Pay-As-You-Throw Facts

Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is a program where residents pay a per-unit fee to dispose of the household trash or "solid waste" they generate.

Why Implement a PAYT Program?

PAYT programs are the most effective mechanisms for encouraging waste reduction at the municipal level. These programs create incentives for residents to reduce waste by recycling and composting more, or through donation, reuse/repair, and smart purchasing. The 162 Massachusetts municipalities with PAYT programs produce an average of 32% less trash than those without PAYT programs, such as Boston.^1,²

Alignment with Boston's Zero Waste Goals

Zero Waste Boston is the city's initiative to transform Boston into a "zero waste" city. "Zero waste" means reducing, repairing, and reusing the materials in our lives. According to the 2019 Zero Waste Boston report, 75% of all trash produced in Boston is potentially recyclable or compostable. However, since introducing Zero Waste in 2019, Boston has not reduced annual trash tonnage. A PAYT program could incentivize residents to divert recyclables and compost away from trash and into composting and recycling programs to meet the city's goals. Visit our Impacts page to see how a PAYT program could get Boston closer to that 75% reduction.

Types of PAYT programs

Below are the program types currently used in Massachusetts. They are not mutually exclusive and can be combined to meet a municipality's needs.

Branded Trash Bags: Residents purchase colored plastic bags branded with the name or seal of the municipality. The price of each bag should cover both the cost of the bag itself and the cost for disposal. Waste haulers are instructed to pick up only the specially marked trash bags.
Stickers or Tags: Residents purchase specially marked labels or tags and affix them to their own trash bags or barrels. Different sticker colors may indicate different volumes of waste being disposed. This is often less desirable as it is more difficult to ensure consistency in the size of the bags being used. Branded trash bags guarantee a uniform size.
35-gallon Trash Cart or Barrel: Municipalities in Massachusetts are increasingly implementing programs with uniform 35-gallon wheeled trash carts, as they are aesthetically pleasing and supported by most waste haulers. This qualifies as a PAYT program for Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) grant purposes.
Branded Trash Bags in Carts: Some municipalities in Massachusetts are faced with having already committed to carts larger than 35 gallons but still want to adopt a PAYT model that addresses waste reduction. This can be accomplished by implementing the branded bag program mentioned above but requiring that they be placed inside carts.
Hybrid Program: In this type of PAYT program, one container (not to exceed 35 gallons) is collected at the curb as part of a municipality's basic level service covered by the tax base. Trash in excess of 35 gallons must be placed in PAYT overflow bags, or have a tag or sticker that residents purchase.

Learn more about Pay-As-You-Throw in Massachusetts.