The increasing costs and complexities of solid waste collection and disposal require new, more sophisticated management techniques. Although cost accounting represents only one part of the total information system, its design, installation, and utilization can represent a significant step in the development of effective solid waste management. The proposed system provides a guide to the type and quantity of information to be collected, its classification, and the method of collection. The system described is designed primarily for small communities (<25,000) that collect and dispose of the solid wastes generated in their jurisdiction. The system was specifically designed to be effective for packer-truck collection and landfill disposal operations.