Why are PAYT bag fees increasing? An explainer

PAYT bag fees are increasing in 2022 — in a news release, Town Administrator Evan Brassard explains why.

The Town of Grafton’s Sanitation program is experiencing unprecedented increases in disposal costs for Municipal Solid Waste. To compound this issue, the price and availability of extruded plastic products have also increased dramatically. 

These two issues together have caused the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) program to become unsustainable without intervention in the form of high prices for trash bags. 

The traditional PAYT model for Grafton is funded 50 percent through taxation and 50 percent through bag fees. Currently, due to increasing costs and market forces, the bag fees are only covering 34 percent of the total cost of the program. 

PAYT programs are intended to be the most equitable way to dispose of municipal waste. The underlying principle is that the less waste you create, the less you pay. For those who create less waste or find ways to divert waste items (such as composting) from the waste stream, the net cost of the program will be less than those who are creating high amounts of refuse. 

Many folks will be unhappy with any increase to the PAYT program; we hear you and understand. We have also been listening when you tell us about the quality control issues with these bags. 

Please know, we are currently working with two vendors to procure different bags with the overarching goal of increasing the quality of the product. As we work through the pandemic and current supply chain issues, we have been wary of switching suppliers as other communities have dealt with lengthy delays and bag shortages. It is our plan to have the new bags in stores in the early months of 2022. 

Beginning January 1, 2022, a small roll of bags (5 bags) will sell for $7, and a large roll of bags (5 bags) will be $12.60. 

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