Waste can be measured by weight or size, or by unit counts, identified using different types of bags, tags, containers or even RFID.
[1] There are three main types of pay-as-you-throw programmes: - Full-unit pricing: users pay for all the garbage they want collected in advance by purchasing a tag, custom bag, or selected size container.
- Partial-unit pricing: the local authority or municipality decides on a maximum number of bags or containers of garbage, with collection paid for by taxes.
[3] Additionally, PAYT programs also indirectly encourage producers to develop more efficient designs and environmentally friendly product life cycles.
[2] The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recommends making PAYT programs revenue-neutral by reducing taxes at the same time as introducing trash fees so residents don't see the latter as a new cost.
[2] Austria was the first country to implement individual waste charging in 1945, but PAYT did not catch on until the 1980s when efficient and secure systems became available to account for usage of disposal services electronically.
[10] Since 1991, the European Waste Policy has required that “part of the costs not covered by revenues from material reuse must be recovered on the polluter-pays principle.” Versions of PAYT are present in municipalities all over Europe.
[8] The city of Taipei currently runs a scheme where households and companies purchase specially printed blue bin bags, and place waste in it.
PAYT pricing has also been recently introduced in parts of Bangalore through the wastepicker cooperative Hasiru Dala, founded by Nalini Shekar.