Resources
Library of All ARF Reports
The SWANA Applied Research Foundation (ARF) publishes reports to inform and guide solid waste managers, regulators, and community leaders on a wide range of topics. ARF subscriber groups determine the topics for their reports. Here is a library of all reports, organized by the subscriber group that supported its development.
Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery Group
AGING WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITIES: REFURBISH OR REPLACE
Publication date: June, 2025. At what point in the life of an aging WTE facility
comes a tipping point where it’s time to consider no longer refurbishing/
replacing/upgrading old equipment but to replace the whole facility and
decommission the old one?
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
PFAS Fate and Transport in Waste-to-Energy Facilities
Publication date: June, 2021. PFAS is especially interesting to solid waste professionals because of how difficult it is to remove from landfills. Can thermal combustion plants like waste-to-energy facilities reduce PFAS in waste?
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Energy Recovery Options for Non-Recycled Plastic Discards
Publication date: September, 2020. A report by SWANA ARF, Energy Recovery Options for Non-Recycled Plastic Discards, evaluates system options for recovery of energy from waste plastics.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Fire Prevention and Control at Waste-to-Energy Facilities
Publication date: September, 2019. The Report examines two case studies of large-scale fires at WTE facilities.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Thermal Treatment of Residual Waste: Lessons from Europe
Puiblication date: June, 2018. This report investigates why countries in Western Europe have embraced thermal treatment.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Innovations in Waste-To-Energy Ash Management
Publication date: October, 2016. This report is a follow-on to the 2015 report on "Beneficial Reuse of WTE Ash."
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Beneficial Reuse of Waste-to-Energy Ash
Publication date: June, 2015. Little of the nine million tons of ash from waste-to-energy plants is being recycled. This report adresses how to improve that.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Enhance the Benefits and Reduce the Costs of WTE Facilities
Publication date: December, 2013. Full title: Opportunities to Enhance the Benefits and Reduce the Costs of Waste-to-Energy Facilities
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Economic Benefits of Waste-to-Energy: Jobs Creation
Publication date: December, 2012. Original title: Economic Benefits of Waste-to-Energy: Jobs Creation and Community Development.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Economic Development Benefits of Waste-to-Energy Systems
Publication date: December, 2011. Waste-to-energy systems have the potential to strengthen local economies.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Waste Conversion Technologies
Publication Date: December, 2011. Up-to-date information and guidance on waste conversion technologies (WCTs).
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Landfill Disposal Rates of Waste-to-Energy Communities
Publication date: December, 2010. This report introduces a new metric: the “Landfill Disposal Index” to compare a waste-to-energy community’s landfill disposal rates with other communities.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Waste-to-Energy as a Green Solid Waste Management Option
Publication date: December, 2009. Full title: Waste-to-Energy as a Green Solid Waste Management Option for Non-Recycled Waste.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Waste-To-Energy and the Solid Waste Management Hierarchy
Publication date: December, 2008. This report ranks waste-to-energy in the heirarchy of solid waste management.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Comparison of Emissions From WTE and Coal-Fired Power Plants
Publication date: September, 2006. Waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities are generally more economical when compared to coal-fired power plants, but are they cleaner?
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Comparison of Air Emissions From WTE and Fossil-Fueled Power
Publication date: September, 2006. Waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities are generally more economical when compared to the three most common sources of fuel for energy production, but are they cleaner?
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Disposal Group
Carbon Dioxide Avoided Emissions Costs
This provides solid waste managers with up-to-date information and guidance on carbon dioxide avoided emissions costs associated with options for processing mixed organics - such as food waste, yard trimmings, paper and wood - rather than disposing...
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Landfill Odor Control with Alternative Daily Covers
Publication date: May 2023.
