CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP

CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP (HYBRID) Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM Council Chambers Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/hir-bifd-jxt Page A. ROLL CALL B. WORKSHOP DISCUSSION 1) Pay As You Throw 6 POSITION PAPER OF THE CITY MANAGER The City Council is being asked to provide guidance on whether staff should continue developing a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program, with or without a municipal curbside compost program, for future Council consideration. PAYT is a variable pricing model where households are charged for trash collection based on the amount of waste they discard, much like how utilities like water or electricity are billed. The more waste generated by a home, the higher the cost. Due in large part to the financial incentive to reduce what households put into the waste stream, PAYT programs result in increased rates of recycling. Background The City Council previously held a workshop on PAYT on June 15, 2023. At that time, there were not four Councilors interested in moving the proposal forward. However, at a workshop on July 9, 2024 where the Sustainability Director sought guidance on prioritizing recommendations from the City’s One Climate Future plan, a majority of Councilors requested that staff bring back a revised PAYT proposal within approximately one year. The attached memo from the Sustainability Department presents that revised proposal. Staff recommends a bag-based PAYT system using existing trash carts, paired with an opt-in municipal curbside compost program. Under the proposed model, residents who receive City trash collection would purchase official City trash bags in either a small or large size. Trash would be placed in those bags and then placed inside the resident’s existing City trash cart for normal weekly collection. Residents would continue using their existing recycling cart, and under the PAYT plus compost option, eligible households could also opt into curbside compost collection at no additional direct charge beyond the overall program Page 1 of 15 cost. The bag-based model is intended to work with the City’s current automated collection system and would not require residents to purchase new carts. Bag sales and distribution would be managed through an outside vendor, with bags likely sold through local retailers and potentially at municipal facilities. Revenue from bag sales would be used to offset the City’s waste disposal operating costs. Compliance would be monitored through route reporting and follow-up, with staff responsible for education, notices, and enforcement as needed. As noted in the memo, South Portland’s recycling rate has remained largely stagnant at approximately 27% despite extensive outreach and education, while waste disposal costs continue to rise. The memo also notes that PAYT is identified in One Climate Future as a strategy to reduce trash, increase recycling and composting, and help meet the City’s waste reduction goals. Discussion The Sustainability Department outlines three options for Council consideration: 1. Business as Usual: Continue the current system. Under this scenario, FY27 waste disposal operating costs are estimated at approximately $2.07 million, with a total diversion rate of approximately 29%. 2. PAYT Only: Implement a bag-based PAYT system without adding curbside compost. This option is estimated to reduce the City’s operating budget impact by approximately $1.14 million annually, increase the average household cost from approximately $160 to $209 per year, and increase the total diversion rate to approximately 48%. 3. PAYT Plus Curbside Compost: Implement PAYT and add an opt-in municipal curbside compost program. This option is estimated to reduce the City’s operating budget impact by approximately $746,000 annually, increase the average household cost from approximately $160 to $219 per year, and increase the total diversion rate to 58% or more. This option would also provide a new curbside compost service for eligible households. The memo also addresses common concerns, including the potential for illegal dumping, the use of plastic PAYT bags, community acceptance, impacts on low- income households, and treatment of multi-unit residential properties. Council could consider setting aside a portion of program savings to provide reduced-cost or free bags for eligible low-income and senior households. Pros and Cons There are several potential advantages to moving forward with a PAYT program, such as:  Reduced City Operating Costs Under the staff analysis, PAYT-only would save an estimated $1.14 million annually, while PAYT with curbside compost would save approximately $746,000 annually compared with business as usual. These savings would help offset rising tipping fees and hauling costs.  