PAYT – What Others Are Saying

“EPA endorses this approach to solid waste management, as it has proven to be the single most effective way to reduce residential solid waste, increase recycling, and decrease waste-related greenhouse gas emissions.”

“[Pay-as-you-throw] was an instant success, and all the things people said could happen and would happen – illegal dumping, throwing of trash across the city – never happened. We went from recycling 2% of our waste to 38% in one week.”

“Driving down our disposal costs allows the city to maintain other services important to the citizens of Gloucester, such as our public library, road and sidewalk repair, and maintenance of our school buildings. Plus, it’s good for the environment, too.”

“I’m surprised, frankly, other communities haven’t done what we’ve done [in adopting pay-as-you-throw].”

“Since its inception, Brewer’s pay as you throw and Zero-Sort recycling program has been a resounding success. Residents appreciate the enhanced recycling, and the savings from the PAYT program have had a positive impact on the city’s tax rate, which benefits all of our taxpayers.”

“Pay-as-you-throw may be about as close to a magic bullet as local-government leaders can get.”

“The [pay-as-you-throw] program has been an overwhelming success.”

“Implementing PAYT collection systems can have significant impact on driving increased recovery and waste reduction.”

“It makes residents take a second look at what you can really recycle. People have to put in a bit more effort, but it’s been an overnight success.”

“The really great thing about PAYT is that it aligns economic and environmental priorities so they are working to support each other.”

“Pay-as-you-throw is an important method for reducing solid waste and, in the process, municipal costs.”

“Variable-rate or unit-based pricing programs — commonly referred to as ‘pay-as-you-throw’ (PAYT) — have been successful in thousands of communities to reduce MSW and increase diversion strategies such as recycling and composting.”

“Pay-as-you-throw is an effective method to reduce waste and increase recycling. This strategy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and helps mitigate our impacts on climate change.”

“PAYT may represent the first truly significant improvement in our approach to waste management in the modern era. Recycling is a great idea, but we never could figure out how to get people to do it. PAYT is where the rubber hits the road. It can get people to recycle, but it can also get people to compost and to start demanding less wasteful packaging in the first place.”

“[Pay-as-you-throw] works in Sandwich. It has been a success.”

“It’s rare that any option for such truly profound environmental and economic gains presents itself – much less one that would result from such a simple change as paying for our waste the way we pay for nearly everything else.”

“I think [pay-as-you-throw] is a good idea…. I think anything municipalities can do to enhance the recycling process, the better off they’re going to be.”

“Charging households by their use is the most fair and free way to pay for garbage collection.”

“All cities in North Carolina should be doing pay-as-you-throw.”

“The impacts from variable rates were the single most effective change that could be made to a curbside (or drop-off) program. Implementing variable rates had a larger impact on recycling than adding additional materials, changing frequency of collection, or other changes and modifications to programs.”