A SWANA ARF report provides up-to-date information and guidance on materials and strategies to control offensive odors emanating from the working face of landfills.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
PFAS Management and Treatment Options for Landfill Leachate
Publication date: November, 2022. This report provides solid waste landfill managers with up-to-date information and guidance on PFAS management and treatment options for landfill leachate.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Long-Term Management of Closed MSW Landfills
Publication date: January, 2021. The SWANA Applied Research Foundation (ARF) addresses key issues around the long-term management of closed landfills following the 30-year post-closure care period required under current regulations.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Employee, Commercial Hauler, Self-Hauler Safety at Landfills
Publication date: January, 2020. Best practices to keep employees safe at landfills, as well as best practices that landfill managers can implement at their facilities to improve hauler safety.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Benchmarking the Performance and Costs of MSW Landfills
Publication year: May, 2018. This report is an update and addition to the Landfill Benchmarking report published by the ARF in 2008.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Alternative Final Cover Systems and Regulatory Post-Closure
Publication date: May, 2017. This report provides up-to-date performance data on alternative final cover systems for landfills.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Food Waste Diversion Programs & Their Impacts on MSW Systems
Publication date: April, 2016. This report provides up-to-date information and guidance on food waste diversion programs and their impacts on municipal solid waste systems.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Alternative Cover Systems for MSW Landfills
Publication date: December, 2014. This report compares alternative cover systems for closed landfills with traditional, prescribed final cover systems.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
On-Site Treatment of Landfill Leachate
Publication date: December, 2014. This report is a comparative analysis of alternative and emerging technologies to effectively and reliably treat leachate with high total dissolved solids (TDS).
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Practical Methods for Measuring Landfill Methane Emissions
Publication date: December, 2013. Full title: Practical Methods for Measuring
Landfill Methane Emissions and Cover Soil Oxidation. There have been a number of recent breakthroughs documented in this report.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Long-Term Environmental Risks of Subtitle D Landfills
Publication date: June, 2011 (peer-reviewed). This report compiles and summarizes what is known about the risks associated with Subtitle D landfills, and introduces long-term care alternatives to manage and minimize these risks.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Long-Term Management of Closed Subtitle D Landfills
Publication date: December, 2010. Non-peer-reviewed version.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Solid Waste Manager’s Guide to the Bioreactor Landfill
Publication date: December, 2009. Update to the 2002 report.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Benchmarking the Performance and Costs of MSW Landfills
Publication date: December, 2008. This report presents the results of a two-year effort to develop a municipal solid waste (MSW) Landfills Benchmark database.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Landfill Gas Collection System Efficiencies
Publication date: October, 2007. This report documents what is known about actual LFG collection system efficiencies based on recent research programs, case studies, and field experience.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Trend Toward Regional Privately-Owned Landfills
Publication date: February, 2007. Full title: The Regional Privately-Owned Landfill
Trend and Its Impact on Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Landfill Airspace Utilization: Measurement and Management
Publication date: December, 2005. This report establishes measurement standards for landfill airspace utilization.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Moisture Measurement in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Publication date: December, 2004. This technical memorandum provides guidelines on techniques to determine the “in situ” levels of moisture in landfilled waste.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Landfill Stormwater Runoff Standards
Publication date: December, 2004. This research memorandum provides up-to-date information regarding landfill stormwater runoff discharge standards.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Effectiveness of MSW Landfills in Controlling Releases
Publication date: March, 2004 (revised November, 2004). Full title: The Effectiveness of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills in Controlling Releases of Heavy Metals to the Environment.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Economic Analysis of Landfill Gas Turbines
Publication date: August, 2003. Full title: Economic Feasibility Considerations
Regarding Landfill Gas Microturbine Systems.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Solid Waste Manager’s Guide To The Bioreactor Landfill
Publication date: October, 2002. The bioreactor landfill is an exciting new development in solid waste management.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Sustainable Materials Management Group
ARF Report: Analysis of Recycling Markets Trends & Impacts
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Zero Waste Programs: An Analysis of Seattle's Performance
Publication date: June 2024. A SWANA ARF report provides an in-depth analysis of the impacts of Seattle's zero waste program initiatives on the total and per-capita recycling and disposal rates for the city's four primary waste generation groups.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Encouraging Better Curbside Recycling Behaviors
Publication Date: December, 2021. Presents costs and effectiveness of educational programs designed to improve residential curbside recycling behaviors.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Reducing Contamination in Curbside Recycling Programs
Publication date: March, 2021. This report from SWANA ARF, Reducing Contamination in Curbside Recycling Programs, addresses key reasons why residents place contaminants in their recycling bins.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Resetting Curbside Recycling Programs in the Wake of China
Publication date: September, 2019. Information and guidance on resetting curbside recycling in the wake of the China National Sword policy.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Mechanical Biological Treatment of Residual Waste
Publication date: January, 2018. Full title: Mechanical Biological Treatment of Residual Waste: Lessons from Europe.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Source-Separation & Mixed Waste Recycling Systems (Expanded)
Publish date: December, 2014. Full title: Source-Separation and Mixed Waste Recycling Systems: A Comparative Analysis (Expanded Version).
