When the Carroll County community of New Windsor implemented a “pay-as-you-throw” trash collection system — where people pay by the bag for what they throw out — some believed it would lead to non-compliance and illegal dumping.

But officials say that after the first two months of the program, they’re seeing a 44 percent decrease in solid waste sent from the Town of New Windsor to the county landfill, and a recycling rate that has nearly doubled.

“Even the people that weren’t for it have to say it’s a success,” said New Windsor Mayor Neal Roop.

New Windsor, a municipality in the rural area that had a population of about 1,400 in the 2017 census, launched pay-as-you-throw as a pilot program in November. Dubbed Fair Trash Reduction — or FuTuRe — the test will run through late June, then will be evaluated.

It requires people to purchase special bags for trash disposal, rather than simply paying for a service to pick up whatever trash is put out. Small bags, which hold 15 gallons, cost 65 cents each. Large bags, which hold 33 gallons, cost $1.20 each. Residents were given $35 gift cards to a local convenience store to help cover costs during the pilot.

The program came after months of discussion between Carroll County and the town — and debate with some town officials and residents who were skeptical it would work.

Dusty Hilbert, chief of the county’s bureau of solid waste, has said the main goal of the program is to reduce the material being sent to the landfill in Carroll.

The change could also save the town money — in a news release, officials say it will eliminate the “tipping fee” the town pays for disposal, which results in an annualized savings of more than $30,000. Instead, the disposal fee is shifted to the cost of the bags, paid by residents.

In addition to the 44 percent decrease in solid waste, the town has seen a recycling rate that has nearly doubled, from 21 percent to 38 percent. In the release, officials state that “residents are now recycling so well that the town has gotten multiple requests for extra recycling bins.”

Officials also say that despite some early concern about whether people would buy into the program, they are seeing a participation rate of about 98 percent to 99 percent.

Some residents had raised concern at town meetings that illegal dumping could spike as a result of the program. But Roop, and the county sheriff’s office, say they have not seen an uptick in trash dumping in or around New Windsor.

The county and its waste reduction consultant, WasteZero, developed the pilot program. Kristen Brown, WasteZero vice president of waste reduction strategy, said the 44 percent decrease seen in New Windsor is fairly typical when programs are launched.

She said as more information is gathered, the county commissioners will weigh if they want to extend it countywide or make it an option for other areas. But, she said, the first phase was to demonstrate that this program could work in Carroll.

“From that perspective, we’ve definitely demonstrated that,” Brown said.

Brown said based on the trash weight being collected, each home, on average, is throwing out just under one large bag each week. And while there have been some people who don’t like the program, most are fine with it once they do it, she said.

“What we find is places that do this are happy with it,” Brown said. “Once people get used to it, they don’t care. It’s just the change to people that seems scary.”

emily.chappell@carrollcountytimes.com