I have a suggestion for how the city trash and water services can make up their anticipated budget shortfalls (July 20), and it involves a simple principle of both social justice and environmental responsibility: If you use more, you pay more.

The city could consider basic residential trash collection services to cover one trash can. If a household should put out more trash than fits on one can, they could be charged additional fees. Why should households who work hard to reduce their consumption and to reuse or recycle what they do use have to pay the additional costs generated by those who are less careful?

Similarly, the city could estimate the amount of water an average prudent household needs to use over a time period and apply steadily increasing rates for any consumption over that basic amount. Water is a finite resource. Those who take care to fix leaks, turn off faucets, harvest rainwater and water their yards only when necessary for plant survival should not have to face scarcity because others have been less responsible and more wasteful.

If you use more, you pay more. It solves a city budget problem while increasing fairness among citizens and encouraging sound environmental practices. It’s a win-win-win.