat offense reduction and MRF cost impacts.
Share results with leadership and adjust the playbook; expand to more routes.
Purpose built for waste & recycling ops (residential, commercial, roll-off).
Cloud platform + web portal + driver app: no servers to manage.
Open API & clean exports: plug into the stack you already use.
Cleaner streams, safer crews, lower costs, that’s the point. If SWANA’s guidance is your “what,” Hauler Hero is your “how.”
Want a focused walk-through for your program? We’ll tailor a demo to your routes, policies, and reporting needs.