Persuasive Essay: Pay Per Throw: Pros And Cons?

Pay per throw is an interesting concept and is widely implemented in Japan and other countries around the world. The pros to a system like this would be that recycling would be free and waste would be charged thus incentivizing recycling which reduces the amount of waste found in landfills. It could also increase jobs in America since there will be a greater need for employees at recycling centers and for garbage pick-up. Some of the cons are that the price on garbage bags would increase and could make illegal dumping and burning very attractive to citizens. A pay as you throw system could be implemented in Platteville. The basic idea of a pay as you throw system is that special garbage bags are taxed and that tax would then go to fund the

The younger and more environmentally conscious citizens in Platteville, like students and younger permanent residents would most likely be a part of the early adopters and early majority. The next set of people to embrace the innovation would be the late majority, and that would probably be young families or families with children in their teens. The reason that is would be that most families would be upset about the increase in cost but the children would appreciate the environmental conscientiousness. The middle aged to older population would probably consist of the conscientious rejecters. Older people are usually set in their ways and do not react well to change. Each group of people would go through the steps of innovation adoption: Knowledge, Persuasion, Decision, Implementation, and

I would show statistics on environmental pollution from solid waste and show the cost to process that waste, and then compare that cost with the average annual cost of the garbage tags from a pay as you throw system. Also just education of what a pay as you throw system is would be a necessity. I would target high school students and offer volunteering opportunities to spread education. I would frame the pay as you throw system as a cost issue rather than an environmental one since there are more republicans in Grant County than democrats. Hopefully the idea would be welcomed with open arms and be successful. I believe that it would be since there is a relative advantage, it is compatible with the current system, it’s simple, accessible, and it is easily communicated to the masses. I would much prefer that the idea went through the general population’s heads before it went into the common council. People like being able to contribute to the policy making process so that they do not feel left