Reducing greenhouse gases using the pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system

Abstract

According to many meteorologists, the annual temperature increase brought about by greenhouse gases (GHG) can heighten the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events. These changes will likely be accompanied by a continual rise in sea levels, and may exacerbate already existing natural hazards. Lots of GHG are emitted from waste transportation by trucks, waste combustion in incinerators, and waste decomposition in landfills. Meanwhile, waste collection fee systems in many countries rely heavily on public expenses, resulting in a huge generation of waste. The author argues that a flat waste collection fee system through taxation represents a kind of subsidy that will allow consumers to generate more waste and more GHG emissions. In relative terms, the data from experience regarding the pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system in the United States can be used to understand the ambiguous relationships between GHG emissions, climate change, and waste generation. Based on data analysis of the PAYT system in US, this paper attempts to develop a sustainable garbage collection and recycling method from the point of view of GHG emissions reduction. © 2011 WIT Press.