Waste Reduction PAYT creates a direct incentive for residents to reduce trash. Under the Page 2 of 15  current system, households pay the same amount regardless of how much trash they generate. Under PAYT, residents who reduce waste, recycle properly, and compost more would have greater ability to control their costs. Staff estimates that the current diversion rate is approximately 29%. PAYT-only is projected to increase diversion to approximately 48%, while PAYT plus curbside compost could increase diversion to 58% or more.  Food Compost Option If Council supports the PAYT plus compost option, the City could add a new curbside compost service for eligible households. This would provide a more convenient option than the current drop-off system and would reduce the amount of food waste sent to the trash stream.  Equity PAYT may be more equitable than the current flat-cost model because residents who generate less trash would pay less for trash disposal than residents who generate more. Council could also choose to reduce the impact on lower-income and senior households by creating a bag assistance program. There are also several potential concerns, including:  Added Cost for the Average Resident Residents would see a new direct cost for trash bags. Although the City’s operating costs would decrease, resulting in a savings on the tax rate, the average household cost is projected to increase from approximately $160 annually under business as usual to approximately $209 under PAYT-only or $219 under PAYT plus compost.  Public Acceptance/Education PAYT represents a significant change in how residents pay for trash disposal, and the 2023 survey results were mixed. Staff also acknowledges that PAYT programs often receive initial public pushback, even if complaints decrease after implementation. Implementation would require extensive public education and outreach. Residents would need to understand where to buy bags, how the program works, what happens if trash is not placed in the proper bag, how recycling and composting fit into the program, and whether their property is eligible.  Enforcement The proposal anticipates the use of truck-mounted monitoring equipment and daily route reports, with City staff responsible for notifications, education, and tiered consequences. This could generate additional administrative work and resident complaints, particularly during the transition period.  Illegal Dumping Illegal dumping is a common concern with PAYT programs. Staff notes that this concern is often more significant before implementation than after residents adjust to the program, but the risk of some initial increase in illegal dumping would still need to be addressed.  Legacy Properties City trash and recycling service generally applies to residential buildings with four or fewer units, but some larger properties have been “legacied” Page 3 of 15  into City service. Those situations would need to be reviewed and likely sun-setted so that the program is applied consistently and fairly.  Use of Plastic Bags Some residents may object to the use of plastic PAYT bags. Staff estimates that PAYT bags would add some plastic to the waste stream, though the memo also notes that this would be more than offset by the projected reduction in total municipal solid waste. Guidance Requested Staff is seeking Council guidance on the following questions: 1. Does a sufficient number of Councilors support staff continuing to develop a PAYT program for future Council action? 2. If so, does Council prefer that staff develop: a. a PAYT-only program; or b. a PAYT program paired with municipal curbside compost collection? 3. Does Council support including a financial assistance component for low- income and senior households, such as providing reduced-cost or free PAYT bags? Council is of course free to provide other guidance as to key elements of the program. Conclusion This workshop is intended to determine whether there is sufficient Council interest for staff to continue developing a PAYT proposal. If there is not sufficient support, staff will not proceed further at this time. If there is sufficient support, staff will refine the proposal, conduct additional outreach and implementation planning, and return to Council for formal action at a future meeting via either an Order to adopt the plan, or an ordinance amendment to enshrine the PAYT program in the City's code of ordinances. Sustainability Director Julie Rosenbach and Public Works Director Melissa Hutchins will be present for this discussion. Memo - Pay As You Throw Proposal - Sustainability Director C. PROPOSED WORKSHOP DISCUSSION 1) Review of Workshop Schedule POSITION PAPER OF THE CITY MANAGER Below is the remaining workshop schedule for 2026: August 4, 2026 (also a business meeting)  TIF Discussion/Use for Facilities September 1, 2026 (also a business meeting)  Metro Review of Various Route Options/Service Enhancements September 8, 2026  DEP/CDC Final Six Year Air Quality Report Page 4 of 15  October 27, 2026 (also a business meeting)  DEP Fenceline Monitoring – 1st Year Data Analysis November 12, 2026 – Workshop (Thursday)  Mayoral Caucus There are no specific workshop meetings in August (Council summer break), October (City Manager & Asst. Manager away at conference), and December (Council winter break). Note that on some agendas, a workshop about City Facilities may be added as time allows. There are five items on the "Awaiting Dates" list: 1. Future Use of City Hall, Hamlin, & Main Library a. On hold while a decision is made about City facility locations 2. Dog Park a. Can be scheduled as soon as September 2026 3. Discussion About City's Intent for Future Use of Willard Fire Station a. Requested by Willard Hose Co., has overlap with paid parking but ready to be scheduled otherwise 4. Central Fire/Historic Inventory a. This item will only be revisited if the public safety bond does not pass and Council wishes to possibly sell the property for private development 5. 