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MassDEP reiterates required technical assistance and funding structure for pay-as-you-throw grants
Summary
MassDEP said applicants proposing pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) programs must complete a required technical assistance (TA) step and described funding caps, program options and verification metrics for the Spring 2025 PAYT grant.
Ron Cochran, regional planner and the program manager for MassDEP’s pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) grant, reviewed the agency’s approach to PAYT funding and underscored that a technical-assistance (TA) grant is required before a municipality implements PAYT.
What PAYT is: Cochran explained PAYT is a per-unit fee for household trash that excludes charges for recycling, creating a financial incentive to reduce waste and increase recycling. MassDEP staff said the department views PAYT as one of the most effective municipal waste‑reduction tools; they cited data showing reductions in household trash of 25%–50% and an average reduction near 40% for successful PAYT adopters.
TA requirement: MassDEP offers up to 80 hours of in-kind technical assistance from a municipal assistance coordinator (MAC) under the TA grant. Cochran said that since 2022 MassDEP has required the TA grant for communities seeking to adopt PAYT. The TA grant is intended to support community engagement, public meetings, FAQs, and the planning needed to design a politically and operationally viable program.
Funding structure and caps: PAYT grants are calculated by number of municipal households served and can be used for a range of implementation costs. MassDEP said there is a cap of $300,000 per award. Cochran described several program models (drop-off, curbside, hybrid, bag/tag systems, carts) and said MassDEP supports many program designs. He also highlighted a new payment element for municipalities that already have 64‑gallon automated carts collected every other week: those municipalities may be eligible for an additional $5 per household level in the grant structure to reflect the effective weekly capacity when collection is every other week.
Verification and procurement notes: Applicants seeking full PAYT points must document participation levels and, where applicable, municipal bylaws requiring private haulers to provide integrated trash-and-recycling services to prevent undercutting of municipal programs. Cochran recommended early application for TA grants because implementation can be politically and operationally complex and may take a year or more.
Ending: Cochran pointed attendees to recorded PAYT webinars and encouraged municipal staff to apply for the TA grant early to ensure readiness if the community decides to adopt PAYT.
