Founder Series -
Waste: A Nuanced Digital Transformation

The waste industry is undergoing a digital transformation, but progress remains fragmented. In this article, Mike Marmo, CEO & Founder of CurbWaste, uncovers why outdated systems and disconnected data continue to challenge waste haulers—and how new technology is starting to change the game. From AI-driven efficiencies to smarter operations that boost revenue and customer satisfaction, the future of waste management is being reshaped. But how do haulers adopt innovation without losing what makes them unique? Read on to discover the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Waste: A nuanced digital transformation

The waste industry has always been the backbone of society's infrastructure and a large part of the economy. For as big and impactful as the industry is, it’s historically been difficult to establish efficiencies through technology. Picking up garbage may seem simple at first glance. Once you begin to dig in, you realize that all waste is local. Things like waste streams, what type of truck you use, where you it goes, regulations and local logistical requirements directly impact how the process is done.

Waste haulers and technology can struggle in fine tuning workflows that meet their direct needs. Many nuanced use cases need to be accounted for in order to help their team perform their job. The digital transformation of waste is widespread but fragmented. Waste brokers will adopt technology to help large national brands have visibility into their local waste collection. Waste haulers use solutions that help them drive new revenue or find cost savings in their operations. Data has a tendency to be specific to the individual needs of the person utilizing the technology and not integrate across the supply chain. This makes visibility challenging and can lead to a disjointed customer experience. Outdated technology and lack of integration opportunities make it challenging to share information and create a more connected point of view. Waste haulers continue to be doing the hard and dangerous work of picking up garbage to support their local communities. Legacy technologies have helped move the needle but have not engaged the waste hauler community to help build what they need to help their businesses grow and thrive.

A digital transformation

Newer technologies have given way to a more connected experience. Technology for the sake of technology doesn’t help anybody. Building for the direct needs of an industry means taking into account what the users have to say. Newer technologies are doing exactly that. They are engaging with the haulers personally with empathy and a listen first mentality. The objective is to create a smarter, more agile collection process. Permitting data to flow more freely allows waste haulers to become the point of truth for their customers. Haulers can begin to identify trends and start to catch up to service nuances that remove reactive decision making. Technology providers should leverage the newest technologies to help the real life needs of the business. When done correctly, this not only impacts the haulers but more important the communities they serve.
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Growth through innovation

Not all growth is created equal. The waste industry is always navigating change. The moving target of regulations, market conditions, cost increases and labor challenges make every dollar earned that much more important. Market share and service schedules are always the north star but understanding margins and opportunity cost becomes important when profit margins remain tight. Growing in the right areas is most important. Technology can help understand how to price a customer based on things like location from a yard, current route plans, service area constraints and traffic patterns. Ensuring profit helps service the ever growing debt concerns as equipment pricing continues to balloon. It’s critical to grow in a manner that is justified and sustainable. Hybrid Cloud merges private cloud resources (on-premise or dedicated servers) with public cloud services. This flexible model allows organizations to run sensitive workloads in-house while leveraging public clouds for scalability and cost savings.
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A look toward the future

Technology today is moving faster than ever. AI has changed the landscape of tech and is no longer just a concept. AI will begin to find its way into the waste industry but has to be deployed to meet the real needs of the waste hauler. An AI powered chat bot, for example, may sound amazing in concept but difficult when a waste hauler prides itself on human to human interaction. Relationships and service is a powerful differentiator. AI can, however, help consume large data sets and provide better decision opportunities for your dispatcher. The local knowledge coupled with historical data can help facilitate a better service experience and continue to build upon an already deep relationship. AI can also help automate certain workflows, such as billing automations, to make sure your cash flow is improved. It’s important vertical specific technology utilizes these new technologies as a way to promote what already makes haulers unique in their market. The companies that embrace these advancements will become the new industry standard. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.