35 Southeast Rd Housing Initiative Proposal a. Awaiting report back from Affordable Housing Committee/staff D. ADJOURNMENT Items may only be introduced after 11:00 p.m. upon a majority vote of Councilors present and voting. Items on a regular meeting agenda not introduced pursuant to this rule shall be placed on the next regular meeting agenda. Page 5 of 15 To:​ Scott Morelli, City Manager; Elyse Tipton, Mayor; City Councilors From:​ Julie Rosenbach, Sustainability Director and Julie Taft, Sustainability Program Manager Date:​ July 14, 2026 Subject:​ Pay-As-You-Throw and Curbside Compost Program Proposal ​ INTRODUCTION In 2023, Sustainability staff came to the City Council with a proposal to adopt a pay-as- you-throw (PAYT) system for waste management. Our reasoning – then and now – is that adopting PAYT along with a curbside compost program is essential for achieving our waste reduction goals because it is a proven way to increase recycling and composting rates. Under South Portland’s current system, households pay the same rate for trash disposal regardless of how much they produce. A PAYT program would provide unit-based pricing so that households pay based on the quantity of trash they throw away, the same way they are charged for other utilities. For this reason, PAYT is a more equitable system because it gives residents more control over their waste disposal costs. It is also more effective because it creates a direct economic incentive for households to reduce the amount of waste that goes in the trash. Since we first came to you with this in 2023, increases in tipping fees and hauling costs have significantly driven up operating expenses for waste management, with further increases anticipated in FY27. PAYT is a proven mechanism to reduce operating costs because it incentivizes people to produce less trash, which reduces tipping costs. In addition, revenue from the sale of bags goes directly to offsetting operating expenses. With the savings PAYT provides, the City could establish a municipal curbside compost program – which would enable residents to divert more of their waste – and still save the City a significant amount of money. This memo will provide detailed rationale for why staff are recommending the adoption of PAYT in tandem with a curbside compost program. We will break out costs and savings under three scenarios for the Council to consider and show that: 1)​ If we continue with Business As Usual (BAU), costs will continue to rise and people will have little to no incentive to divert recycling and food waste from the trash. 2)​ If Council chooses to adopt PAYT only, the City would reduce operating costs by half, the average cost of waste disposal for residents would increase slightly, and there would be no new services. 3)​ If Council adopts PAYT plus a municipal curbside compost program, the average cost of waste disposal for residents would increase slightly, however residents would have a new, convenient way to divert waste, and the City would still reduce operating costs by more than a third. Page 6 of 15 ALIGNMENT WITH CITY GOALS This proposal is directly aligned with waste reduction actions identified in One Climate Future and is consistent with the City Council’s FY26 goals, which include “Continue to support city staff in implementing relevant and reasonable One Climate Future goals.” The adoption of PAYT with curbside compost collection is relevant because without it we will not be able to meet our waste reduction goals. This proposal is reasonable because by pairing PAYT with curbside compost collection, we can save money for the City and introduce a new service for residents at a very low cost – less than a third of what people are paying now with private compost pick up. One Climate Future emphasizes that PAYT programs are highly effective in providing an economic incentive for residents to reduce trash and increase recycling and composting. Strategy “WR 1.1 Save-As-You-Throw” (more commonly referred to as pay-as-you-throw) commits us to assessing PAYT models, conducting a community outreach campaign, and presenting a PAYT proposal to City Council by 2026.1 In addition, “WR 1.3 Food Waste Reduction and Organics Recycling” calls for the expansion of “programs to divert food waste and increase organics recycling rates to ensure that excess food is better used to nourish people, animals, industries, and soils.”2 This