This is what Frederick County plans to try in an upcoming PAYT pilot. San Jose, CA also does this, and has saved $4 million while more than doubling its recyclables. Fort Worth charges monthly rates of $12.75 for a 32-gallon can, $17.75 for a 64-gallon can, $22.75 for a 96-gallon can, and $3 per city-approved bag to use when your can is full. PAYT has been demonstrated across the country. And taxes can go down now that collection and disposal pay for themselves. Curbside collectors only pick up trash from city cans and bags, or bags with city stickers on them.

In addition, you can buy city-approved trash bags, or stickers that you can affix to your own trash bags, at local stores and use them if your can is full. How does PAYT work? The city bills you monthly for trash collection based on the size and number of trash cans you request. Trash collection costs should be as well.

Gas, water and electricity are paid by usage. Because private haulers collect waste from buildings with more than 3 residential units, while the city collects waste from all other residential dwellings, apartment and condo residents subsidize waste collection for everyone else. That’s what happens in all Washington-area municipalities, but more than 7,000 municipalities nationwide covering 25% of the population have rejected this “cash-for-trash” subsidy in favor of “pay-as-you-throw” (PAYT). Does it seem fair that some households produce up to a dozen trash bags per week while their neighbors, who pay the same taxes, produce few if any trash bags but plenty of recycling and sometimes compost?

96 gallon supercan