'Pay-as-you-throw' Waste Management

A new solid-waste collection system is called "pay as you throw" which charges customers by the amount of trash they dispose of.

1 minute read

August 2, 2002, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

When something costs less people consume more. In this new study by noted solid-waste expert Lisa Skumatz, Reason explores the application of market-based incentives to create a fair "user-pays" waste-disposal system that encourages conservation far more effectively than traditional, cookie-cutter waste programs. "Variable-rate pricing, or pay as you throw, is a new strategy with a growing number of advocates. Under a variable-rate system, customers are provided an economic signal to reduce the waste they throw away because garbage bills increase with the volume or weight of waste they dispose. Variable-rate pricing is being adopted in thousands of communities to create incentives for additional recycling in the residential sector."

Thanks to George Passantino

FULL STORY: 'Pay-as-you-throw' Waste Management

Thursday, August 1, 2002 in Reason Public Policy Institute

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