News
Trash
Talk:
Pay As You Throw (PAYT) or Pay Per Bag
by Peter Thoits, Gray Solid Waste & Recycling
Committee
First
of all, I want to apologize on behalf of the committee
for the absence of articles this year. We are a committee
of three, and between new jobs, weddings, and home
improvement projects, we've simply been overwhelmed.
In
October 2005, we announced a new committee project
that is currently under way. The goals of this project
are, first, to identify ways to increase recycling
to help reduce waste disposal costs in Gray, and,
second, to develop and propose a program, acceptable
to Gray residents, that would move some or all of
Gray's residential waste disposal costs off the town
budget to reduce property taxes. This article will
focus on goal number two.
Setting
up the discussion
Municipal service costs are funded principally through
property taxes. Currently, Grays' waste disposal costs
make up about 17% of the town budget. While all members
of the community are expected to support services
like the fire department, library, and schools whether
they use them or not, costs for waste disposal are
unique. Waste disposal could be funded the same as
everything else or itemized on a "per household"
basis. Waste disposal costs all boil down to weight.
That's the principle behind Pay As You Throw or Pay
Per Bag.
Pay
As You Throw (PAYT)
With PAYT, households are only charged for the amount
of waste they throw away in the same way that they
are charged for electricity, gas, and other utilities.
Typically, there is no charge for any recycled items.
As such, there is a direct economic incentive for
residents to increase the amount of trash they recycle
and reduce the amount of waste they generate. In addition,
like other utilities, most waste disposal costs are
removed from the town budget and thus from property
tax bills.
There
are many versions of PAYT. Some towns let their residents
supply their own 30-gallon trash bags and count and
charge for them at the transfer station when residents
come to throw out their trash. Some towns sell 30-gallon
trash bags to residents ranging from $1.50 to $3.00
per bag. With this system, town authorized bags are
the only ones allowed and no money changes hands at
the transfer station. Some towns also have scales
for weighing trucks with large loads before and after
disposal and charge drivers for the weight difference.
There are other variations as well. A PAYT program
is typically tailored to fit the community where it
will be implemented.
Your
Input is Wanted!
Our investigation into PAYT is just starting and we
want your input early. Right now waste disposal in
Gray is handled as a municipal service paid for through
property taxes. Should we consider changing to a different
system? Have you heard about Pay As You Throw or Pay
Per Bag? Have you lived in a town that had a PAYT
program? What do you believe are the pros and cons
of PAYT programs and why? Do you want to know more?
We are in the preliminary stage of our work and have
not taken a position. We welcome your input! You are
welcome to attend our meetings the second Wednesday
of each month in Stimson Hall.
Or you can email your comments to pthoits2@maine.rr.com
or snail mail to:
Peter Thoits
282 Shaker Rd.
Gray, ME 04039
