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When you think of AdTech—advertising technology—you might picture ecommerce platforms, consumer brands, or media outlets at the forefront. However, waste management and waste removal companies have begun adopting these tools at a notable pace, driven by the need to streamline operations, expand market reach, and stand out in increasingly competitive environments.
On average, 600 companies in waste management industry research various advertising technology (AdTech) topics each week. Over the past 12 months, this activity has resulted in nearly 55,000 searches across various AdTech topics, reflecting the waste removal industry's heightened awareness and interest in the subject. Extrapolating from these weekly figures, it's estimated around 30000 companies in the waste management sector have engaged in researching AdTech topics over the past year.
This article delves into the most-researched AdTech topics among waste management firms, revealing a growing emphasis on programmatic advertising, marketing automation, and audience data. The numbers illustrate how these traditionally “offline” businesses are modernizing their marketing and advertising tactics to connect with municipalities, businesses, and consumers in new ways.
1. Digital-First Marketing
Terms like “Pixels,” “Marketing Automation Tools,” and “Marketing Email” indicate that waste management providers recognize the power of digital channels. Whether for B2B or B2C marketing, they’re looking to track customer interactions, automate lead generation, and nurture relationships more effectively online.
2. Programmatic and Performance-Based Advertising
Interest in “Programmatic Guaranteed,” “Private Marketplace (PMP),” and “Real-Time Bidding (RTB)” signals a rise in automated media buying. Waste management firms are likely experimenting with data-driven approaches to optimize ad spend—ensuring their message appears at the right time, to the right audience, for the right price.
3. Multichannel Strategies
In addition to standard display ads and email marketing, topics like “TikTok Advertising,” “OTT Advertising,” and “Walmart Advertising” highlight a shift toward diverse ad platforms—not just Google or Facebook. This reflects the industry’s interest in meeting customers where they are, be it on social channels or emerging e-retail marketplaces.
4. Data and Attribution
Terms like “Cookie Sync/Matching,” “Third-Party Data,” and “Hashed Emails (HEMs)” show that businesses are trying to consolidate customer data for better tracking and targeting. With data-driven insights, they can attribute leads to specific campaigns and measure Marketing ROI more accurately.
Pixels
Weekly Researching Companies Average: 138
Total Searches (Past 12 Months): 7,171
Why It’s Popular
Waste management companies are increasingly turning to tracking “pixels” (such as Facebook Pixel or Google Analytics Pixel) to monitor user behavior on their websites. By embedding a small snippet of code, businesses gain visibility into how prospects interact with their digital platforms—whether they browse service pages for residential versus commercial waste removal or check out pricing details for specialized disposal.
Key Benefits:
Retargeting Campaigns – Pixels allow firms to build customized ad audiences based on specific user actions, such as viewing a dumpster rental page but not completing a quote request.
Conversion Tracking – By analyzing pixel data, marketing teams can see which ads or channels drive the most new customers—especially important in B2B deals where a small number of high-value leads can justify significant ad spend.
Audience Insights – Understanding who visits a site (e.g., municipal officials, large-scale manufacturers, or homeowners) helps tailor future campaigns to reflect real user interests and needs.
Real-World Example
A waste removal business might install a pixel on its “Request a Pickup” page. If visitors frequently view this page without filling out the form, the company can retarget these users with a special offer on disposal services or more detailed how-to guides on scheduling pickups.
Marketing Automation Tools
Weekly Researching Companies Average: 82
Total Searches (Past 12 Months): 4,102
Why It’s Popular
In an industry where long sales cycles are common—particularly for municipal contracts or specialized industrial services—marketing automation helps streamline lead nurturing and ensure consistent engagement. These tools manage email workflows, segment audiences by interest or location, and schedule follow-ups based on user behavior.
Key Benefits
Efficiency & Scalability – Repetitive tasks (like sending quote reminders) can be automated, freeing up sales and marketing teams to focus on relationship-building.
Personalized Journeys – Automation platforms allow for dynamic, personalized messaging (e.g., a corporate client receives case studies on large-scale recycling solutions, while a homeowner might get tips on composting).
Performance Metrics – Detailed dashboards reveal open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, helping pinpoint which campaigns resonate most with different segments.
Roadblocking
Weekly Researching Companies Average: 59
Total Searches (Past 12 Months): 3,053
Why It’s Popular
Roadblocking is an advertising tactic where an advertiser “takes over” all or most of the ad inventory on a web page for a set time. Waste management companies might use this strategy to build strong brand recall, especially when launching a new service or aiming for a big impact in a particular market segment.
Key Benefits
High Visibility – Capturing all ad spots on a page ensures your message dominates the user’s attention span. This can be powerful for announcements like “New Eco-Friendly Disposal Methods” or “Specialized Hazardous Waste Solutions.”
Brand Consistency – By controlling the entire page’s ad space, a company can maintain a unified message and visual design that resonates more effectively than scattered, single ads.
Event-Focused Promotions – Roadblocking is an excellent tactic for big events or short-term campaigns (e.g., an annual “Free Recycling Drive”).
