The transition to an incentive-based waste fee in the **North of the Gers** department is now set for 2028, according to recent reports. The exact cost residents will pay has yet to be decided. The Regional Audit Chamber has pointed out challenges in the project's management, noting a lack of clarity about future pricing and billing methods for users. The SIDEL, an organization responsible for waste collection in 56 communes and around 22,000 residents, plans to move to this new system in 2028. However, six years after the project began, the new pricing structures have not yet been finalized. Currently, the waste collection tax (TEOM) is tied to property taxes and paid by property owners. In the future, the fee will be charged directly to individuals based on the amount of waste they produce, according to rules set by the syndicate. The switch to this system was originally planned for 2025 but has been delayed to 2028. The Regional Audit Chamber of Occitanie, which released an audit report on October 8, noted that no area in the Gers has yet implemented an incentive-based pricing system. If SIDEL moves forward, it will become the first in the region to do so. The project involves setting up voluntary drop-off points to replace existing systems. The initial budget of 3.7 million euros has risen to 5.6 million euros, excluding taxes, mainly due to inflation, supply chain issues, and the expansion of the project to include recyclable waste. The Chamber criticized the management of the project, pointing out the lack of numerical goals and performance indicators. It also noted that cost tracking has become unclear due to the absence of a long-term investment plan. Patrice Suarez, president of the SIDEL, admits to some "weaknesses in methods and resources" that have affected the project's cost and timeline. However, he highlights that subsidies have increased by 260%, reaching 2.8 million euros, or 51% of the total project cost. He also states that the remaining burden has been reduced by 7% compared to the original plan. The syndicate explains that the final cost of the service will depend on the amount of equipment needed and the savings achieved once the new system is fully operational. "The cost of the future service, and therefore for the user, remains the most important issue," wrote Patrice Suarez in his response to the audit. The SIDEL has resumed work on billing rules and tariffs in September 2026 and plans to consult more closely with residents. So far, despite organizing several information meetings, the syndicate admits it has not formally consulted users on the new system.