Pay as you throw (PAYT) (also called trash metering, unit pricing, variable rate pricing, or user-pay) is a usage-pricing model for disposing of municipal solid waste. Users are charged a rate based on how much waste they present for collection to the municipality or local authority.
A variety of models exist depending on the region and municipality. Waste is measured by weight or size while units are identified using different types of bags, tags, containers or even RFID. Services for waste diversion, like recycling and composting, are often provided free of charge where PAYT systems are implemented.
There are three main types of PAYT programs:
- 1. Full-unit pricing: Users pay for all the garbage they want collected in advance by purchasing a tag, custom bag, or selected size container.
- 2. Partial-unit pricing: The local authority or municipality decides on a maximum number of bags or containers of garbage, with collection paid for taxes. Additional bags or containers are available for purchase should the user exceed the permitted amount
- 3. Variable-rate pricing: Users can choose to rent a container of varying sizes (some programs offer up to five), with the price corresponding to the amount of waste generated.
Read more about Pay As You Throw: Rationale, Risks, Implementation
Famous quotes containing the words pay and/or throw:
“But we are the people of England; and we have not spoken yet.
Smile at us, pay us, pass us. But do not quite forget.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“We long for our father. We wear his clothes, and actually try to fill his shoes. . . . We hang on to him, begging him to teach us how to do whatever is masculine, to throw balls or be in the woods or go see where he works. . . . We want our fathers to protect us from coming too completely under the control of our mothers. . . . We want to be seen with Dad, hanging out with men and doing men things.”
—Frank Pittman (20th century)