Pay-as-you-Throw (PAYT) may be introduced as a partial PAYT or a full PAYT program. Full PAYT programs achieve higher waste diversion rates than Partial PAYT programs since homeowners required to pay for each bag of waste set out tend to try and reduce their costs over time. According to the 2014 Datacall, almost half (43%) of all Ontario households (excluding Toronto) must comply with partial or full PAYT programs. Of these, most households (34%) are part of a partial PAYT program, with the remaining (9%) under a full PAYT program.

Factors in making this choice are:

• Characteristics of the community
• Residents willingness to accept a full PAY. Notably, residents tend to believe that they already pay for waste service in the mill rate so there’s a perception of a double tax unless you offer a rebate. To address this complaint, advance P&E is required showing the underlying accounting to explain that even in full PAYT systems the tag doesn’t typically cover the full service cost except in multi-residential situations.
• Council support
• Average number of waste bags placed out for collection, based on set out monitoring.
• Existing waste alternatives such as strict bag limits, landfill bans, recycling, composting, yard waste and/or food waste diversion policies that permit residents to avoid waste placed at the curb. The fewer the existing alternative waste diversion services, the less likely a full PAYT policy will be well received by residents.
• The level of interest/demand by residents to reduce waste landfilled, community environmental activism and their willingness to pay for each bag of waste set out for collection.
• External factors, such as a limited remaining landfill space or a new waste management contract with higher disposal costs.

Most municipalities initially implement a partial PAYT policy. A transition to full PAYT can be adopted at some future date if required/desired. Over a number of years, the municipality may gradually reduce bag limits for free collection. This approach helps residents change their diversion behavior over time and ease into a full PAYT program.

The two alternatives commonly used by municipalities involve prepaid tags or bags.

Selling through Outlets

Most communities distribute tags/bags to outlets to be resold to residents. Typically, the outlets will be centrally located to a majority of residents and visited frequently. Making access to tags/bags as convenient as possible for residents is critical, especially in communities with full PAYT policies. Common outlets used by municipalities include:

• Grocery stores
• Convenience stores
• Pharmacies
• Hardware stores
• Gas stations
• Libraries
• Town halls/municipal offices
• Waste management facilities (e.g. landfill, transfer stations)

Examples of locations used by municipalities:

• Wellington County (full PAYT) sells bags through 61 outlets including grocery stores, pharmacies and municipal offices in all the towns
• City of Barrie (partial 1 bag PAYT) sells tags through 23 outlets including grocery stores, convenience store, hardware stores and community centers
• Owen Sound (full PAYT) sells tags through 11 outlets including City Hall & Public Works offices, library, grocery stores and two convenience stores
• Richmond Hill (partial 1.5 bag PAYT) sells tags though 16 locations including arenas, libraries, municipal offices and communication centers

Ordering Tags On-Line

Halton and Peel Region allow residents to order tags on-line or by phone, which provides added convenience and enhanced customer service. On-line tag sales account for 12% and 13% respectively of total tag sales. All tags are mailed or couriered to the resident.

Compensation for Retailers

Municipalities often financially compensate retailers by allowing them to keep some of the sale price of the tag/bag. Retailers also benefit from the additional traffic and sales of other products.

Some compensation examples include:

• $0.20/tag – Niagara Region, Region of Peel, Simcoe County
• $0.25/tag – Halton Region
• City of Barrie, at launch of the policy, retailers were not compensated financially but their company names were identified in the waste calendar and they were provided with a sign to put in their window. The City continues the practice but also identifies the retailers on the City’s website
• Wellington County sells bags at waste facilities, some municipal offices and a number of retailers. Retailers must sign a vendor agreement, (sample copy), and receive a 5% administration fee. Bags are delivered to retailers and municipal facilities using County staff. They are sold to retailers in cases, (20 packages/case)

Distribution Directly to Residents

Some communities choose to provide some free tags/bags to residents at the beginning of each year, especially during the first years of PAYT, which is thought to ease residents into using the tags and reduce concerns about the cost of the policy. This approach allows residents to save tags for the future and use them when deemed necessary. Municipalities may directly distribute tags by inclusion with;

• utility bills
• tax notices
• waste management calendars
• direct mail
• community service organizations, e.g. scouts, guides, charitable canvassers

Communities often allow a grace period (soft start) for residents to adjust to the new PAYT policy by notifying residents of a problem for the first several collection days and eventually leaving the waste behind. An “oops” sticker should be attached to the bag left behind explaining why.

