Driving Innovation in Resource Management: SWANA Applied Research Foundation

Since 2001, SWANA has advanced the industry through its Applied Research Foundation (ARF)—a member-supported research program moving communities from waste management to resource management. With four dedicated research groups—Collection, Sustainable Materials Management, Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery, and Disposal— ARF delivers practical, applied insights that help municipalities and organizations make smarter decisions.

How it Works

Supported by 49 subscriber organizations, ARF has produced more than 70 reports that shape policy, guide investments, and improve operations across North America. ARF subscribers annually propose and vote on research topics before drafting and reviewing reports, ensuring they are relevant to waste management practitioners.

Waste Conversion & Energy Recovery

ARF findings confirm that Waste-to-Energy (WTE) cities have much lower landfill disposal rates and that WTE combustion can achieve up to 99 percent destruction of PFAS with no detectable PFOA emissions under typical US operating conditions.

“Considering that our primary mission with WTE is to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfill, with secondary missions of energy recovery and recovering metals that would have otherwise been landfilled, the findings from this report have been important to support our public outreach efforts,” says Ahmad Sadri, City/County of Honolulu, about the “Thermal Treatment of Residual Waste” report.

Sustainable Materials Management

ARF research has guided organizations like ecomaine in building new Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Reports show that recycling revenues have historically covered MRF processing costs, while studies on food waste diversion and curbside recycling behavior provide actionable strategies for communities. ARF has also illuminated how commodity pricing, contamination, and capacity constraints impact recycling service costs.

“This was timely when we were finalizing our plans for a cart tagging program and has been a resource for education and communications staff to gauge approaches to driving behavior change with residents,” says Christina Seibert, SWANCC, about the “Encouraging Better Curbside Recycling Behavior”  report.

What’s Next?

SWANA’s Jeremy O’Brien and ARF members presented at SWANA’s first RCon™ in November 2025, and announced the following Fiscal Year 2026 research topics:

• Hidden costs of poor cart tracking;
• Packaging EPR outcomes and results;
• Water conservation in WTE facilities; and
• Predicting landfill service life based on waste densities and tonnage projections.

SWANA members may get more involved with ARF by emailing membership@swana.org. Learn more about the benefits of being a SWANA ARF subscriber.

Why It Matters

SWANA’s ARF is more than a research program—it’s a collaborative engine for innovation. By pooling resources and expertise, subscribers ensure that the most pressing challenges are met with credible, applied research. From electrifying fleets to tackling PFAS, ARF equips communities with the knowledge to make sustainable, cost-effective choices.

“Best Practices for Reducing Curbside Recycling Contamination and Code Enforcement” is a newly released ARF report available now! Log in to your SWANA profile to access ARF reports and much more.

Unlock Research Access

ARF Research Reports are complimentary to SWANA members and are $199 for non-members. Not a member? Join the SWANA member network today to unlock access to this resource and so much more.