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 to promote SMART strategies to 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. The project activities, findings, recommendations, and conclusions are documented in the Project Report.

• 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 information on implementing a program, including case studies and advice from rural communities
• Workshop Presentations: presentations from outreach workshops held for various regional community audiences, including municipal representatives and transfer station operators
• SMART Toolkit for Rural Communities: an information resource for developing and implementing a SMART program

For more information, contact Jennifer Griffith at

_{This material is based on work supported by the Utilities Program, 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.}

NEWMOA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.