This document summarizes a presentation about the politics of implementing a Pay-As-You-Throw waste disposal system in the town of Brewster, Massachusetts. It discusses why the town implemented PAYT, including reducing trash volumes and making the system more equitable and economical. It outlines benefits seen in other municipalities, as well as common concerns like illegal dumping. The presentation details how Brewster designed its two-part fee system and educated residents, resulting in a 47% reduction in trash and 26% increase in recycling in the first year.

1. Politics of
Pay-As-You-Throw
Presentation to MassRecycles Annual Conference
Charles Sumner, Town Administrator
Town of Brewster
March 31, 2015

2. “Why are we doing this?”
Selectmen & citizens need to UNDERSTAND before
they will support and “buy-in” to a program
Today’s Presentation
 Predicting the financial impact on the town
 Overview of why Brewster implemented PAYT
 Benefits:
 Identifying them
 Conveying them
 Common concerns and criticisms
 Making it Work

3.  Brewster is a seasonal tourism based community
of just under 10,000 year-round residents
 We have a large retiree population with 44%
over the age of 60
 We have a seasonal population of about 30,000
citizens for the 3 months summer season
 We generally seek to establish services which
meet the needs of our year-round population,
but which can also be easily adapted to meet the
3-month population influx

4.  Brewster had a typical residential drop off
Waste Transfer Station, handling about 2,700
tons of solid waste and 800 tons of recycling
annually
 We charged a single “price” to use the Transfer
Station in the form of a “vehicle pass”.
 The annual fee was $110 for the 1st vehicle and
$20 for each additional vehicle

5. Effective
25% - 50% decrease in trash volumes in Massachusetts
Equitable
You pay for only what you throw out, and nothing more.
Environmental
Less trash burned or buried / fewer trucks on the road.
Economical
Can save money for residents and the Town

6. The total amount of waste reduction is a product of
where you start from, the fee structure, and
enforcement
Municipalities with PAYT generate
between 425-525 pounds of trash
per capita.
Recyclable material volume will
increase by approximately 25% as
trash decreases
The remaining reduction in solid waste is related to
home composting at home, changes in purchasing
habits, donating to charity, etc.

7. For some, Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) was a four letter
word.
Instead, start-out with a better name :
• We used the terminology of “Save Money And
Reduce Trash” (SMART)
• Unit-Based Pricing
• Variable-Rate Pricing
• Volume or User-Based Pricing
• “Green bag” program

8. Residents pay an annual permit fee to cover
operational costs of the transfer station or curbside
collection program
PAYT bags are priced to cover the cost
of transporting and disposing of trash
and sold a local retail locations
Multiple vendors are available to
handle the production, distribution,
and billing of PAYT bags

9. Brewster opted to cover our costs using two
components:
1. Fixed overhead costs are covered via a “annual use
permit” which is a sticker assigned to each vehicle
using the premises. We decreased our fee from $110
to $45.
2. Variable (volume-based) costs are covered via the
“unit-price” for the bag. We offer 3 different sized
bags:
• Small = 8 gallons = 10 pounds = $0.50/bag
• Medium = 15 gallons = 15 pounds = $1.00/bag
• Large = 33 gallons = 25 ponds = $2.00/bag

10. • Program implemented October 3, 2013
• 47% reduction in trash in first year
• 26% increase in recycling in first year
• One year savings in disposal costs of $59,838

13. 1. Illegal dumping
2. Impact on large families and low income residents
3. Perception that PAYT is a new tax
4. Educating year round & seasonal residents

14. .
• Typically occurs with large bulky items (couches, fridges)
• Results of a 2010 national PAYT survey:*
• Where it does occur, it tends to go away after 3 months
• Enforcement actions may be necessary if there is a problem
• Brewster has not seen any significant change or problem
Ranking Before PAYT After PAYT
A- No problem at all 0% 0%
B- Very slight issue 21% 43%
C- Medium problem 7% 7%
D- Large issue 21% 14%
F- Huge Problem 7% 0%
Don't know / wasn't there 43% 28%
* Skumatz, Lisa A., Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc. (SERA).

15. .
The Brewster Board of Selectmen
adopted a special waiver process,
whereby citizens can request a subsidy in
the form of a periodic allotment of PAYT
bags and/or a “trash amnesty” for a
hardship event.
So far (since 2013) no one has applied.

16. The members of the Board of Selectmen, the
Recycling Committees and administrative staff
worked very hard to explain that the fee was
simply being divided into 2 segments, and that
given the lower vehicle permit price, most
residents would experience a substantial
reduction in household costs for waste
This expectation has proven to be true.

17. 1. Brewster’s Volunteer Recycling Committee and our
administrative staff committed to take the time
necessary to really explain the program and answer
questions.
2. We provided 3 public presentations
3. We provided educational information that was
distributed in the property tax bill
4. We produced 2 flyers and provided demonstrations at
the Vehicle Permit Office/Visitor Center and the
Recycling Center
5. We used our cable TV and Town’s web site to
broadcast information and reach out to our citizens
and visitors

18. 1. Start-up costs
2. Public education and community forums
3. Implementation Process

19. .
 Barnstable County provided consulting
services via Dave Quinn, their Recycling
Services Coordinator
 Brewster utilized about $40,000 from our
existing solid waste budget to purchase
bags and produce educational materials
 Brewster invested monies in terms of
refreshing the existing facility and signage

20. .
 Brewster’s Volunteer Recycling Committee and our administrative
staff were committed to take the time necessary to really explain
the program and answer questions.
 We rebranded our Transfer Station to the “Brewster Recycling
Center”
 We utilized a changeable copy road sign reminding users of the
start date and the need for trash to be contained in the
designated bags.
 We produced informational flyers and provided demonstrations.
 Citizen volunteers staffed the Recycling during the initial program
implementation to explain the program .
 We used our Cable TV and electronic media to broadcast
information and reach out to or citizens and visitors alike.
 We added a PAYT information option on our automated phone
system

21. 1. Brewster announced a Fall implementation date,
about one year in advance.
2. We scheduled our start date after the Summer
season to take advantage of lower user volume, and
to allow for residents to learn and “try-out” the
process, before our visitors arrived.
3. I can’t stress enough the heavy outreach and a
robust education program that we provided.
4. We used Waste Zero , who streamlined organizing
and coordinating the PAYT Bag vendors and
distribution network
5. We were blessed with a great group of “SMART” and
dedicated volunteers who were confident that we
could accomplish great things.

22. We adopted our PAYT program via a policy
action by the Board of Selectmen rather then a
vote at Town Meeting
We did have a resident submit a citizens’
petition warrant article at Town Meeting in order
to overturn the Selectmen’s actions
Civil disobedience & citizen resistance

23. Questions?
Charles Sumner
Town Administrator
Town of Brewster
csumner@brewster-ma.gov
(508) 896-3701