includes a goal to reduce organic waste in the trash stream 70% by 2030. Together, these goals are aimed at reducing pollution and improving the efficiency of our waste management system so that ‘waste’ materials are managed to their highest and best use. For example, food waste is comprised of about 70% water, making it highly energy intensive – and therefore extremely inefficient – to burn. When food waste is included in trash and incinerated at ecomaine’s waste-to-energy facility, it ends up as an ash byproduct which is disposed of in a landfill. This means the nutrients that were present in the food waste are permanently lost. Even the most technologically advanced incinerators release greenhouse gases and pollutants that contaminate our air, soil, and water. The higher and better use for food waste is to compost it at a local farm creating new, nutrient-rich material. In the same vein, recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products. Categorically, recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions and conserves energy. For example, recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours.3 BAG-BASED PAYT MODEL In line with these strategies, the Sustainability Department and the Waste Reduction Committee (WRC) researched and presented various PAYT models to the City Council in 2023. To inform our presentation, the Sustainability Department: 1) met with Public Works staff, staff from other communities, and experts in the field of waste management, 2) worked with a graduate student to conduct research & interviews with several Maine communities that have implemented PAYT programs, 3) disseminated a community survey to receive input and feedback from the residents, and 4) contracted with a consultant to 1 https://www.oneclimatefuture.org (pgs 120-121) 2 https://www.oneclimatefuture.org (pg 124) 3 https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics-and-benefits 2 Page 7 of 15 perform an analysis of various PAYT models in combination with curbside compost and associated costs. Based on this research, public input, and an analysis of the pros, cons and practicality of different PAYT models, we have concluded that introducing a PAYT system using bags with our existing carts is the most viable model for South Portland. Pairing this with a curbside compost program will equip residents with a powerful tool to further cut down on the number of bags they use. The bag system is the most commonly used PAYT system in Maine because it is easily understood, proven to be effective at reducing trash volumes, and works with our automated collection. The bag system has the greatest diversion potential of all the viable PAYT options explored. It also has the lowest capital and operating costs, resulting in the highest savings to the City’s operating budget. There would be very little administrative burden for the City because we would hire a company to manage the bags (the cost for this is included in the budget figures presented). RATIONALE FOR ADOPTING PAYT WITH CURBSIDE COMPOST With South Portland’s current waste management system our recycling rate has been stagnant for the past several years, costs are rising, and we are lagging behind our peer communities in recycling. The introduction of PAYT with a curbside composting program will benefit South Portland in three ways: 1)​ It will reduce municipal operating expenses. As it stands, our waste management costs are increasing. In FY27, tipping fees for municipal solid waste (MSW) will be 25% higher than they were in FY24. Increases in tipping fees along with hauling costs have driven up operating expenses. In FY27 our waste management costs are projected to increase by $188,000 relative to FY26. Business as usual FY24 FY25 FY26 FY27 Total Operating Cost for waste $1,565,422 $1,674,242 $1,809,732 $1,998,089 disposal (hauling & tipping fees) If we continue along with ‘business as usual,’ our operating costs will continue to increase unabated. Evidence shows that PAYT can reduce municipal operating costs in two ways. First, PAYT reduces the total amount of MSW, which reduces tipping costs. Because residents are required to buy bags for trash, they reduce, reuse, and recycle more. Second, revenue from the sale of the bags will directly offset municipal operating costs. If we use a portion of these savings to establish a municipal curbside compost program in addition to curbside recycling, the City would still be able to cut operating costs by roughly a third and residents would be able to divert 50% or more of their trash. 