Why Save-As-You-Throw Makes Cents
For additional information, please visit the EPA's Pay-As-You-Throw site
http://www.epa.gov/payt/comm.htm
What is Save(not Pay)-As-You-Throw?
In the collection business, costs keep going up faster than revenue. In the public sector, a new refuse truck doesn’t sound as high of a priority as a new fire truck. In the private sector, competitive bidding keeps revenue at marginal levels. The easiest way to create additional revenue is to move as many items as possible from free collection into a Save-As-You-Throw category.
Why Save(not Pay)-As-You-Throw Makes "Cents"
Save-As-You-Throw is the name that the EPA has popularized. It is also referred to as based pricing, volume based pricing, etc. For convenience, we will refer to it as Save-As-You-Throw, because ultimately it is about economics. Unlimited collection is exactly what it says and the type of service that the majority of households have in this country. Any program that is not unlimited is a form of Save-As-You-Throw.
There are three assumptions that have been proven time and again in
over 5,000 communities that use Save(not Pay)-As-You-Throw programs.
Save-As-You-Throw makes economic sense
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Save-As-You-Throw drives recycling
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Save-As-You-Throw makes political sense |
A WIN / WIN for Everyone!
Save-As-You-Throw programs encourage residents to put out less trash and recycle more, which saves them money. By charging for the extra waste, municipalities and haulers increase revenue and reduce the cost of trash hauling and disposal.
Save-As-You-Throw works. It gives people economic incentive to reduce and recycle, and is the only waste strategy that targets the first step on the E.P.A. hierarchy.