EPA53Q-F-94-010
Sure, municipal solid waste
management has become
tougherand more
expensivefor many communities
in recent years. But as the challenges
associated with managing waste have increased, so
too have the availability of creative solutions.
ie tec
ue
es are using to
BB^mrfWia
rely is
Unit pricing is an incentive-based system of
paying for solid waste management services.
In contrast to traditional systems, in which
residents pay for waste collection indirectly
through local taxes or fees, residents in unit pricing
communities pay for these services based on the amount of waste they
generate. This encourages residents to use source reduction, recycling, and composting to
reduce the waste they put out for collection. And it's working: some communities with unit
pricing programs report significant waste reductions!
To help you learn more about unit pricing and how to design and launch such a program, EPA
has published a comprehensive unit pricing guidance manual entitled Pay-As-You-Throw:
Lessons Learned About Unit Pricing.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RCRA Information Center
(5305)
401 M Street, SW.
Washington, DC 20460
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with soy/canola ink on paper that
contains at least 5O% post-consumer recyc\©o, Tibet
-------
';.. , .;; .,» ".'.: .! . ' . . il|>jj. | : .,? ' . I ....'' "". I... ". / I':'1': ! I ..:'. J. ffl."'"fii;!;1!!1!!!1 iiH!"!!1!;!;:!!'!'il'SiKfjjST'SiiSllj::! ^ ,^j!'l! PW
I ay-As-You-Throw: Lessons Learned About Unit Pricing describes
the advantages and potential barriers to unit pricing systems,
helps you determine if unit pricing could work in your com-
munity, and explains in step-by-step detail how to launch a unit
pricing program.
To help you create a program tailored to your community, Pay-As-
You-Throw includes a complete review of unit pricing program
options, including the types and sizes of waste containers typically
used, the different ways to structure a billing system, and other
important choices.
And, once you've gained familiarity with all the unit pricing options,
Pay-As-You-Throw offers a six-step process to help you put it all
together. The steps show how to estimate the amount of waste your
community will produce under unit pricing, select the options you
need, create a rate structure, and estimate the resulting revenues.
This process will help you design a unit pricing program and test
how well the program will meet your goals.
Of course, changing the way you manage solid waste is not always
simple. But Pay-As-You-Throw can make it easier. The manual
features practical, proven strategies and advice from decision-
makers in over a dozen communities with successful unit pricing
programs. Pay-As-You-Throw also includes case studies from
communities where unit pricing is working and answers to
commonly asked questions about developing a unit pricing program.
Please send me copies of the unit pricing guide
Pay-As-You-Throw: Lessons Learned About Unit Pricing (EPA530-R-94-004).
Name
Title
Address
City
. State
-Zip
Phone
Or call the EPA RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672 for the
hearing impaired. For Washington, DC, and outside the United States, call 703-412-9810
or TDD 703-412-3323.
*U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1994-0-520-964
------- |