2)​ It will help us meet our waste reduction goals. Our recycling rate is stagnant in spite of extensive education & outreach. Over the past ten years the Sustainability Department has performed extensive outreach and education, including: 3 Page 8 of 15  ●​ creating outreach materials ●​ publishing Sentry/NOW articles ●​ posting information on our website and social media ●​ launching the “South Portland Recycles” app ●​ creating countertop displays for City buildings ●​ tabling at events ●​ translating multi-lingual dos/don’ts ●​ door-to-door canvassing ●​ tagging recycling carts ●​ creating videos for SPCTV ●​ mailing citywide postcards ●​ launching a Redbank summer education and outreach program Despite these immense efforts, South Portland’s recycling rate has remained stagnant at around 27%. Fiscal Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Recycling rate 27% 28% 29% 27% 27% 27% 27% 27% 26% This trend demonstrates that education and outreach alone will not be enough to move the needle. National data shows that communities utilizing PAYT generate roughly 30% to 44% less trash per capita than those with flat-rate systems.4 In Maine, there are currently 18 communities using PAYT with curbside trash collection. At least 70 more Maine communities have pay-per-unit pricing through their transfer stations. According to 2018 data from Waste Zero, southern Maine communities that do not participate in a PAYT program generate almost twice as much trash per capita as their counterparts who do participate in PAYT. For instance, Portland, Falmouth, and North Yarmouth typically have recycling rates of at least 37%. 3)​ It will enable us to provide curbside composting . Adding curbside composting will allow residents to divert more waste. Since 2018, South Portland has been a statewide leader as one of the first communities in Maine to offer municipal food waste drop off, with five sites located throughout the city for residents to use free of charge. While use of these sites has incrementally increased over the past five years, this method of collection has flatlined at around 5% of total waste. Given that food waste makes up roughly 40% of the municipal solid waste stream, there is a key opportunity to significantly increase this diversion rate. We know that there is already demand for composting services among South Portland residents. Currently, around 19% of South Portland households participate in food waste recycling: 850 households are enrolled in Garbage to Garden’s subscription curbside collection service and an estimated 900 more are utilizing the free municipal drop-off sites. Together, these residents are diverting approximately 400 tons of food waste annually. This shows us that there is clear momentum for composting, however we are only capturing a fraction of the estimated 2,400 tons of food waste that residents 4 weforum.org/stories/2022/01/pay-as-you-throw-waste-expert-pollution-trash/ 4 Page 9 of 15  produce annually. That means 2,000 tons of food waste end up in trash every year.5 By offering citywide curbside composting along with recycling, we can grow the proportion of households that compost and give residents a convenient way to minimize the number of PAYT bags they utilize. According to the PAYT analysis we commissioned in 2023, most cities that offer opt-in curbside compost collection without PAYT have a 30-35% participation rate. Data suggests that a 50-55% participation rate is more probable in South Portland because it would be paired with PAYT. Over 250 U.S. cities have implemented curbside compost programs.6 By pairing it with PAYT, South Portland would be able to introduce municipal curbside compost collection in a practical and cost-effective way. Achieving our goal of a 70% reduction in organic waste in the trash stream by 2030 is simply not possible without the implementation of a curbside compost program. COSTS & SAVINGS There is clear evidence that bag-based PAYT systems work. There is also compelling data that providing curbside compost collection in tandem will make the transition to PAYT easier for residents and encourage more people to separate food waste from their trash. While this is staff’s recommendation, below we lay out costs, savings, and impacts under three separate scenarios for Council to consider: 1) Business As Usual (BAU), 2) adopting PAYT only, and 3) adopting PAYT plus municipal curbside food waste collection. SCENARIO 1: BUSINESS AS USUAL (BAU) Under our current system, residents receive a green cart for trash and a blue cart for recycling. Our waste hauler provides weekly pick-up service, emptying the two bins into a single truck with separate compartments. Trash goes to ecomaine’s waste-to-energy plant to be incinerated, while recycling goes to ecomaine’s single-sort facility. The City also supports five food waste drop-off sites, which residents can use free of charge. Based on current trends, the costs of waste disposal will continue to rise unabated if the City does not take action. Average annual cost per household: ​ ​ $160 in tax rate Estimated annual capital costs: ​ ​ $0 Estimated annual operating costs: ​ ​ $2,069,500 Waste diversion rate:​ ​ ​ ​ 29% SCENARIO 2: PAYT ONLY The pay-per-bag system would require residents to purchase small (15 gallon) or large (30 gallon) City trash bags. Bags are typically sold through local retailers (grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, etc.) and potentially at municipal facilities. Residents would place these trash bags in their existing City trash carts, which would be hauled away weekly the same as they currently are. An