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Gainesville, FL
More Success Stories
Why Pay-As-You-Throw? | How Does It Work? | Planning Ahead | Success: Saving Money and Reducing Waste
The results of the first year of our program were amazing. After implementing pay-as-you-throw, we watched our recycling rates soar!
Why Pay-As-You-Throw?
Before variable-rate pricing, the cost to individuals for service was hidden. Residential users did not have an apparent reason to limit their disposal habits. Now, Gainesville's variable-rate pricing generates a visible monthly charge that has resulted in a substantial reduction in both solid waste and the costs associated with its disposal.
How Does It Work?
Gainesville, FL
- Population:96,000
- Type of Community: Suburban
- Type of Program: Cart-based Cans
- Program Start Date: July 1994
In July 1994, the city of Gainesville entered into a contract with Waste Management of Central Florida, Inc., for the collection of residential solid waste and commingled recyclables and into another contract with Boone Waste Industries, Inc., for the collection of yard trash for recycling. The new contract for solid waste service included a variable rate for residential collections: residents pay $13.50, $15.96, or $19.75 per month according to whether they place 35, 64, or 96 gallons of solid waste at the curb for collection.
Recycling service is unlimited. While residents have had curbside collection of recyclables since 1989, the implementation of this program added brown paper bags, corrugated cardboard, and phone books to the list of items recycled.
Planning Ahead
Planning ahead was critical to the success of Gainesville's program. It was crucial for us to order our carts and public outreach publications far in advance of program implementation.
Success: Saving Money and Reducing Waste
The results of the first year of our program were amazing. The amount of solid waste collected decreased 18 percent, and the recyclables recovered increased 25 percent! The total disposal tonnage decreased from 22,120 to 18,116. This resulted in a savings of $186,200 to the residential sector, or $7.95 per home.
Gainesville's move to a cart-based, variable-rate residential collection system did more than just increase the rate of recovery and minimize disposal needs. The distribution of system costs is more equitable. Residents make the choice of service delivery based on individual waste-generation habits. This reduces the level of subsidy that unlimited, flat-rate collection systems encounter.
More Information
- View and print this success story (PDF) (2 pp, 138K about PDF).
- Gainesville's success story was compiled by Gina Hawkins, Recycling Coordinator, 352-334-5040.
- To order a complete set of Pay-As-You-Throw Success Stories free of charge, call 1-888-EPA-PAYT or access our online order form.
