§ 14-5. Garbage and rubbish—Procedures for residential property refuse collection.

Any owner, occupant or person in possession or control of any residential property shall place the containers for collection at such locations as are required by this chapter or directed by the director, which is generally a location easily accessible for the collection vehicle. Any container not easily accessible to the collection vehicle will not be emptied until the next regularly scheduled collection following the proper placement. If the owner requests that the container be emptied before the next regularly scheduled collection, an extra pick up collection fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in the city and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) outside the city will apply and will be added to the monthly bill.

1.

Residential containers. Residents serviced by the city's collection system shall use the city provided and owned reusable wheeled containers unless the director approves, in writing, the use of a manual collection system for a premise. All materials placed out for collection must be within the container or it will not be collected.

2.

MSW placement . Municipal solid waste shall be placed in carts in a secured, odor and vector-tight plastic bags.

3.

MSW storage . Municipal solid waste shall not be accumulated or stored outside of carts and/or containers. The cart and/or container lids must remain closed at all times when not adding municipal solid waste to carts or containers. The department is authorized to require resolution of overflowing carts and/or containers within twenty-four (24) hours of written notice from the city.

4.

Disposable receptacles for leaves only . Disposable receptacles may be of the following types:

A.

Plastic bags . Plastic bags shall have a minimum film thickness of one and five-tenths (1.5) mils. When placed for collection they shall be securely tied with wire, twine, tape, or ends fashioned into a knot. Broken bottles or other sharp items are not to be placed into these containers. Plastic bags shall be used for collection of leaves and yard waste only. In the Central Business District, plastic bags shall not be used as containers for any commercial refuse collection.

B.

Paper bags . Paper bags shall be of two-ply kraft and have a wet strength of forty (40) pounds. When placed for collection they shall be securely tied with wire, twine or tape. These containers must at all times be able to maintain their structural integrity when lifted. Paper bags shall be used for collection of leaves and yard waste only. In the Central Business District, paper bags shall not be used as containers for any commercial refuse collection.

5.

Mechanized (automated) collection containers . These receptacles will be issued by the city to residents living within areas serviced by the city's mechanized garbage collection system. Use of these containers within these designated areas is mandatory.

6.

Deposit into containers. Every person owning, managing, operating, leasing or renting any residential property shall place the daily accumulations of garbage and rubbish in the mechanized container or containers and to eliminate as much as possible all water and liquid. Every person shall place garbage which is subject to decomposition in mechanized (automated) collection containers and to securely wrap garbage in paper or other suitable material before placing the same in such containers. Animal parts that may putrefy (such as fish heads, entrails, or animal carcasses) must be kept cool and not placed in a refuse container until the night before the scheduled collection date.

7.

Weight limitations. The owner, tenant or occupant of any residential property shall ensure that the total weight of any container and contents does not exceed one hundred twenty-five (125) pounds for a forty (40) gallon or smaller container, two hundred (200) pounds for a sixty-four (64) gallon container, three hundred thirty-five (335) pounds for a ninety-six (96) gallon container or the maximum weight rating imprinted on the container, whichever is greater.

8.

Number of receptacles .

A.

Manual garbage collection system routes . The owner, manager, tenant, or occupant of any residential property utilizing manual collection system shall provide a sufficient number of receptacles to contain the solid waste produced at such dwelling, building, or premises from one (1) pickup time to the next pickup time. Manual garbage collection must be approved, in writing, by the director or his designee.

B.

Mechanized (automated) garbage collection routes .

i.

Types of approved containers . Containers to be used for the pickup of garbage and rubbish shall be ninety-six (96), sixty-four (64), forty (40) or thirty-five (35) gallon, two-wheeled refuse-collection carts provided and owned exclusively by the city. Each container will bear a unique serial number that will be assigned to each dwelling or business unit. All containers shall remain the property of the city and shall not be removed from the property on which the dwelling or business unit is located without the written consent of the director of solid waste.

ii.

Disposal in refuse-collection carts required for routes with automated collection equipment . It is unlawful to dispose of any garbage or rubbish material anywhere in the city except through placement of such material in the approved cart placed for collection as herein prescribed. City will not collect any garbage or rubbish material which is not placed in an approved container as provided above.

9.

Time for collection . The owner, manager, tenant or occupant of any residential property shall place all containers at the designated point of collection between the hours of 6:00 p.m. of the day preceding scheduled collection and 5:00 a.m. on the designated collection day. Containers shall not be left in the curbside area after 7:00 p.m. on the designated collection day. Containers not at the point of collection when the collection crew passes shall not be serviced until the next regularly scheduled collection. Containers not removed shall be declared a public nuisance and may be removed by the city.

10.

Replacement of city refuse-collection carts . Each customer shall be responsible for the safekeeping and maintenance of each cart issued to the customer for their premises. If a cart is damaged (other than by city collectors), stolen or misplaced, the customer shall pay the city the cost to repair or replace said cart.

11.

