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How to Talk About Pay-as-You-ThrowStephen Lisauskas
March 30, 2015
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero2
The Challenge: Bridging Policy and Politics
Widely Accepted as aSuccessful Policy Option…
…But Still Politically Challenging to Move Through the Approval Process
There can be a disconnect between the policy and the politics of pay-as-you-throw.
The good news: This is a problem with a solution.
It’s a New Fee!
It Looks Hard!
I Don’tLike Change!
~150 Programs Across
Massachusetts
44% Average MSW Decrease
(Bag-Based Programs)
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero3
The Solution: Communication & Education
Overcoming the political challenge of pay-as-you-throw requires clear, thought-out communication to residents—both on how PAYT will help them and on how it will work.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero4
Explaining the Problem
The first step in talking about pay-as-you-throw is explaining the context around the decision. Residents must understand why continuing the status quo is not an option.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
19901992
19941996
19982000
20022004
20062008
20102012
20142016
20182020
400
425
450
475
500
525
550
575
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000More Trash, Fewer Landfills
Source: US EPA
MunicipalSolid Waste
ActiveLandfills
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero5
Explaining the Problem
The first step in talking about pay-as-you-throw is explaining the context around the decision. Residents must understand why continuing the status quo is not an option.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 20100
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400 The Increasing Cost of Trash
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero6
Explaining the Problem
The first step in talking about pay-as-you-throw is explaining the context around the decision. Residents must understand why continuing the status quo is not an option.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Pay Set Amount Regardless of UsePay Based on Use
ElectricityWater Gas
Garbage
Conserved Wasted
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero7
Explaining Financial Benefits
Residents must also understand the financial impact—usually positive—that pay-as-you-throw will have on them.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Before PAYT With PAYT0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Baseline Trash Cost
Baseline Trash Cost
Spending on Bags
Disposal Sav-ings
Hous
ehol
d Sp
endi
ngon
Gar
bage
When an existing fee is being reduced,
to be replaced by spending on bags…
… Show that household costswill stay stable
1
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero8
Explaining Financial Benefits
Residents must also understand the financial impact—usually positive—that pay-as-you-throw will have on them.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Before PAYT With PAYT0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Baseline Trash Cost
Baseline Trash Cost
Disposal Sav-ings
Spending on Bags
Hous
ehol
d Sp
endi
ngon
Gar
bage
… Show concretely what the new
household costswill be used to fund
Example: Curbside Recycling
2 When PAYT is being used to fund other municipal goals…
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero9
Explaining Financial Benefits
Residents must also understand the financial impact—usually positive—that pay-as-you-throw will have on them.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
1. Increase Taxesto Generate Revenue
2. Use PAYTto Generate Revenue
$0.00
$0.25
$0.50
$0.75
$1.00
ContributionFrom Resi-
dents ContributionFrom Resi-
dents
Disposal Sav-ings
OR… Show that PAYT is a more efficient way
to meet budget goals because of
decreased disposal spending
3 When PAYT is being used in place of a
tax increase…
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero10
Explaining Operational Benefits
Pay-as-you-throw brings significant, but often uncommunicated, operational benefits to the communities that implement it.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Having less garbage to collect means
quicker—and sometimes fewer—
routes…
…Enabling public works staff to perform other
municipal services
Bulky Item Pickup
Loose Limb Collection Road Repairs
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero11
Explaining Environmental Benefits
It can be extremely beneficial to educate residents who are motivated by sustainability concerns on how pay-as-you-throw will lessen their town or city’s environmental impact.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Annual Carbon Emissions Savings—Like Taking Away…
5,000 Passenger Vehicles
2,859,000 Gallons of Gasoline
Annual Energy Savings—Like Capturing the Energy From…
21,000 Rooftop
Solar Arrays
1,500Single-Family
Houses
Example—
90,000-resident city
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero12
Explaining Ease of Use
Pay-as-you-throw is easy to take part in, usually requiring nearly no changes in household operations. This is another point that must be communicated.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Purchase Trash Bags at Store
Dispose of Trash Bagsin the Same Manner as Before PAYT
Curb Transfer Station
Cart
Average:1.2 large bagsper household
per week
1 2
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero13
Education and Outreach
A comprehensive resident education campaign incorporating information about the benefits of PAYT and answering any operational questions is also key.
Explaining Operational
Benefits
Explaining Ease
of Use
Explaining FinancialBenefits
Explaining Environmental
Benefits
Educationand
Outreach
Explainingthe Problem
Copyright © 2015 WasteZero14
Timing
Pre-Implementation Support Ongoing Support
CommunityOutreach Meetings
Program Design and
MessageDevelopment
Resident Education Materials
Resident-Facing Web Site
Part of how to talk about pay-as-you-throw is also when and where to talk aboutpay-as-you-throw. This is true both before and after implementation.
When municipal leaders are armed with messaging tools that resonate with their residents, they can move pay-as-you-throw from policy idea to political reality.