New Trash Tax in Pa. Ruffles Feathers

Rebekah A. Hall

Harrisburg, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA) is up in arms over a new trash tax proposed by Gov. Edward Rendell. The governor’s plan would cause a $5 per ton increase on the cost to dispose of trash. This is in addition to a tipping tax increase of $4 per ton, which was imposed 18 months ago.

According to Mary Webber, PWIA spokeswoman, the tax will create more disposal costs for residents, businesses and municipalities."Piling another $5 per ton on top of recent trash tax increases would pinch residents, strain municipal budgets, and put Pennsylvania businesses at a serious competitive disadvantage," she said. "Raising the cost of doing business in the state does not seem to be the right tactic to attract new business development."