Waste management software can streamline different tasks in order to increase an operation’s productivity. Features of waste industry software may include compliancy information, risk assessments, data collection reports, tracking and more.

Waste management software education and training will involve learning how to install and operate your selected program. Incorporating a new waste management solution can affect the entire staff and all members will need training before the system becomes active.

1. Arrange training with a waste software provider. Most companies will extend the offer of consulting while your staff trains on waste management business software.

2. Take an online course on waste management solutions. As part of your staff’s professional development, they can take course on waste management industry software.

3. Bring in a consultant to train on trash management software. Consulting firms ensure that your staff in completely prepared to use a new waste management solution.

Action Steps
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Sign up for training from a waste management industry software provider

Trash management software needs to provide you with accurate data in order to ensure that you remain compliant. If data is entered incorrectly, this can prove problematic to your operation. This is the reason that it's essential for training on waste hauler software.

I recommend: ESS has a hazardous waste management software program for clients that need to dispose of hazardous materials safely. If you choose to buy their program, you can receive specialized training on the system. Soft-Pac will help your team implement the waste industry software as well as provide support solutions for common system problems.

Go online to learn about software for waste management

E-learning is a productive way to teach others about the essential aspects of waste industry software. Online courses can give a general overview of software programs or provide specific information for particular waste management systems.

I recommend: The Air and Waste Management Association has an e-learning portal that covers topics in waste management solutions, such as software products. View the course catalog to determine the applicable courses for your company. Clear Computing has several online video tutorials used to familiarize customers with their waste management software program.

Pay a consultant to assist with waste management software

Consulting firms have the expertise to ensure that new waste software training goes quickly and smoothly as possible. After an initial review of your training needs, the consultant can let you know the time commitment required from you and your staff.

I recommend: ERA Environmental Consulting has a large range of consulting services open to companies within the waste management industry. Kessler Consulting can not only advise on your software needs, but can give you advice in all area of your operation in order to improve productivity and efficiency.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can request a demonstration on a particular waste management business software program before proceeding with purchasing and training on the product.

High-tech solutions help companies or individuals transporting or dealing with waste. You can now order waste management software programs to log and track waste management activities for compliance and efficient completion.

From household waste handling to specific hauling and handling of hazard materials, there are waste management solutions to help in a variety of situations, and to teach operators about current practices and up-to-date regulations.

Project managers can use waste software to:

1. Educate themselves on issues arising from their projects.
2. Monitor ongoing projects through tracking.
3. Evaluate outsourcing projects to professional handlers online.

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Get educated about waste management solutions

Some government agencies and other groups provide general waste management and waste collection software to show how waste management affects public health and safety. Users can learn about regulations and general issues.

I recommend: The EPA offers virtual household waste management online. The Right to Know Network demonstrates knowledge of hazardous waste containment with available hazardous waste management software.

Find comprehensive waste management systems

Lots of industrial companies have software available to deal with different kinds of waste management. Take a look at convenient online service statements to see which one is right for you.

I recommend: P and L's IWS product provides diverse waste management options. Essential (ESS) products help create compliance materials. Waste management software from Environmental Expert has its own range of products for handling waste and tracking.

Get waste hauler software

Another specific kind of waste management software governs the hauling of domestic waste. These programs are generally offered by business within the industry or national providers to haulers.

I recommend: Trash Flow boasts a list of independent and municipal clients. Soft-Pak has a range of waste hauler software and waste industry software products available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Zero in on your project. Many comprehensive packages may be beyond the realm of what you want to do. Have a good set of parameters in mind when you browse waste software to see what will really benefit your operation.

Waste management software can improve the operations of a company in a variety of ways. An important issue facing waste management companies is that of regulatory compliance. Software programs are available that incorporate compliance information into the program and allows users to enter information that can be used to generate regulatory reports such as waste manifests. From an accounting standpoint, waste management software allows users to generate billing reports, invoices and schedules. Additional features such as route management and fleet tracking allow companies to improve efficiency in their operations.

