Waste Equity (Pay-As-You-Throw)
Waste Equity (Pay-As-You-Throw)
Discussion Title: [Feedback]: Fairness, Dumping, and the “Diaper Dilemma”
We are stress-testing the Waste Equity (Pay-As-You-Throw) model.
💼 For The City / CFO
The “Cobra Effect”: If we charge per bag, will people start illegally dumping trash in commercial dumpsters or roadside ditches? How do we prevent this (e.g., locking bins, rapid cleanup crews)?
🧪 For Environmentalists
Verification: Does the “Recycling” stream actually get recycled, or does it go to the landfill anyway? We need an audit of the local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
🏠 For Large Families
Fairness: Does this policy unfairly penalize families with unavoidable waste (e.g., diapers, medical supplies)? Should there be a “Medical Variance” allowance?
Draft Implementation Notes
- Pilot Pay-As-You-Throw in a small district with robust monitoring for illegal dumping.
- Create exemptions/credits for households with medical needs or large families.
- Require annual independent audits of MRF outcomes and publish diversion rates.