Town of Greenwich

For updates and more information visit: https://www.greenwichct.gov/1596/Pay-As-You-Throw-PAYT

The FY2020-2021 Budget presented many challenges to our Town, including drastic increases in waste removal and recycling costs. To mitigate the impact, the First Selectman’s FY2020-2021 Budget includes a Pay As You Throw (PAYT) system for waste management. This page is intended to be a one-stop-shop for PAYT. Below you will find information and documentation related to PAYT. We update this page with new information and documents throughout the budget process.

Key Takeaways

• Taxpayers currently pay about $3.7million per year to have trash transported from Holly Hill Transfer Station to an incinerator. Residents and businesses have no control over their direct trash costs. Good recyclers and people who produce little trash are forced to subsidize people who don’t recycle and properties that produce lots of trash.
• Waste disposal costs continue to rise and, starting in the upcoming fiscal year, the Town will also have to pay (for the first time) to have recycling removed from Holly Hill.
• Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is the best solution, recommended by both the EPA and CT DEEP, for reducing trash and saving taxpayers money. There are over 500 PAYT communities in New England. Data shows the program is extremely effective – in Massachusetts alone communities with PAYT produce 65% less trash per household than communities without.
• How would this work? Starting October 1, 2020, instead of throwing trash away in regular trash bags, residents and businesses would use an official Town trash bag, available for purchase at retail locations throughout town. The price of the official Town bag is based directly on the expense the Town pays to have trash incinerated. This gives everyone personal control over their direct trash cost – just like water, electric, cable, and all utilities. Reduce your trash, reduce your cost! Other than switching trash bags, everything else stays the same.
• PAYT has strong financial benefits for Greenwich taxpayers because it reduces total trash & ends current subsidies, as well as proven significant benefits for the environment.