Transcript Pay As You Throw - Mississippi Department of Environmental

Pay As You Throw:
Unit Pricing of Municipal Solid
Waste
Program Developed by
Roy F. Weston
Potential Benefits
• Encourages The
Three Rs
• Equitable
• Cost Recovery
Results from Around the
Country
• Over 4,000 programs documented in
United States
• About 150 programs in the southeast
• On average, doubles tons diverted
through recycling and composting*
• Decreases tons disposed by 8 to 11
percent
*
* Based on research by SERA
Is Pay As You Throw For You?
• Will the program meet your solid waste
management goals?
• Will residents support the program?
• Will costs and revenues balance?
Examples of PAYT Goals
• Encourage MSW reduction through price
signals
• Increase recycling rates
• Increase equity
• Generate revenues to cover MSW costs
Design Issues
• Volume vs. weight
based
• Container choice
• Rate structure
Volume vs. Weight Based
Systems
Charge by volume
• More tested
• Less costly
• Temptation to compact
waste
• Less incentive to
reduce
Charge by weight
• More precise
measurement
• Offers greater waste
reduction incentive
• Perceived as fairer
• More expensive
• Still new
Container Options
• Bags
• Tags/Stickers
• Cans
Bags
Advantages
• No billing system
needed
• Convenient/easy to
understand
• Efficient collection,
effective at
convenience centers
• Easy to monitor
compliance
Bags
Disadvantages
• Bags must be
purchased
• Revenue uncertainty
• Often incompatible
with automated
equipment
• Bags can tear
Tags/Stickers
Advantages
• Adaptable for different
containers/bulky items
• Purchase cost lower
than bags
• No billing system
needed
• Convenient/easy to
understand
Tags/Stickers
Disadvantages
• Tags/stickers must be
purchased
• Revenue uncertainty
• Government must
communicate and
enforce size limits
• Tags/stickers can fall
off or be stolen
Cans (Pay As You Throw)
Advantages
• May be able to use
existing cans
• Reusable and
secure
• Work with
automated/semiautomated
collection
Disadvantages
• Revenue uncertainty
• Smaller reduction incentive
w/larger cans
• Complex tracking and
billing system
• Fees collected after costs
are incurred
• High cost of new cans
• Increased collection time
Cans (Subscription)
Advantages
• Stable revenues
• Simplified fee
collection process
• May be able to use
existing cans and
collection equipment
• Reusable and secure
Disadvantages
• Reduced waste
reduction incentive
• Complex tracking and
billing system
• High costs if cans
must be purchased
• Collection time greater
Price Structures
• Proportional
– volume
– weight
• Variable Container
• Multi-tiered
Methods to Set Rates
• Draw from comparable
communities
• Use Rate Structure Design
process
Rate Structure Design Process
• Forecast residential MSW amounts
• Determine types of MSW services to
provide
• Estimate net costs of MSW
• Determine costs of services to be covered
by PAYT fees
• Calculate PAYT rates
• Adjust services and rates
Potential Challenges and
Solutions
Challenge: Illegal Dumping
Potential Solutions
• Education
• Enforcement
• Legal diversions
Complementary Programs
• Collection of recyclables
• Collection of yard trimmings
• Collection of bulky items
Challenge: Multi-Family
Housing
Potential Solutions
• Include charges in rent
• Bar codes
Challenge: Low-Income Groups
Potential Solutions
• Free bags or stickers
• Credits/discounts
• Piggyback on other low income
programs
Challenge: Covering Costs and
Revenue Stability
Potential Solutions
• Get good information to calculate rates
• Choose system that bills ahead
• Two-tiered billing
Challenge: Perception of Tax
Potential Solutions
• Education
• Start with flat fee if you currently
charge nothing
• Show matching tax refund
• Appropriate pricing
Education and Outreach
• Solicit input from
stakeholders prior to
designing program
• Convey information
about how to
participate
• Customer service
throughout program
Soliciting Input
• Need the support of residents!
• Build consensus with an outreach campaign
• Citizen’s advisory council can help:
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set goals
address barriers
choose containers and rate structure
promote program
As Program Begins …
• Posters or flyers for distribution in stores
• Enclose information with utility bills/other
mailings to residents
• Door hangers/flyers
• Neighborhood meetings
• Telephone campaign
• Staff all hours hotline
Tell Participants ...
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Types and costs of services offered
Schedule for collections
How fees will be collected
Methods and/or outlets for purchasing cans,
bags, tags, or stickers
• Penalties for non-compliance
• Opportunities to reduce waste and costs
– source reduction and reuse
– recycling and composting programs
Throughout Program ...
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Customer hotline with follow-up action
Message form for non-compliance
School programs
Newsletter/survey with utility bill
Briefs for elected officials
Press releases
Presentations to local groups
Booth at events
Consider …
• Language other than English?
• Use illustrations/graphics
• Draw on volunteers and solicit donations to
cut costs
• Draw on Citizens’ Advisory Council
• Budget for public education
Potential Ordinances
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To charge variable rates for collection
To ban waste dumping or burning
To limit container weights
To prohibit unauthorized containers
To prohibit stealing containers or tags and
non-payment of fees
Enforcement
• Staff assigned (work with police and health
department, judicial branch)
• Scrap tire enforcement officers
• Education/warning program developed
• Environmental court
• Fines established
• Instill “environmental ethic”
EPA Resources
• PAYT tool kit
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Source reduction guidance document
Lessons Learned from Unit Pricing
Fact Sheets and Clip Art
Worksheets
Rate Maker
• http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/nonhw/payt/index.htm
Regional and State Resources
• Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality
Larry Estes @601/961-5036
[email protected]
• Community Resource Group, Inc.
Constance Gwinn @ 501/756-5583 ext.232
[email protected]