Pay-As-You-Throw Programs (PAYT) programs establish a system in which households are charged based on the amount of trash they dispose of—and are charged at a higher rate for trash than for recyclables and compostables—rather than paying a flat fee for unlimited trash disposal. The NRDC/ELI Model Ordinance Establishing a Pay-As-You-Throw Program for Residential Municipal Solid Waste outlines the fundamental PAYT program components and includes language to adopt PAYT that can be tailored to the wide variety of municipal waste management arrangements around the country. For a deeper dive, check out this blog.
Also check out the accompanying resources: (1) Model Ordinance with Commentaries, (2) Model Resolution, (3) PAYT Resources Compilation, and (4) Slide Presentation.
This resource is part of a broader effort by ELI’s Center for State and Local Governance to develop adaptable model governance tools that make it easier for state and local governments in the United States to advance climate, environmental, and waste reduction solutions. You can find the full suite of model governance tools here.