overview of brewster's smart program 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Politics of Pay-As-You-Throw
Presentation to MassRecycles Annual Conference
Charles Sumner, Town Administrator
Town of Brewster
March 31, 2015
“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
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
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
Effective25% - 50% decrease in trash volumes in Massachusetts
EquitableYou pay for only what you throw out, and nothing more.
EnvironmentalLess trash burned or buried / fewer trucks on the road.
EconomicalCan save money for residents and the Town
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.
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
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
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
• 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
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
. • 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).
.
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.
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.
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
1. Start-up costs
2. Public education and community forums
3. Implementation Process
.
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
. 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
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.
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
