Implementation and Evaluation of a Pay-As-You-Throw Policy for Municipal Solid Waste: An AHP-Based Analysis
Gideon Oron*, Dana Ronen, Itamar Gruber and Shani Byron
ABSTRACT
The rapid growth of municipal solid waste (MSW) poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges worldwide. In Israel, waste generation has increased steadily, with limited household-level accountability mechanisms. This study evaluates the feasibility of implementing a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) policy as a strategy for improving waste management efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Four alternatives were assessed: (i) the current landfill-based system without monitoring, (ii) standardized garbage bags, (iii) smart bins equipped with weighing systems, and (iv) weighing systems integrated into waste collection trucks. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to rank these alternatives based on technical, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural criteria. Additionally, a 28-day field experiment involving fifteen households examined behavioural responses to waste monitoring and incentive mechanisms. Results indicate that the collecting truck-based weighing system is the most favourable alternative (36.5%), followed closely by smart bins (34.7%). The field experiment demonstrates that both awareness and incentives significantly reduce waste generation. The findings highlight the importance of integrating technological solutions with behavioural interventions to ensure successful policy implementation.