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Source-Separation and Mixed Waste Recycling Systems
Publish date: December, 2013. Full title: Source-Separation and Mixed Waste Recycling Systems: A Comparative Analysis.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Options for Recycling Source-Separated Organics
Publication date: December, 2012. This report provides solid waste managers with up-to-date information and guidance on options for recycling the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Sustainable Funding Strategies For Local Government
Publication date: December, 2010. This research memorandum provides up-todate
technical and programmatic information regarding sustainable funding strategies for local government recycling programs.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Revenue-Sharing Strategies for Local Government Recycling
Publication date: December, 2009. This research memorandum provides solid waste recycling managers with information about revenue-sharing strategies for local government recycling programs.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Composting of MSW Substreams
Publication date: December, 2004. This research memorandum examines whether local waste diversion and recycling rates can be increased through the composting of municipal solid waste (MSW) substreams.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Single-Stream Recycling
Publication date: August, 2003. This research memorandum provides information on single-stream recycling, which is collected in a mixed form and then separated and processed in a materials recovery facility (MRF).
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Recycling and Disposal of Discarded Consumer Electronics
Publication date: August, 2002. The SWANA Applied Research Foundation (ARF) Disposal Group researched the state-of-the-art and current research findings for recycling and disposal of discarded consumer electronics.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Cost-Effectiveness of Processing C&D Wastes
Publication date: August, 2002. The SWANA Applied Research Foundation (ARF) Disposal Group researched the cost-effectiveness of processing construction and demolitiion waste.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Collection Group
Efficient Management of Waste Recycling Collection Resources
Publication date: March, 2022. This report provides guidance on managing waste and recycling services optimally and efficiently.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Advanced Air Pollution Control at WTE Facilities
Publication Date: February 2023. This report evaluates case studies representing technologies to reduce NOX and CO2 emissions in waste-to-energy facilities.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Evaluation of Electricity and Other Alternative Fuels
Publication date: August, 2022. Full title: Evaluation of Electricity and Other Alternative Fuels for Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Vehicles.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Curbside Recycling Collection Options
Publication date: August, 2020. This report compares and evaluates dual-stream recycling options against single-stream.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Recruiting Personnel for Solid Waste Collection Services
Publication Date: February, 2020. SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation identifies causes and solutions including the recruitment of female drivers
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Curbside Collection of Residential Yard Waste
Publication date: August, 2018. Full title: Service Options for the Curbside Collection of Residential Yard Waste.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
PAYT in Large Cities with Automated Collection
Publication date: July, 2016. Full title: Implementing PAYT in Large Cities with Existing Automated Collection Systems.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Collection of Organic Wastes from High-Rise Buildings
Publication date: December, 2012. Full title: Collection of Organic Wastes from High-Rise Buildings and Apartment Complexes.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Greenhouse Gas Reductions through Reduced Recycling
Publication date: December, 2011. Full Title: Greenhouse Gas Reductions through Reducing the Frequency of Residential Recyclables Collection Services.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Curbside Collection of Residential Food Waste
Publication date: December, 2008. This research memorandum provides up-to-date information about collecting food waste from single-family households.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
The Benchmarking of Residential Solid Waste
Publication date: December, 2008. Full title: The Benchmarking of Residential Solid Waste Collection Services.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Dual Collection of MSW and Yard Wastes
Publication date: January, 2007. This research memorandum provides up-to-date inforamtion on the benefits and risks of the dual collection of yard wastes and regular household wastes.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
Source Separation and Collection of Food Waste
Publication date: September, 2006. Full title: Source Separation and Collection of Food Waste from Multi-Family Dwellings
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
ARF Publications - Other
2010 Solid Waste Managers’ Salary Survey
Publication date: May, 2011. In 2009–2010, SWANA surveyed public sector waste managers and other public sector organizations with the goal of reporting on compensation and benefits.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
2008 Solid Waste Managers’ Salary Survey
Publication date: April, 2009. In 2007, SWANA surveyed public sector waste managers and other public sector organizations with the goal of reporting on compensation and benefits.
Member Price:
$0.00
Non-Member Price:
$199.00
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This provides solid waste managers with up-to-date information and guidance on carbon dioxide avoided emissions costs associated with options for processing mixed organics - such as food waste, yard trimmings, paper and wood - rather than disposing of them in landfills.
