| Sumario: | A study was conducted to examine household behavior under alternative pay-as-you-throw systems for solid-waste disposal. Data were drawn from from a 1994 survey of residents of Marietta, Georgia, across 16 sanitation routes. Rather than pay a fixed monthly fee for collection, half of the residents paid a fee per reusable trash can, and half paid for each nonreusable trash bag collected. Findings revealed that the programs significantly reduced waste set-outs, even after accounting for increases in recycling. In addition, the bag program caused bigger reductions than the trash-can program, with reduction figures of 36 percent and 14 percent respectively. Rough estimates of the program suggest both savings for residents and social welfare increases.
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