Sanitation and maintenance of containers .

A.

The owner, manager, tenant, or occupant of any dwelling, building, or premises shall keep all reusable containers and the location in which they are placed in a clean condition and free of fly and other insect breeding.

B.

When re-usable or disposable containers are placed at a common pickup location in multifamily living units, it shall be the responsibility of the owner or manager to maintain the containers and area in a sanitary condition.

C.

The city may repair or replace damaged city-owned containers. Residents seeking repair or replacement of damaged container will be required to pay actual costs of repairs; however, damages caused to carts by city collectors will be repaired or replaced by the city at no cost to the resident.

D.

City may clean and wash out containers at the request of the property/business owners. At the time the request is made the property owner will be informed of the cost to pick up, clean and wash and deliver the container back to the same location and the owner must agree to the cost before the service is provided. The minimum cost is fifteen dollars ($15.00) per container.

12.

Recycling bins . Persons serviced by the city's recycling program who are provided recycling bins (containers) are required to maintain these containers in good functioning condition. All containers shall remain the property of the city and shall not be removed from premises where service is provided except as designated by the city. All recycling bins lost, stolen or damaged (other than by city collectors) will be replaced at the cost of the owner.

13.

Placement and removal of containers. The owner, manager, tenant, or occupant of any dwelling, building, or premises, or the proprietor or manager of any place of business, either in person or by his agent, or employee shall place, or cause to be placed, such containers at a place accessible to the collection truck, as may be designated by the director or his designee. Containers shall not block sidewalks or be placed within five (5) feet of a mailbox, parked car, or other fixed object and shall be clear of low hanging limbs and utility lines.

A.

The standard location for container placement on public streets shall be at the base of the curb (where curbs exist) with wheels against the curb.

B.

Where placement at the standard location is not possible or feasible, alternate locations shall be used:

i.

Streets without curbs shall be at the edge of pavement.

ii.

High traffic streets shall be in the parkway at the top of the curb.

iii.

Driveway apron may also be used in certain restricted locations.

iv.

Alleys shall be on a pad specifically constructed for containers or where no pad exits, on a level surface.

C.

Customers receiving collection at the street are required to maintain improvements, trees, and other vegetation in such a way as to:

i.

Provide a minimum overhead clearance of fourteen (14) feet high.

ii.

Not extend out in to the roadway in a manner that impedes upon the safe and efficient collection of solid waste.

D.

Refuse collection in alleys and on dead-end streets.

i.

Owners, tenants or occupants of the abutting properties shall keep the alleyway clear of obstructions, intruding and overhanging brush and tree limbs. There must be a clearance of at least eleven (11) feet wide by fourteen (14) feet high for vehicles to enter the alley and the alley bed must be reasonably free of debris and passable to the vehicle. Decision to serve commercial or in the Central Business District through the alley will be made by the director. No residential collections will be provided through the alley within the city limits unless previously approved by the director.

ii.

Alley collection of receptacles will continue in alleys receiving such service as of October 1, 2008, and will be provided in alleys constructed in compliance with subdivision regulations after that date. Alley service shall be discontinued for any one (1) of the following conditions:

(a)

The alley is closed, vacated, abandoned or found by the director to be unmaintainable due to physical and/or financial impracticalities.

(b)

Formal petition by owners or residents, or whoever pays for the service, in which over fifty (50) percent of the persons abutting the alley in any given block request that such service be discontinued.

(c)

Inability of the automated refuse collection system to provide safe collection service in such area as designated by the director.

iii.

Solid waste collections on dead-end street requires that all waste containers be placed on one (1) side of the street. The municipal solid waste division will determine which side of the street the containers will be placed on in order to facilitate the collections.

E.

Reopening a permanently closed alley. Subject to city council approval, an alley may be re-opened for solid waste and brush/bulky item collection if the following conditions are met:

i.

At least fifty (50) percent of customers serviced in the alley request through petition to have the alley re-opened.

ii.

Alley surface must be asphalt and in a smooth condition.

iii.

Vegetation must be trimmed and clear of alleyway.

iv.

Alley must not have obstacles or debris stockpiles.

v.

Minimum clearance of fifteen (15) feet wide and fourteen (14) feet high.

vi.

Must have clear path through the entire alley.

vii.

Director must approve alley condition for service.

14.

Protection of city refuse collectors from injury . Where it is considered necessary to protect city collectors from injury in alleys of narrow width, property owners shall be required to provide setbacks, or fence inserts, as directed by written notice from the director.

15.

Collection of bundled brush . Brush cuttings may be bundled for collection by city garbage trucks (not brush trucks). the owner, manager, tenant or occupant of any dwelling, building, or premises shall securely tie bundles with no fewer than two (2) bands of wire or twine and in the following set out manner. A bundle shall not weigh more than forty (40) pounds, shall be not more than four (4) feet long and of such size and proportion that it can be readily handled by one (1) person.

(Ord. No. 2012-06, § 1, 3-6-2012)