One man’s trash, another man’s cash.Thoughtful Maui residents work diligently to decrease their household waste production by making akamai purchasing decisions and by reusing and recycling. On trash pickup mornings it is painfully apparent that not everyone is as concerned about piling more garbage on Mount Opala II. But those who spend extra effort to reduce waste and lessen our load on the landfill pay exactly the same amount as the neighbor down the street who dumps copious quantities.
In many communities across the Mainland, waste collection is paid for through property tax or a fixed fee. In both systems, everyone pays the same amount regardless of how much or how little trash they generate. In Maui County, the cost of managing trash is charged at a flat rate, so residents who make efforts to reduce waste end up subsidizing their neighbors’ wastefulness.
According to the EPA, residents in communities with pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) programs are charged for the collection of household trash based on the amount they throw away, creating a direct economic incentive to recycle more and to generate less waste.
PAYT treats trash services just like any other utility. Households pay a variable rate depending on the amount of service they use. The EPA Website explains that most communities with PAYT charge residents a fee for each bag or can, and a small number of communities base bills on the weight of the trash. Either way, these programs seem simple and fair. Residents only pay for what they throw away; the less you throw away, the less you pay. Makes sense to me.
Maui County now provides two refuse collection systems, each costing residents only $144 a year. The manual system is a once-a-week pickup whereby residents can dispose of up to six 36-gallon containers full of trash. With the maximum weight a hefty 50 pounds per can, uber garbage producers can chuck 300 pounds a week into the county landfill. Multiplied by 52 weeks... that’s 15,600 pounds. We’re talking some serious trash.
The automated system available in some parts of Maui makes two weekly pickups of 96-gallon containers–in weight and volume, a service comparable to manual pickup.
The EPA says that a well-designed PAYT program generates revenue to cover solid waste costs, including the costs of recycling and composting. Residents benefit economically as well, because they have direct control of their bills. This program has also proven to be beneficial to communities by significantly reducing waste and increasing recycling. Less waste and more recycling mean that fewer natural resources need to be extracted, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture, distribution, use and subsequent disposal of products are reduced as a result.
With some careful consideration and planning, and maybe a modest rate hike to the bargain price we now pay, this program may work for Maui and support the island’s efforts for a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/payt.