A study for South Lakeland District Council examined details, including types of wagons, the lengths of routes, and the width of streets.
It also took into account how many right turns vehicles made, as these cause them to be delayed at junctions.
The council said the Â£35,000 cost of the research would be offset by savings of Â£40,000 a year.
Changes, which include different collection days for 65% of households, will come into effect in the autumn.

Crane driver Dempsey Nibbs killed his partner of 30 years after he suspected her of having affairs, the court heard.
Judith Nibbs, 60, described as "bubbly and happy", had predicted her own death, telling colleagues, "If I'm not in on Friday, I might be dead", jurors were told.
Mr Nibbs, 69, of the Charles Estate in Hoxton, denies murder.
The court heard that Mr Nibbs carried out the act because he thought his partner was a "snake", and said he had killed her while "defending himself".
Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said the couple's relationship had soured in the spring of 2014 as Mr Nibbs suspected his partner of infidelity.
Ms Nibbs had confided in her sister and a colleague at Meals on Wheels that her partner had threatened to kill her and grabbed her by the throat.
During a row on 7 April, she had taunted Mr Nibbs with details of her infidelities, saying: "I have had sex eight times."
On the night of 10 April, Mr Nibbs attacked her in their Hoxton flat and knocked her out, Mr Aylett said.
"Having attacked his wife, the defendant then took up a kitchen knife and cut off her head," he said.
The court heard how Mr Nibbs disposed of remains down the lavatory, before writing a suicide note to his son and ringing police to tell them they would find "a couple of dead bodies" at his home.
The trial heard that Mr Nibbs shown no signs of mental illness in the wake of the killing.
Ms Nibbs's former workmates described her as a happy, joyful, bubbly and open-minded woman.
The trial continues.

The 23-year-old scored 11 goals in 50 matches in all competitions last season as his side won the Ligue 1 title.
United have so far added defender Victor Lindelof to their squad as they attempt to improve on last year's sixth place in the Premier League.
"Manchester United is a great team and I would think about it," Fabinho said.
"If [Manchester United manager Jose] Mourinho invites me it would be very tempting," he told Brazilian television channel Esporte Interativo.
"But I would have to talk with my agent and Monaco to make the things right."
Fabinho joined Monaco in 2013 on loan from Portuguese side Rio Ave and made his move permanent in 2015, when he also won the first of four caps for Brazil.
But having claimed the Europa League, Mourinho is being linked with several players in order to build a squad capable of dealing with the added fixtures.
Tottenham's Eric Dier and Nemanja Matic at Chelsea have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, as has Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.
United have strengthened their backroom staff in hiring Juventus scouting manager Javier Ribalta, who was at the Italian club with Morata.
Ribalta worked on deals for Dani Alves and Sami Khedira while at Juventus, who have secured six straight league titles.
Bin collections in south Cumbria are due to change following a project to "optimise" collection rounds.
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A jealous man beheaded the mother of his two children in an act of "pure hatred", the Old Bailey heard.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A move to Manchester United "would be very tempting", says Monaco midfielder Fabinho, who has been linked with the Old Trafford club.