Waste Prevention World

Unit Pricing Success Stories

In the 1980s, only a small number of unit pricing systems were operating in places like Olympia, Washington; Plantation, Florida; and Santa Clara, California. As of January 1993, unit pricing systems had spread to more than 1,000 communities with the potential to expand to 1,800 communities by early 1994.

As of November 1993, more than 20 unit pricing systems are in operation in California.

The current surge of unit pricing systems can be attributed to their proven success records in various communities. For example:

• Lodi, California, population 55,000, started a variable can system in 1993, with a 38-gallon trash cart, 65-gallon recycling cart, and a 95-gallon yard waste cart. Lodi reports 30.5 percent diversion in 1995. Diversion was at 10 percent in 1990.
• Santa Monica, California, population 88,000, implemented a variable can garbage rate system in April 1992. Santa Monica reports a 32 percent decrease in residential tonnage disposal and a 13 percent increase in tons recycled.
• Quincy, Illinois, population 40,000, requires customers to place a payment tag/sticker on each unit of refuse set at the curb. Quincy reports a 20 percent decrease in disposal tonnage (200 fewer tons per month), and a 50 percent increase in recycling program tonnage.
• Capital Regional District, British Columbia (Victoria), includes four "core" municipalities (total population 200,000), each of which limits collection of refuse funded through property taxes to 100 liters per week. Additional refuse must be accompanied by a separate pre-paid garbage tag/sticker. The Regional District currently diverts 34 percent of its waste stream and is approaching its goal of 50 percent diversion by the year 2000.
• Seattle, Washington, population 500,000, has a variable can billing system for refuse. Thirty percent of Seattle's waste stream was diverted in 1988, and 40 percent was recycled by 1991. Even before Seattle's curbside recycling program began in 1987, variable rates helped inspire residents to recycle 24 percent of the city's residential waste stream.

For more information...

The U.S. EPA has a variety of resources available on how to implement unit pricing or pay-as-you-throw programs. These include a video, guidebook, and workshops. Call toll free (888) EPA-PAYT for assistance. For information about workshops in EPA Region 9 (includes California), contact Jessica Gaylord, (415) 744-2122.