Marketing Email
Weekly Researching Companies Average: 59
Total Searches (Past 12 Months): 2,847
Why It’s Popular
Despite the growth of social media and programmatic ads, email remains a high-ROI channel—particularly in B2B or complex-sales industries like waste management. Whether addressing local government officials or facilities managers, email marketing helps deliver structured, detailed information directly to decision-makers.
Key Benefits
Direct Communication – Emails land in a prospect’s inbox, offering a more intimate and direct form of contact compared to display ads or social feeds.
Cost-Effectiveness – Email marketing is relatively low-cost to implement and can be highly targeted if lists are segmented by region, service type, or industry.
Brand Building – Regular newsletters or informational bulletins help companies position themselves as industry experts—covering best practices in recycling, compliance updates, and tips for reducing waste costs.
Top 30 AI Trends In Waste Management Industry - Chart:
Beyond the top five, several terms illustrate a broader AdTech ecosystem that waste management firms are exploring:
Ad Blocking (43 businesses researching weekly average; 2,239 total searches) - Companies keep tabs on how many potential customers are blocking their ads. This can drive strategies to explore native advertising or other less intrusive formats.
Pricing Software (40 businesses researching weekly average; 2,077 total searches) - Relates to dynamic or competitive pricing strategies for different waste removal services—especially crucial for large-scale contracts or specialized offerings.
Cookie Sync/Matching (31 businesses researching weekly average; 1,622 total searches) - A technique for cross-platform identification of users. This is key for holistic, multichannel campaigns—especially if they run across external sites or aggregator platforms.
TikTok Advertising (30 businesses researching weekly average; 1,548 total searches) - Even in waste management, companies see value in short-form video. Educational clips on recycling, or behind-the-scenes looks at waste facility operations, can boost brand awareness.
Ad Exchange (24 businesses researching weekly average; 1,224 total searches) - A digital marketplace for buying and selling programmatic ad inventory. Could help mid-sized waste management firms reach specialized audiences in municipalities or industrial sectors.
1. Programmatic Buying & Programmatic Guaranteed
Multiple mentions of programmatic (6 to 16 businesses, up to 800+ searches) indicate a transition from traditional direct ad buys to automated, data-driven transactions.
2. Cross Device Tracking & Audience Management Platform
Ensuring continuity of user behavior across desktops, mobile devices, and even connected TVs. Reflects the complexity of marketing to busy facility managers or city officials who browse on multiple devices.
3. Interactive Advertising & Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH)
Formats like DOOH (4 businesses; 208 total searches) show a move to public screens, digital billboards, and interactive signage. Waste removal services might use it for branding campaigns in high-traffic city areas.
4. First-Party Data & Second-Party Data
With growing privacy concerns, collecting first-party data (5 businesses; 242 searches) is more critical than ever. Meanwhile, second-party data (1 business; 24 searches) implies partnerships where data is shared between two entities—potentially relevant when teaming up with municipal agencies or industrial clients.
5. Intent Data & Predictive Lead Scoring
The ability to anticipate which leads are most likely to convert is a boon for any B2B operation. For waste management, this might translate into proactively identifying businesses that are scaling up or new construction projects needing disposal services.
Market Differentiation
The waste industry is increasingly competitive. AdTech allows companies to stand out with targeted messaging and better consumer education about green initiatives or specialized disposal services.
Efficiency and ROI
Automated campaigns, predictive lead scoring, and programmatic buying help companies optimize ad spend. This is crucial for an industry often working with tight operational margins.
Public and B2B Engagement
Government contracts, large facilities, and commercial clients typically undergo lengthy procurement processes. A robust AdTech strategy can nurture potential clients at different stages, from initial awareness to final RFP submission.
Brand Building and Trust
Tools like LinkedIn Sponsored Content and thought leadership marketing are especially relevant. Showcasing sustainable practices and compliance expertise can build trust with municipalities and businesses.
The data clearly demonstrates that waste management and waste removal companies are no strangers to modern AdTech. They’re researching a broad array of tools and strategies—ranging from roadblocking ads to Cookie Sync/Matching—aimed at expanding market reach, capturing leads, and innovating in a highly regulated sector.
Top-of-Funnel Awareness: “Pixels” and “Ad Exchange” activity suggests a drive to build brand visibility and track user interactions.
Deeper Relationship Building: “Marketing Automation Tools” and “Lead Generation Software” reflect the need for seamless lead nurturing and customer retention.
Advanced Targeting & Attribution: “Programmatic Guaranteed,” “Cross Device Tracking,” and “Predictive Lead Scoring” point to a more sophisticated, data-driven marketing approach—one that can adapt to evolving regulations and consumer expectations.
Emerging Channels: “TikTok Advertising,” “DOOH,” and “Walmart Advertising” signal that waste management players are willing to experiment with less traditional channels to connect with niche audiences.
Ultimately, as competition grows in waste management—both in the commercial and municipal sectors—AdTech adoption will likely continue to accelerate. The focus is on efficient, targeted, and transparent advertising methods that can help waste removal companies better manage leads, communicate value, and ultimately serve their communities more effectively.
Meet the team to learn more about why CurbWaste waste management software has become the trusted partner for waste hauling businesses nationally.