outside company would manage distribution and sales of the bags, and would then remit net revenue of just over $1 million to the city. 5 https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/food-waste-city-level-report.pdf (2017) 6 https://www.biocycle.net/residential-food-waste-collection-access-in-u-s/ 5 Page 10 of 15 For enforcement, we would subscribe to monitoring equipment. Our waste hauler would mount cameras on the trash trucks and provide daily route reports for compliance and violations. City staff would be responsible for notifications of violations and follow through on tiered consequences similar to North Yarmouth’s program.7 This program would only apply to residents who currently receive City service. Residents living in housing with 5 or more units would not be required to participate in the PAYT program because they do not receive City contracted trash and recycling services unless they have been “legacied” into the program. These residents will not be eligible for the municipal curbside compost program and should continue to use the free drop off sites for their food waste. Est. # bags Bag Size Cost annually Small $1.76 76 Large $3.00 44 Est. average annual cost per household: ​ $133 for bags + $76 in tax rate = $209 Est. year one capital costs: ​ ​ ​ $16,000 Est. annual operating cost with PAYT:​ $930,650 (city savings = $1,138,850) Waste diversion rate:​ ​ ​ ​ 48% SCENARIO 3: PAYT PLUS (+ CURBSIDE COMPOST COLLECTION) PAYT Plus would operate the same as PAYT Only, but would add curbside compost collection. The municipal compost program would be an opt-in system available to any resident currently served by municipal waste pick-up. The City would contract with a private company who would independently manage and provide collection and compost services for residents’ food waste. We anticipate that up to 55% of households would participate because it would be collected at their curb at no extra cost to residents. Est. # bags Bag Size Cost annually Small $1.76 66 Large $3.00 39 Est. average annual cost per household: ​ $116 for bags + $103 in tax rate = $219* Est. year one capital costs: ​ ​ ​ $66,000 Est. annual operating cost with PAYT:​ $1,323,440 (city savings = $746,050) Waste diversion rate:​ ​ ​ ​ 58+% * To note: Around 850 South Portland residents who subscribe with Garbage to Garden for curbside food waste collection now pay $228 annually, so their costs would decrease. 7 https://www.northyarmouth.org/curbside-collections/pages/orange-payt-bags 6 Page 11 of 15  Summary of Estimated Impact, Costs, and Savings PAYT & FY27 BAU PAYT ONLY COMPOST Diversion rates Recycling rate 25% 42% 42% Compost rate 5% 6% 16+% Total diversion rate 29% 48% 58+% Costs Capital costs (year 1) $0 $16,000 $66,000 Est. Operating costs $2,069,500 $1,965,135 $2,153,420 Funding Sources CIP $0 $16,000 $66,000 Est. PAYT revenue $0 $1,034,485 $829,980 Est. Operating budget $2,069,500 $930,650 $1,323,440 Est. Savings for the City $0 $1,138,850 $746,050 Est. Average annual cost for residents $160 $209 $219 IN SUMMARY If the City chooses to do nothing and we continue with Business As Usual (BAU), costs will continue to rise and people will have little to no incentive to increase diversion rates. This summary illustrates that adopting ‘PAYT only’ would provide the most savings to the City and that the average cost for residents would increase by roughly $4 per month. While residents could choose to divert more or less from their trash – residents who reduce and recycle would have a lower trash bill – there would be no new services. If Council chooses to adopt ‘PAYT plus curbside composting’ the City would save more than $745,000 annually, and the average household would see an increase of less than $5 per month. This cost increase over ‘business as usual’ would allow the City to introduce a free curbside composting program in addition to recycling at less than a third of what people are paying for it today. 7 Page 12 of 15 ADDRESSING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Through our research, survey results, and conversations with key stakeholders, a few recurring questions emerged. They are addressed below: Q:​ Won’t the bags add a lot of plastic to the environment? A:​ We calculate that PAYT bags will add at most 23 tons of plastic to MSW annually, however use of the bags is projected to reduce between 1,200 and 1,700 tons of total material from MSW (including recyclable plastics). Minimizing the amount of household waste through diversion like reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting typically means fewer bags are being thrown away in general. In addition, Waste Zero bags are made from recycled plastics, and the small bags (15 gal) are able to be used without double bagging. Q:​ Won’t there be a lot of illegal dumping? A:​ According to the EPA, this concern is more of a perceived barrier than a real one.8 Though an initial spike in dumping might occur when a new program starts, the problem usually decreases as residents learn the system. Communities that have implemented a PAYT system