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John Trotti MSW Management Editor

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MSW Editor's Blog

May 11th, 2009 9:17am PST

How Are We Going to Pay the Bill?

Posted By John Trotti 2 Comments

In several of my recent electronic editorials (blogs…ugh), I’ve raised the question of how we should be paying for waste management and its various programs as we go forward, and the truth is that I don’t know…and neither do a lot of people with whom I’ve spoken in recent weeks.

Most rely on tip fees and collection billings to cover costs. Many give up a portion of their proceeds to other jurisdictional entities, and nearly all support recycling and public information programs. In light of reduced waste and recycled sales receipts against a backdrop of continuing and perhaps rising HR, equipment, O&M, and regulatory compliance costs, the majority feel that the current situation is fraught with difficulty if not peril. To the extent that you face—or have faced—these same concerns, what do you see as the underlying problems and possible solutions?

So how about sharing your thoughts and plans in the space below or with me directly at jtrotti@forester.net?

What Do You Think?

Post a Comment

vanya189

July 7th, 2009 9:32 AM PT

I would like to find a model Pay-As-You-Throw program for yard wastes. If residents can buy yard waste bags at Ace, Home Depot, Lowes, etc, why can't a city sell the bags for the same cost and have them coded as pre-paid and use the revenue that is now going to private businesses anyway? Its one way of protecting the tax rate from climbing to cover cuttings and clippings pickup, and subsequent composting.

oldman

May 13th, 2009 9:18 PM PT

unfortunately there can be no solution that satisfies everybody. Waste is a social service and charging economic prices, for costs, undermines the public good. What can be done, though, is to improve productivity and somehow bring down unit costs of service. That would require consolidation and retrenchment. Then we could achieve economic good but with social costs.

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