scope:

SUMMARY

Compared to the monthly cost of necessary utilities and non-essential services such as cable television and cell phones, the cost of collecting trash, recyclables and yard waste, usually between 12 and 20 dollars per month, is one of a household's biggest bargains. Monthly trash collection costs most U.S. households only a fraction of what they pay for utilities and other widely used non-essential services. Even with tough federal and state regulations governing solid waste disposal, more rigorous requirements governing emissions from collection trucks, and increasing labor, fuel and insurance costs, residential trash and recycling collection continues to be a great value.

This paper reviews residential trash collection in the United States, compares the cost of this service with other vital services, describes how competition in the private sector has made this service affordable for tens of millions of Americans, and outlines the challenges for policymakers in helping the waste services industry continue to deliver reliable service at reasonable costs to the American consumer.