What is Pay-as-you-throw? What is pay-as-you-throw

Residents of large cities are often required to buy special bags or stickers for trash so they can pay separately per bag. People may be required to sign up for certain levels of waste collection services, which limit the amount of garbage that can be placed on the curb.

Pay-as-you-throw bag for Waterville, Maine. The bags are available in two sizes at local grocery stores and convenience shops: large (30 gallons) for $2.60 and small (15 gallons) for $1.63. The purple bags must contain all trash that is placed out for collection. City of Waterville

Pay-as-you-throw is one of the most effective tools that local governments have to reduce waste, control waste disposal costs, and give residents incentives to participate in recycling programs. When households start paying directly for waste services, they toreduce the amount of trash they produce. In Massachusetts, towns using pay-as-you-throw generated, on average, 1,239 lbs of trash per household by 2020 compared to 1,756 kg per household for towns not using this system – a reduction of 30%.

This can lead to a greater amount of waste being recycled and composted, resulting in a relatively stable total waste volume. Over time, communities that pay as you throw tend to see a decrease in the amount of waste thrown away, including recycling and composting.

At first, this strategy may be controversial. Pay-as you-throw, even though trash collection and disposal is already paid for by everyone, whether through rent or property taxes, can seem like a new charge when charged separately. Pay-as-you-throw programs are also criticized for encouraging illegal dumping. However, this is not observed in reality.

Pay-as-you-throw programs can be expensive for low-income families if they are not properly managed. Many communities provide discounts or bags free of charge to low-income and elderly residents. Most also keep their recycling rates below the trash rates. This method usually helps to keep costs low.

Solid waste management can have a significant impact on the environment. Incinerators and landfills produce pollutants, including greenhouse gas. Transporting heavy waste from urban areas to distant disposal sites is also harmful.

Some materials are better suited for recycling, but many of the items that end up in collection bins never get recycled. Pay-as-you-throw programs can improve waste management because they encourage people to reduce their trash.