SMMP Credit 8: Market-Based Waste Management Program Policy (1-3 points)

Non-Reciprocal

Intent: Use market mechanisms to reduce waste generation and to incentivize more efficient waste management systems.

Local Government Requirements:

Adopt the following incentive/market-based policies.

Tier 1: (1 point)

Develop and adopt 2 or more policies/programs.

Tier 2: (1 point)

Develop and adopt 4 or more policies/programs.

Tier 3: (1 point)

Develop and adopt 6 or more policies/programs.

Sample list of potential based policies and programs

●      Pay-as-you-throw variable pricing for waste management services. 

●      Offer and promote no-cost annual business waste assessment/audit with recommendations for “right-sizing”.

●      Incentives for product ‘lightweighting’ through EPP guidelines.

●      Tax breaks or other incentives for donations to non-profit food rescue or other intermediate material reuse organizations.

●      Tax breaks and/or other incentives for difficult to recycle materials such as mattresses and Styrofoam.

●      Incentives for xeriscaping or other policies to reduce grass planting and drought tolerant landscaping

●      Optimize and incentivize procurement policies for products and materials that are recyclable and have recycled content.

●      Creation of recycling market development zones.

●      Adoption of reward-based recycling incentive programs, such as Recyclebank & other loyalty-based buyback programs. 

●      Advanced disposal/processing fees; e.g. Tire and battery disposal fees, and any other container reuse/recovery fees.

●      Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements in Local Government procurement or requirements for retail establishments should conform with Version 4 of SMaRT Sustainable Product Standard, or an equivalent standard that has an operational reuse prerequisite and credit for end-of-life reuse in excess of 35 percent.

●      Other programs as defined by the Local Government

Industry Requirements: Not applicable.

 Potential Strategies:

●      Evaluate the best combination of options to sustainably manage materials in the Local Government and develop an ordinance to adopt these programs.

●      Ensure that dedicated resources are allocated for execution of the Sustainable Materials Management strategies.