Sample Implementation Timeline
To successfully implement pay-as-you-throw,
there are many steps planners will need to perform. To help you better understand
this process, below is a sample timeline from a hypothetical community called
Paytville.
A town of about 50,000, Paytville has begun to consider implementing a bag-based
pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) program. Town planners created this timeline to
help guide their program's development. Because each community begins the
process of implementing PAYT with unique issues and circumstances, the implementation
steps you follow-and the timing of those steps-could vary from this sample.
Review the activities Paytville undertook to design and implement its
program, using the links to access further information as needed. For
each step, decide whether it belongs on your community's timeline, and,
if so, where on your timeline it should be placed. Consider also whether
there are any additional steps not listed below that you will need to
perform.
Remember: this sample timeline may not include every implementation
step necessary as you pursue public and political support for PAYT in
your community.
Implementation Timeline for Paytville
The timeline for Paytville's PAYT program covers the
period from 18 months before implementation through ongoing program
maintenance. To view a specific implementation stage, click on the corresponding
link on the horizontal timeline below. Or simply scroll down this page
to read in chronological order each of the steps the town plans to follow.
 |
 |
|
18 months before
implementation 
|
|
|
15 months before
implementation 
|
- Form task
force, including representatives from community civic groups,
collection crews, mayor's office, and likely bag retailers
- Begin planning public
outreach and education effort
- Determine data collection/program
monitoring needs; design collection and reporting procedures
- Compare bags against
other container options, make final
container selection
- Create rate
structure design (RSD) group including DPW managers and
municipal accounting/finance personnel
|
|
12 months before
implementation
|
- Begin monitoring recycling
levels, waste amounts shipped to landfill
- Determine whether to
expand recycling program, develop
yard trimmings collection program
- RSD group reports on
initial findings, including possible per-bag
prices and any equipment/staffing needs
- Design a pilot
program for the North Paytville neighborhoods
- Present initial program
planning activities to task force, seek input
|
|
9 months before
implementation
|
-
Implement North Paytville
pilot program; dedicate a staff member to answering residents' questions
and monitoring results
-
Begin implementing community-wide
public outreach: presentations to key community groups, utility
bill inserts, and press releases to Paytville Times
- Determine bag specifications
and issue RFP
- Recruit retailers to
sell bags
- Analyze/determine need
for customer service representatives (CSRs) and other administration
and staffing issues
- Review existing ordinances
to decide if any changes/new ordinances are needed
- Establish enforcement
procedures for program
- Consider rate assistance
for low-income or other special populations
- RSD group presents
proposed rates for staff and task force review
- Report to task force,
seek input
|
|
6 months before
implementation
|
-
Evaluate lessons learned
from North Paytville pilot program, continue monitoring results
-
Continue public outreach;
prepare fact sheet with complete program information and answers to
common program frequent questions
- Plan for implementing
new yard trimmings program and changes to recycling upon PAYT implementation
- Prepare system for
collecting bulky waste items under the new program
- Draft any new ordinances
or changes to existing ones determined necessary from earlier analysis
- Select bag vendor and
prepare system for purchasing bags and selling to retailers
- Work with retailers
on bag delivery, invoice schedule, and inventory monitoring
- Develop criteria for
special populations assistance
- If needed, begin hiring
and training CSRs, other staff (hire longer term, higher responsibility
positions first)
- Decide whether to include
apartment/multi-family housing residents
in the program and, if so, how
- RSD group presents
final rates
- Report to task force,
seek input
|
|
3 months before implementation
|
-
Continue public outreach;
include the program participation fact sheet in last utility bill
before implementation
- Enact new ordinances
- Train enforcement personnel
- Complete training of
CSRs to answer telephone questions from residents
- Develop "error tags"
collection crews can attach to any trash not in bags or over maximum
weight
- Begin receiving and
processing requests for assistance from special populations
- One month prior to
implementation, retailers begin selling bags
to residents
|
|
Upon
implementation
|
-
Begin expanded recycling
collections, yard trimmings collections, new bulky waste collection
system
- Ensure sufficient CSRs
available to answer telephone questions
- Collection crews continue
to pick up trash not in program bags or over maximum weight for
one month, then begin leaving trash with "error tags" attached as
needed
- Continue close monitoring
of waste amounts, recycling levels
|
|
Ongoing activities |
-
Reevaluate
program CSR staffing needs
- Monitor bag inventory,
obtain and sell new bags as needed to retailers
- Continue program monitoring;
issue quarterly program reports on results
to mayor and town council
- Conduct annual customer
service evaluation
- Consider program adjustments
as needed
- Revise and distribute
new public education materials as needed
|
Top of Page
![[logo] US EPA](../gif/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
