Local governments cannot tell private companies how much they can charge for their services. Under the Pay as You Throw (PAYT) program, waste haulers will be required to provide curbside recycling collection to all customers who have trash collection. This combination of recycling and trash service will be offered for one monthly price.  In addition, towns will require that waste haulers offer three sizes of trash bins (small, medium and large—which will be defined with gallon sizes). The small trash bin with recycling service will be considered the “base” rate. The medium trash bin service level will cost 80% more than the base rate, and the large trash bin service level will be an additional 80% increase from the base rate. The lower cost of the smaller trash bins incentivizes residents to recycle more and produce less trash.  Please watch HC3’s informational video forum for further details.

Based on data from other communities with PAYT in place, we expect 50% or more of full-time residents to opt for a medium or small trash bin. In other Colorado communities, residents that opt for the small trash bins have saved money compared to pre-PAYT pricing, and residents who have opted for large trash bins are paying more than before PAYT was in place. In the same way that residents pay less for electricity or water than their neighbors who use more electricity and water, people that produce less trash will now pay less than their neighbors who generate more garbage.

Waste Management and Timberline will purchase the new bins. These companies prefer to use their own bins, as they know they work with their trucks and have branding that is visible down the street. Some of the smaller waste haulers require customers to buy their own bins, but this will not be a change since that's the way it currently works. If a Waste Management or Timberline customer has their own bin that works with that company's trucks and is approved by that company, a customer can continue to use their own bin.

The trash providers will keep any large bins that are traded in for smaller sizes, as long as the bins are in good condition and don't have an old company name (such as a company that is no longer in service). There is adequate demand for bins, so the companies will keep them in rotation. HC3 expects to offer a temporary bin recycling program for customers to bring old bins that are damaged or have old company names on them.