By pricing garbage service by the unit, families are encouraged to reduce waste and recycle more. This is a change from charging everyone the same monthly garbage bill no matter how much they throw away.
Businesses are familiar with paying for how much and how many times garbage is hauled away.
Each time a business produces less waste or redirects waste materials from the dumpster by reuse and recycling, it saves money on hauling and disposal. Urban, suburban and rural communities are applying these same concepts to the way they manage solid waste. Gainesville, Florida, a city of 9,600, also experienced similar results. In 1994, residents were able to choose three cart sizes ranging form 35 to 96 gallons at different monthly rates. In 1988, the Commonwealth enacted Act 101, which required recycling waste management planning and mandatory recycling programs.