emphasize that the most effective method to deter residents from illegal diversion is providing as many legal options for waste disposal as possible, such as curbside recycling and compost collection. In addition, staff recommend utilizing monitoring equipment to track compliance and violations. Q:​ Won’t there be community pushback? A:​ In 2023, the Sustainability Department and ecomaine co-hosted a meeting with nearby municipalities who have implemented PAYT programs. We gained valuable knowledge about the successes and challenges other communities have faced in their process. We heard from all that they received initial public pushback on the PAYT program, but once it was implemented they received few complaints. The Sustainability Department also collaborated with the Waste Reduction Committee to put together a Food Waste and Recycling Survey for South Portland residents, aimed at evaluating interest in a PAYT and curbside food waste collection program in 2023. The survey included 25 questions about demographics, food waste, recycling, and trash collection (full survey results).9 Including both online and paper surveys, we received a total of 339 responses. The final question asked whether the resident was in favor of a volume-based fee for trash collection if it allowed the City to offer free municipal curbside recycling and food waste 8 www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-08/epa_r5_illegal-dumping-prevention-guide_508.pdf (pg 6) 9 The surveys were distributed in the City newsletter, at tabling events, and through mailed letters. Flyers with a QR code were placed at City Hall, both libraries, the Hamlin Building, the Resilience Hub, and a few local stores. The Sustainability Department also selected 100 random residential mailing addresses to send a paper version of the survey with a return envelope. We received about one third of those surveys back. 8 Page 13 of 15  collection. Overall, 47% were supportive, 43% were opposed, and 10% were neither opposed nor supportive. Figure 2. Community Survey Results for Volume-Based Fee Question Q:​ Won’t this place a burden on low income households? A:​ PAYT is a more equitable approach to trash disposal than our current system because the more trash a household generates, the higher the cost. To offset concerns about the financial burden for low-income households, the Council could set aside some funding from municipal savings to assist low-income households. We propose that residents who request assistance through our Social Services department and seniors who qualify for property tax relief programs can receive reduced rate and/or free-of-charge PAYT bags when they are in need. Roughly $20,000 would provide a year’s worth of bags for 150 households. Q:​ How will the City address multi-unit residential complexes? A:​ Although City Ordinance limits trash and recycling service to residential buildings with four or fewer units, there are at least a dozen multi-unit complexes that have been “legacied” into the ordinance and receive City service.10 Public Works maintains a list of such complexes. Some are provided with carts and some have dumpsters. Public Works would have to remove the dumpsters and either replace them with carts or eliminate service so that all residents receiving city service are included in PAYT. 10 South Portland Code of Ordinances Chapter 9 Garbage and Refuse Sec. 9–6 (pg 6); see also Sec. 9–740 Multi-family dwelling recycling (pg 24). 9 Page 14 of 15 OUTREACH We recognize that this would be a big change for residents and we are anticipating a significant amount of outreach to onboard people. The Sustainability Department would lead a comprehensive outreach campaign, which would include citywide mailers, digital media, door-to-door canvassing, and more. To ensure that all residents are aware of the changes to their service, we would provide translated materials to distribute at community hubs like Redbank Community Center, the South Portland Community Center, City libraries, and the Resilience Hub. Communications pre- and post-program implementation would be included in the RFP for collection service. The City would work with the contractor who wins the bid to ensure that every household is aware of the program and we address questions and concerns early in the process. CONCLUSION In summary, we urge the City Council to adopt PAYT along with municipal curbside compost for the following reasons: ➔​ Costs are increasing. ➔​ Our recycling rate is stagnant and we are lagging behind other Maine communities. ➔​ PAYT is a proven, cost effective way to meet our waste reduction goals. ➔​ By pairing it with PAYT, South Portland could offer curbside compost collection to residents (in addition to recycling) and still reduce operating costs by nearly a third. Questions for Council: 1.​ Do you support moving forward with adoption of PAYT to meet the City's waste reduction goals? 2.​ Do you support moving forward with a curbside compost program? 3.​ Do you want to establish a fund for providing bags to low income and senior households? 10 Page 15 of 15