Save Money & Reduce Trash (SMART)
Many towns fund their waste management services using revenue from property taxes and/or a flat fee. Save Money and Reduce Trash (SMART) programs are different; they charge residents for waste disposal based on the amount they throw away. SMART programs are known by other names, including unit-based pricing (UBP) and pay-as-you-throw (PAYT). Under a SMART system, residents that produce less trash are not subsidizing those that produce more. Communities that have implemented SMART find it is an effective incentive-based program that reduces waste disposal and increases recycling.
NEWMOA worked with waste management authorities in three rural areas of New Hampshire and Vermont from 2014 to 2015 to promote SMART strategies in their communities. NEWMOA developed case studies and outreach material and organized a series of informational meetings and training workshops. NEWMOA also developed an online SMART toolkit for rural communities.
- Case Studies: documents the experiences of 11 rural communities that have implemented SMART, including before/after data when available
- Outreach Materials: SMART fact sheet for the general public and brochures for municipalities that outline the benefits of SMART and provide information on implementing a program, including case studies and advice from rural communities
- Workshop Presentations: presentations from workshops held for various regional community audiences, including municipal representatives and transfer station operators
- SMART Toolkit for Rural Communities: an information resource to support SMART programs.
This material is based upon work supported by the Utilities Programs, United States Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the view of the Utilities Program. The views expressed on this webpage do not necessarily reflect those of NEWMOA, USDA, the Project Partners, or the NEWMOA member-states.
NEWMOA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
Case Studies
In 2014, NEWMOA developed short (1 or 2 page) case studies for the following small rural municipalities with experience implementing a SMART program, including before/after data when available:
Outreach Materials
NEWMOA developed brochures that include case studies and quotes from representatives of rural communities that have implemented SMART. The version accessed by the first set of links is designed for use in any geographic location.
SMART Toolkit for Rural Communities
This toolkit contains selected information resources that agencies and groups have published, that rural communities can use to develop and implement a SMART program. The resources are grouped in three categories: Implementing Smart, Outreach Materials, Presentations, and Other Helpful Resources:
