US-based technology company Routeware has launched an artificial intelligence-powered analytics platform designed to help waste and recycling operators manage operational data, identify contamination and improve decision-making.
Announced on 9 November 2026, Routeware Pulse allows waste management businesses and municipalities to access operational information through reporting dashboards and natural-language queries. The platform brings together data covering collection routes, driver performance, billing, payments and other operational activities, giving operators a consolidated view of their services.
“AI only matters in our industry if it shows up on the route and in the back office as better decisions,” said Jeremy Collins, CEO of Routeware. “For our customers, AI has to be practical. It should turn the data they already have into answers and actions they can use today.”
Connecting AI with waste collection
Routeware Pulse includes two main capabilities. Pulse Insights provides pre-built reports and dashboards, drawing on connected Routeware applications to identify operational trends and unusual patterns. Pulse Intelligence allows users to ask questions about their business data in everyday language, rather than manually compiling reports or relying on specialist analysts.
According to a Routeware survey of 154 waste and recycling industry leaders, 66% of respondents spend at least ten hours each week preparing reports manually, while 79% continue to export operational information into Excel. Alongside the analytics platform, Routeware has expanded its AI capabilities through technology partnerships, incorporating contamination detection, driver safety monitoring and route visibility into its systems. Truck-mounted cameras can identify potential contamination in collected waste, with photographic evidence recorded within the Routeware platform. The company says this could help operators target customer education, investigate contamination incidents and reduce service disputes.
Further automation planned for 2027
Routeware has also announced WorkflowsAI, a forthcoming system intended to automate administrative and operational processes. Expected to become available to early adopters in early 2027, the technology is being developed to handle tasks such as responding to customer enquiries, following up on outstanding payments and managing business enquiries. Routeware says the system will operate within existing customer software, with actions logged and controls in place to prevent autonomous changes to rates or invoices. The developments reflect growing interest in applying artificial intelligence to the practical challenges faced by waste and recycling operators.
While Routeware has outlined potential improvements in efficiency, contamination management and resource utilisation, the announcement does not provide independently verified results demonstrating environmental savings. The launch nevertheless illustrates how digital tools are being developed to connect waste collection activities, fleet management and administrative operations within a single platform.
