International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

The case of Schweinfurt is truly outstanding. Here, an already high-performing system
was made more so by the application of an intelligently designed hybrid pay-by-use
scheme. Weight-based systems, if not designed in this manner (i.e. with a frequencybased
charging element), might lead to high set out rates of bins with small quantities
of waste. Here, the inclusion of both weight- and frequency-based charges acts to
incentivise low set out rates of refuse bins. Citizens have clearly responded to this
incentive (so that savings in the quantity of residual waste set out for collection
translate into genuine savings in the collection system). The study clearly points the
way towards ‘tailor-made’ incentive schemes to achieve specific objectives.
Generally, waste prevention effects are highest where schemes have previously
collected biowaste free of charge, and have then introduced charges for the biowaste
container. A key factor in this ‘prevention’ appears to be increased home composting.
There is clearly a view that weight-based pricing affects waste quantities in the
strongest manner, but there is some concern that such approaches can give a greater
stimulus to illegal behaviour. On the other hand, it is clear that ‘subscription-style’
charging, where households sign up to a particular service option at the
commencement of a given period, has least effect as it gives little stimulus, at the
margin, for behavioural change. Consequently, charges per bag, or on the frequency
of the pick-up, or on the weight of the refuse set out, or a combination of the last two,
tend to be the most favoured options. Weight-based systems may offer the promise of
better performance, but without being coupled to frequency based charges, they may
fail to derive any benefit from improving the efficiency of the refuse collection
logistics.
9.13 Prerequisites for Introduction
A basic prerequisite for the introduction of waste charges is a legal regulation
requiring local waste charge statutes. Also, households need to be ‘connected’ to the
system – the approach used in German law is a specific obligation for households to
dispose of waste through the local waste disposal service. Charging at containerparks
is also necessary to ensure that no evasion of charges takes place.
In regard to the technical/logistical aspects of operating the pay-per-volume system, it
is important to integrate bar code reader systems (or alternative bin-chip systems)
with collection operations. Additional coordination of appropriate collection
frequencies is also important.
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International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes