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. Many municipalities began rethinking how they handled solid waste. There are now 90 municipal unit pricing programs in the State.
Residents use prepaid bags or tags for any additional garbage.
The key to a successful PAYT program is to design it to meet the needs of a community. A tour of Pennsylvania demonstrates the variety of ways PAYT can work. Perkasie is a borough of 7,878 residents in Bucks County. The borough collects leaves, refuse and recyclables and requires residents to use prepaid garbage bags and special stickers for bulky waste. The income from the sale of bags and recyclables covers program expenses.