The Town of Jackson will implement a Pay-As-You-Throw ordinance on August 1st, changing how residents and businesses pay for trash collection. Announced on March 7th, this new system shifts from a flat fee to a usage-based model, charging based on the amount of waste produced. Over 7,000 U.S. communities use this approach, which aims to cut waste, boost recycling, and lower costs, much like paying for water or electricity.
To explain the transition, the Sustainability Series will host “Waste Less, Save More: Pay-As-You-Throw Explained” on March 11th at 5:30 p.m. in Teton County Library’s Ordway Auditorium. Tanya Anderson, Jackson’s Ecosystem Stewardship Administrator, will outline the program, detail its benefits, and take questions. The event, organized by Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities, Riverwind Foundation, Energy Conservation Works, and Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling, requires no RSVP and offers childcare.
Teton County has explored this system for over a decade to manage rising trash volumes from population growth and tourism. Hauling waste over 100 miles to Bonneville County, Idaho, has driven up costs. The new model lets trash haulers provide various cart sizes and pickup schedules, tailored to user needs. Becky Kiefer, Teton County Superintendent of Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling, noted that it gives control over costs while promoting sustainability. In Fort Collins, Colorado, a similar program launched in 1996 increased residential recycling from 53% to 79% in one year.
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