RouteSmart feature focuses on alley collection

RouteSmart Technologies has released a new suite of tools called RouteSmart Online designed to enhance waste management services for customers who collect garbage and recyclable materials in alleyways.

“This innovative feature is a testament to our commitment to navigating and simplifying the complexities of urban waste management, offering a solution that significantly improves both the precision of service and overall operational effectiveness,” says the Columbia, Maryland-based company, which offers route planning and optimization solutions.

Alleys can present accessibility issues because of their narrowness, requiring haulers to navigate the confined spaces with smaller trucks. That can lead to increased time for waste and recycling pickup, can require the use of additional resources and may present issues with safety, the firm says, potentially resulting in higher fuel consumption and greater wear and tear on vehicles.

“In addition to the tight fit where you need to run smaller trucks in tight spaces and there are dumpsters and containers, sometimes there are homeless people who are sleeping in the alley and there have been some unfortunate instances where trucks have run over them,” says David Biderman, president of Biderman Consulting LLC and former executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America.

“The other safety-related issue occurs when you finished servicing the alley and then you have to come out of the alley and onto a street. Sometimes there may be a pedestrian there.”

Traditional route planning systems also may not include alleys on their maps, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal service when they fail to accurately assign customers located in alley-accessible areas, RouteSmart says. That oversight can cause significant additional work for both the back office and drivers tasked with servicing these customers.

By associating a street with the corresponding alley, RouteSmart Online has been designed to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency in the face of urban waste management complexities.

“RouteSmart Online revolutionizes the way waste haulers service alleys, starting with our advanced assignment feature,” RouteSmart Senior Product Manager Mike Corder says. “Even though the service requirement is for the alleys behind customers’ homes, where many cities mandate waste collection if alleys are navigable, our system ensures that waste haulers can accurately and efficiently service these unique locations.

“This innovative feature is a testament to our commitment to navigating and simplifying the complexities of urban waste management, offering a solution that significantly improves both the precision of service and overall operational effectiveness.”