The hiring and retention of drivers and helpers to provide solid waste and recycling collection services is both a historical and growing challenge for public sector and private sector service providers. The scope of the challenge has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is making it very difficult for some employers, to attract drivers or helpers to meet customer service needs and contractual obligations.

SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation (ARF) published a report on this topic in February 2020 — Recruiting Personnel for Solid Waste Collection Services. This report addressed the pre-COVID driver shortage issue faced by waste and recycling collection service providers. The ARF has recently published a related report on Efficient Resource Management for Waste and Recycling Collection Services.

This session will discuss how waste and recycling collection managers are addressing the continuing driver shortage challenge in the solid waste sector.