Providing Courtesy Tags at Policy Launch

Providing some courtesy tags to residents at the launch of the PAYT policy helps them transition into full compliance.  The number of courtesy tags can range from 2 to 10, depending on the community.

• Niagara Region provided 2 free tags.
• Region of Peel provided 12 free tags.
• Durham Region provided 10 free tags.
• Halton Region provided 30 free tags, with an expiry date.

Most communities do not have an expiry date on free tags. The City of Barrie chose not to issue courtesy tags but introduced the first month as a grace period in which collection crews would collect the untagged bag and leave a notice behind explaining the policy.

Explaining How to Use Tags

Reduce problems for staff and residents by making sure that residents understand how to use the tags properly prior to launch. Simple instructions can be added to the back of the tags, written into notices, public service announcements, newsletters and added to the waste management web pages.

The City of Stratford, on its waste collection webpage, asks residents to:

• Wrap the tag around the neck of a bag or the handle of a can. Tags will be thrown out with the bag or torn off the handle of a can each time it is set out.
• Stick the tag to itself; do not stick it flat on the surface of the bag.
• The tag is not a twist tie, so do not try to tie your bag with it.

If residents use a waste can or cart, ask them to affix the tags on the top bag of waste in the can or cart. Collection crews need to immediately see the tag upon lifting the lid and tossing the tag with the bag saves crews time and litter by not having to rip tags off container handles.

Municipalities can help residents transition to a PAYT policy and assist residents with special needs by introducing amnesty days and/or special exemptions for families with infants and medical waste.

Amnesty and Double-up Days

Some communities permit residents to set out additional amounts of waste without requiring tags on a designated “amnesty day” or permit a “double-up day” on the next collection following a holiday.

Halton Region: First collection following Christmas – all 6 bags without tags (instead of regular 3 tagged)

City of Kingston: First collections following New Year’s Day, Victoria Day, and Labour Day -2 untagged bags

Simcoe County: First collections following, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas -1 untagged bag

Niagara Region: First collection following Christmas – 1 additional untagged bag

Diapers

Municipalities may choose to help families with infants in diapers by issuing free tags or other exemptions. The number of tags issued depends on the municipality but typically range from 40 to 52 per year, allowing residents to set out an additional bag of waste/wk. equivalent.

While most municipalities require families to complete applications, some (e.g. Niagara Region, Orillia and Kingston) have simplified the process by allowing families to place 1-2 clear bags containing only diapers at the curb for collection without requiring tags. Crews are given a list of households permitted to set out the diapers in clear bags.

Medical Waste

Municipalities may choose to help families with medical conditions by issuing free tags or other exemptions. The number of tags issued depends on the municipality but typically range from 40 to 52 per year, allowing residents to set out an additional bag of waste/wk. equivalent. Most municipalities require residents to complete an application.

Examples:

• Niagara, households and/or group homes and homes for adults with disabilities, will receive 52 free waste tags annually and additional tags will be made available on a case by case basis, subject to an annual application process and doctor’s signature every 3 years.
• Kingston, issues 52 tags permitting the resident to place 1 extra bag per week. The resident must complete an application, subject to renewal, and provide a note from a medical practitioner stating that the bag limit would be exceeded without the exemption (actual medical condition does not need to be disclosed).
• Barrie, residents are couriered 26 tags at the beginning of each year or pro-rated depending on the time. This permits 1 additional bag set out every other week.
• Hamilton, permits 1 bag to be set out weekly but does not permit tags to be purchased; however, after problems encountered with illegal dumping and public backlash, the City started to provide all households with 12 free tags annually. Special cases (e.g. medical and families with infants) can receive an additional 14 tags after filling out an application. Other householders can also request additional tags by completing an application and will receive 14 additional tags above the 12 distributed (only 4% of households request the additional tags). They must apply each year.

Many municipalities require the household to agree to participate in existing alternative waste diversion programs offered by the municipality as a condition of receiving the exemption.

Enforcement is a necessary component of any successful PAYT policy, especially during the early stages of implementation. Enforcement procedures ensure the PAYT system operates smoothly, fairly and cost effectively.

Residents need to be made aware that illegal dumping or misuse of tags will not be tolerated. Enforcement procedures and fines should be introduced into local waste management bylaws and considered a last resort after promotion and education. The better informed residents are about the policy and the benefits to the community, the less need for enforcement.

Enforcement of illegal dumping requires immediate action with the waste collected and sorted to find the owner. Once identified, the municipality should have procedures in place to deal with the infraction.