If you have more trash than can fit in a single can, should you pay extra to get rid of it? You would if you lived in Austin, Tex., one of thousands of communities nationwide that has switched to a “Pay As You Throw” (PAYT) system. Traditionally, households paid a set yearly fee for trash disposal, or the costs were covered by property taxes. But 25% of Americans now pay for trash collection based on how much they use it, the way most of us pay for water and electricity. PAYT systems vary widely, with some towns using special bags, cans, or stickers and charging anywhere from less than a dollar to more than $2 per bag. Advocates of PAYT cite studies that show it encourages recycling and reduces the waste in landfills by up to 17%. In Forest Ohio a city located in Harding County, recycling jumped by 300% after PAYT was introduced. Opponents argue that it penalizes those on fixed incomes and that it can lead to illegal garbage dumping. In Austin, pick-up costs $11.75 a month for a 30-gallon can or $14.50 for 60 gallons; anything that won’t fit costs extra. At those prices, most residents now thinks twice before throwing things away, especially if they could be recycled. Extra garbage stickers cost $2 each.
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