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Right to Know Network

The Right to Know Network provides access to information regarding any companies that have an affect on the environment. To be included, Waste Management companies must submit information on the industry, environmental effects of the business (such as toxic release and hazardous waste), permits the business maintains, and any civil suits filed against the business.

I recommend: Refer to Environmental Support Solutions for information on submitting a business to the Right to Know Network.

Toxics Release Inventory

The Toxics Release Inventory, filed to the Environmental Protection Agency, provides information on a company's industrial and waste management activities, as well as permits issued to the company.

I recommend: Refer to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website for information and access to Toxics Release Inventory – Made Easy (TRI-ME) software.

Hazardous waste manifest

A hazardous waste manifest documents the source of hazardous waste. A manifest must accompany the substance through each stage of its disposal, including transportation of the waste to the facility where it is treated, stored and disposed. Individuals involved in this process (the waste generator, haulers and disposal facility employees) authorize and maintain a copy of the manifest for their records.

I recommend: Refer to EnviroWare for more information on how your organization can benefit from software equipped with waste manifest functions.

Waste management compliance

Waste management compliance is the process of ensuring that your organization complies with regulations related to the transport and disposal of waste and hazardous materials. Waste management compliance software can track inventories, generate shipping documents, and provide quick access to relevant Code of Federal Regulations.

I recommend: Review Environmental Expert’s Compliance Suite Waste Management Software for information on how it can benefit your organization.

Route management

Route management is the process of routing vehicles to minimize vehicle-driving miles while maximizing work operations for your fleet. Software that incorporates route management functions enables organizations to create optimal routes, as well as prepare schedules and billing statements.

I recommend: Refer to TRUX Haul-IT for information on the capabilities of route management software and the benefits it can provide your waste management company.

Fleet tracking

Fleet tracking allows companies to utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to monitor activities such as location, driving speed, and time spent at a stop for each vehicle in their fleet. Fleet tracking functions can also help companies with customer service by providing the ability to give customers an accurate time of arrival for their delivery and to resolve complaints by verifying whether or not a scheduled stop was made.

I recommend: Reference Trimble’s website for more insight on the capabilities of fleet tracking.

Waste management solutions are imperative to the success of many businesses. From doctors that have bio-hazard waste, to junk yards that need to dispose of oils and battery acids properly, waste management systems track it all and provide a solid record of how items were disposed.

Take the time to learn about waste management solutions and how the software might be integrated into your business. Here are some resourceful links to the many different types of products on the market. Think of this tutorial as waste management software for beginners.

1. Locate waste industry software geared for large businesses, cities or other municipalities.

2. Check out waste software that is specifically geared for hazardous waste.

3. Find waste management software companies that offer training and implementation of the product.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find waste management systems for large scale jobs

There are several software companies that produce waste collection software for large entities. Take the time to familiarize yourself with all of the different parts of this larger scale software. Recycling, hazardous waste, bio waste and other waste are all different types of waste that must be disposed of differently. The large-scale waste software will incorporate how to manage all of these types of waste and more.

I recommend: Visit the website for Waste Works Online. They provide waste management industry software for cities and towns. Terra Vista Solutions also provides waste management software for large-scale businesses or cities.

Find waste software that is created to handle and manage hazardous waste

Every city and town throughout the United States needs to have a hazardous waste contingency plan in the case of an emergency. Hazardous waste software solutions help municipalities create the necessary resources in case of a hazardous waste spill. Implementation of this software will guide everything from protocol, to how workers protect themselves and the community, as well as how to dispose of many types of hazardous waste material.

I recommend: Go to the website for American Resource Management for additional information on its hazardous waste management software. The company Enviro-Ware also produces software specifically for hazardous waste.

Check out waste software that includes training for you and your employees

Because some waste management solutions can be so expansive, many software companies offer seminars, on-site training, and implementation of their software so that you and your business associates can hit the ground running for your waste based business. Be sure to check on the terms and conditions of the training when purchasing the software for your business.

I recommend: Visit the website for Soft-Pak. They make a variety of waste management business software and offer training and implementation services as well. The software company ESS also offers training on their software for waste management.