Effective and efficient waste management is an essential challenge in developing cities like Tegal City. Optimizing waste transport routes can reduce operational costs and environmental impact. This study aims to implement the Ant Colony Algorithm (ACO) to optimize waste distribution routes in Tegal City. This method was chosen for its proven ability to solve route optimization problems. This study developed a model for the simulation and analysis of waste transportation routes using actual location data from the Integrated Waste Treatment Site (TPST) to the landfill (TPA). The results showed that the implementation of ACO reduced the total mileage from 27.50 km to 21.05 km, a significant reduction that shows the algorithm's efficiency in determining the optimal route. The conclusion of this study confirms that ACO can be effectively used to improve waste transportation operations