Pay-as-you-throw programs explained

How do pay-as-you-throw programs work?

Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) is a relatively new program that has already proven to have a beneficial effect on the environment. In addition to the oh-so-cute name, these efforts generate environmentally friendly activities. In those communities that have adopted a pay-as-you-throw program, recycling activities have also dramatically increased.

Simply put, pay-as-you-throw programs charge residents for trash collection in proportion to the volume of their regular trash products. Interesting and effective concept. Even those who are too unconcerned or lazy to adopt a recycling mentality, often realize that being a trash generator is an expensive proposition. Saving our environment and recycling is not only righteous, but economical, too.

Most communities that adopt a pay-as-you-throw program charge residents per bag or by volume of the trash they contribute each week. It's similar to the way electricity, natural gas, or phone companies charge people – for usage. The more trash you have, the higher your charges.

PAYT programs often have the desired effect. People who may be unconcerned about negative environmental impacts or may be too lazy to recycle on a regular basis will pay more for their trash pickup than those that reduce waste and recycle on a regular basis.

Many people may soon decide that recycling is less costly than throwing everything into a trash receptacle. Those that don't see the light or don't care, pay more to others to enlarge landfill volume with items that could be recycled to help our environment.

PAYT programs and how to participate

PAYT, by necessity, is a "local" program concept. Pay-as-you-throw is a grass roots philosophy. Local PAYT programs work best. However, there are many local programs throughout the U.S.

These are also called "variable pricing" programs as the cost is proportionate to the waste people generate. Create more landfill trash; pay more for pickup and disposal. There are local PAYT programs around the U.S.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a supporter of pay-as-you-throw programs because the generators of trash and waste are charged according to the size of their "contribution" to the landfill problem. They also like the ancillary benefit of motivating people to be more committed to recycling and reducing waste.

Statistics indicate that those communities with PAYT programs enjoyed measurable declines in waste volume and major increases in recycled material. These simple facts suggest that these communities are receiving multiple benefits from their pay-as-you-throw programs.

• Cost equity for community residents. Those that generate the most refuse will pay more for its collection and disposal than those residents reducing waste.
  
  
• More recyclable volume to reduce negative environmental impact. Recycling efforts increase requiring fewer synthetic product production and less harvesting of natural raw material (e.g., wood) to manufacture other items.
  
  
• Less fossil fuel energy use. Less waste means less fuel used for trash collection trucks. Those trash disposal sites that use incinerators to reduce waste to ashes will use less fuel and electricity to accomplish their task.
  
  
• Reduced air and land pollution. All of this reduced energy use also results in a reduction in the runoff of toxic by-products and fewer carbon emissions that pollute the atmosphere.

If a PAYT program is attractive to you, get involved in generating widespread interest in your community. Accumulate more knowledge and information so that you become a reliable source of data and ideas.

Learn how other communities around the world have implemented their PAYT programs and how efficient they have been. There are different methods to help pay-as-you-throw programs function in the real world. Here are a couple of suggestions for the details of a working PAYT program.

For example, you could charge residents by the number of trash barrels that require pickup on a weekly basis. Those residents needing two barrels per week pay twice as much as those people using only one. Another idea is to use special bags or barrels identified by stickers or other markers for trash.

Your community could either charge more for their pickup or you could sell the bags or stickers for a price that generates money to pay for the trash pickup. All recyclable items won't require this sticker or bag and have no extra charge attached.

PAYT programs using these and other logical rules have been successful in many communities. If your area requires residents to transport their trash to a landfill, personnel at the facility can directly charge visitors based on the amount of trash and recyclables they bring.

Convince others in your community to support a PAYT program and try to sell it to your local government.