Pay-as-you-throw

programs

encourage people

to save money by

recycling and

preventing

waste.

Imagine-a solid

waste solution

that’s good for

the wallet and

helps the

environment.

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Solid Waste and

Emergency Response

(5305W)

EPA530-F-97-006

April 1997

Pay-As-You-Throw

A Fact Sheet for Environmental

and Civic Groups

W

hen it comes to managing solid waste, the

goal for the past 10

years has been to

reduce, reuse, and recycle. Today,

thousands of community recycling

programs are diverting millions of

tons of valuable materials-materials

motivate residents not only to recycle

more, but also to think of ways to

prevent waste in the first place.

They’re called “pay-as-you-throw”

programs, and nearly 2,000 communities across the country have begun

using them.

that would otherwise be thrown

away-for remanufacturing into What is

useful products. pay-as-you-throw?

Pay-as-you-throw programs, also known as

unit-based or

Despite

the tremendous

growth in recycling, however, waste-generation

rates among individuals

continue to rise. Most of us don’t give

as much thought as we should to

reducing the amount of waste that

remains after recycling.

One reason for this is we usually have

no incentive, beyond a general environmental concern, to reduce waste.

Because individuals in most communities pay for collection and disposal

services through property taxes (or,

in some cases, through a flat fee),

they pay the same amount no matter

how much they throw away.

There is a different type of program,

however, that communities can use to

variablerate pricing,

provide direct economic

incentives for people to

reduce the amount of waste

they generate. Households are charged

for waste collection based on the

amount of waste they throw awayin the same way they are charged for

electricity, gas, and other utilities.

In some communities, pay-as-youthrow is based on volume: residents

are charged for each bag or can of

waste they generate. A few communities bill residents based on the weight

of their trash. Either way, pay-as-youthrow gives everyone an extra push

to prevent waste. Pay-as-you-throw

connects our environmental concerns

with our wallets.
What are the benefits of

pay-as-you-throw?

Pay-as-you-throw programs have environmental and

economic advantages and are often more equitable

for residents-a combination of benefits called the

“Three Es.” Communities with programs in place

have reported reductions in waste amounts ranging

from 25 to 35 percent, on average. This results in

several important environmental benefits. Less waste

residents are asked to pay for each container of waste

they generate. Most communities with pay-as-youthrow have found this not to be the case, however,

especially when they offer their residents recycling,

composting for yard trimmings, and other programs

that allow individuals to reduce waste legally. Others,

particularly lower-income residents, worry about the

amount they will have to pay. In many communities,

however, coupon or voucher programs are helping to

defray their expenses.

and greater recycling mean that fewer

natural resources are used, less energy

is consumed, and less pollution is created. In addition, landfill space is used

at a slower rate, reducing the need to

site additional facilities.

Pay-as-you-throw also can send an

important source reduction signal to

product manufacturers. When individual

consumers begin to understand that their

trash costs money, they are likely to

adjust their purchasing habits to favor products that

will result in less waste-and, therefore, cost lesswhen discarded. As more communities adopt pay-asyou-throw, manufacturers will have an incentive to

redesign their products to appeal to this growing consumer preference.

There also are potential economic advantages, both

for communities and their residents. Because they

often have more recovered materials and less waste

to dispose of, many communities with pay-as-youthrow find their disposal costs go down. These programs also can yield savings in waste transportation

expenses and potentially greater revenues from the

sale of collected recyclables.

While they may not realize it, residents pay to throw

away trash. Whether they pay through their taxes or

with a flat fee, those who generate less and recycle

more are paying for neighbors who generate two or

three times as much waste. Pay-as-you-throw is more

equitable: residents who reduce and recycle are

rewarded with a lower trash bill.

Are there disadvantages to

pay-as-you-throw?

While there are potential barriers to a successful

program, communities with pay-as-you-throw have

found effective solutions. Local officials, for example,

often assume that illegal dumping will increase once

How can our

organization help?

In many cases, local officials either are

not aware of pay-as-you-throw or

haven’t considered how it might work

in their community. While pay-asyou-throw may not be appropriate for

all communities, municipal planners

can benefit from learning about such

programs. Your organization can work with local,

regional, or state government officials to make them

aware of the benefits of pay-as-you-throw and how

any potential barriers might be overcome.

Once communities in your area begin to plan pay-asyou-throw programs, your organization also can

assist in their development and implementation. By

helping municipal officials plan programs that are

reasonable and equitable, and by educating people

about the benefits of the new system, your organization can play a role in improving the way we manage

solid waste in this country.

How can I learn more about

pay-as-you-throw?

EPA has developed a series of products for anyone

interested in pay-as-you-throw. Individuals looking

for more information on these programs can request

additional fact sheets, community success stories,

and other materials. For local solid waste planners

interested in bringing pay-as-you-throw to their

community, EPA has developed a comprehensive set

of tools to help them design and implement a successful program. To find out more about EPA's

collection of products, call the Pay-as-you-throw

Helpline toll free at 888-EPA-PAYT.