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It is the duty of each owner to provide for the sanitary disposal of all refuse accumulating on the owner’s premises before it becomes a nuisance. Any such accumulation remaining on any premises for a period of more than thirty (30) days shall be deemed a nuisance and the City may proceed to abate such nuisances in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 50 or by initiating proper action in district court.
(Code of Iowa, Ch. 657)
No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials where the products of combustion are emitted into the open air without passing through a chimney or stack without first obtaining a permit and conducting such burning in accordance with the International Fire Code.
All yard waste shall be separated by the owner or occupant from all other solid waste accumulated on the premises and shall be composted in accordance with Section 110.07 or placed for collection in accordance with Chapter 113. As used in this section, “yard waste” means any debris such as grass clippings, leaves, garden waste, brush, and trees. Yard waste does not include tree stumps.
The purpose of this section is to promote the recycling of yard wastes and certain kitchen wastes through composting and to establish minimum standards for proper compost maintenance.
1. Definitions. For use in this section, the following terms are defined:
A. “Composting” means the controlled biological reduction of organic waste to humus.
B. “Kitchen waste” means any uncooked plant matter not contaminated by or containing meat, fish and/or dairy products.
C. “Yard waste” means the organic waste produced from the growing, trimming and removal of grass, branches (not exceeding one inch in diameter), bushes, shrubs, plants, leaves, and garden debris.
2. Maintenance. All compost piles shall be maintained using approved composting procedures to comply with the following requirements:
A. All compost piles shall be enclosed in a free-standing compost bin. Each compost bin shall be no larger in volume than 125 cubic feet and shall be no taller than 42 inches.
B. All compost bins shall be so maintained as to prevent the attraction or harborage of rodents and pests.
C. All compost bins shall be so maintained as to prevent unpleasant odors.
D. No compost bin shall be allowed to deteriorate to such condition as to be a blighting influence on the surrounding property or neighborhood or City in general.
3. Location. All compost bins shall be located not less than three (3) feet from a property line or principal building or dwelling and three (3) feet from any detached accessory building. A variance from these setback requirements may be applied for if the property owner can show a hardship exists which prohibits compliance. In addition, any variance application must include a signed written approval of the variance request from the adjacent property owner. Variances may be granted by the Building Inspector on an annual basis upon the proper application being submitted by the property owner. Screening and/or fencing of compost bins may be required as a condition of a variance being granted. No compost bin shall be located in any yard except a rear yard. A compost bin may be located in a side yard subject to the variance procedure contained in this subsection and must be screened from view to the street.
4. Prohibited Ingredients. No compost bin shall contain any of the following:
A. Lakeweeds;
B. Cooked food scraps of any kind or type;
C. Fish, meat or other animal products;
D. Manures;
E. Large items that will impede the composting process.
5. Permitted Ingredients. Permitted ingredients include the following:
A. Yard waste;
B. Coffee grounds and used tea leaves;
C. Uncooked plant matter not contaminated by or containing meat, fish and/or dairy products;
D. Commercial compost additives.
6. Owner Responsibility. Every owner or operator shall be responsible for maintaining all property under said owner’s control in accordance with the requirements of this section. Each day that a violation of the provisions of this section continues shall be considered a separate offense.
No person shall discard any litter onto or in any water or land, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authorized collection and discarding of such litter in or on areas or receptacles provided for such purpose. When litter is discarded from a motor vehicle, the driver of the motor vehicle shall be responsible for the act in any case where doubt exists as to which occupant of the motor vehicle actually discarded the litter.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 455B.363)
No person shall deposit in a solid waste container or otherwise offer for collection any toxic or hazardous waste. Such materials shall be transported and disposed of as prescribed by the Director of the State Department of Natural Resources. As used in this section, “toxic and hazardous waste” means waste materials, including but not limited to, poisons, pesticides, herbicides, acids, caustics, pathological waste, flammable or explosive materials and similar harmful waste which requires special handling and which must be disposed of in such a manner as to conserve the environment and protect the public health and safety.
(IAC, 567-100.2)
(IAC, 567-102.13[2] and 400-27.14[2])
Every person owning, managing, operating, leasing, or renting any premises, dwelling unit or any place where refuse accumulates shall provide and at all times maintain in good order and repair portable containers for refuse in accordance with the following:
1. Container Specifications. Waste storage containers shall comply with the following specifications:
A. Residential. Residential waste containers, whether they be reusable, portable containers or heavy-duty disposable garbage bags, shall be of sufficient capacity, and leakproof and waterproof. Disposable containers shall be securely fastened, and reusable containers shall be fitted with a fly-tight lid which shall be kept in place except when depositing or removing the contents of the container. Reusable containers shall also be lightweight and of sturdy construction and have suitable lifting devices.
B. Commercial. Every person owning, managing, operating, leasing or renting any commercial premises where an excessive amount of refuse accumulates and where its storage in portable containers as required above is impractical, shall maintain metal bulk storage containers approved by the City. Dumpster covers must be closed and no debris shall be placed on the ground.
2. Storage of Containers. Residential solid waste containers shall be stored upon the residential premises. Commercial solid waste containers shall be stored upon private property, unless the owner has been granted written permission from the City to use public property for such purposes. The storage site shall be well drained; fully accessible to collection equipment, public health personnel, and fire inspection personnel. All owners of residential and commercial premises shall be responsible for proper storage of all garbage and yard waste to prevent materials from being blown or scattered around neighboring yards and streets.
3. Location of Containers for Collection. Containers for the storage of solid waste awaiting collection shall be placed outdoors at some easily accessible place by the owner or occupant of the premises served.
4. Nonconforming Containers. Solid waste placed in containers which are not in compliance with the provisions of this section will not be collected.
It is unlawful for any person to:
1. Interfere with Collectors. Interfere in any manner with solid waste collection equipment or with solid waste collectors in the lawful performance of their duties as such, whether such equipment or collectors be those of the City, or those of any other authorized waste collection service.
2. Incinerators. Burn rubbish or garbage except in incinerators designed for high temperature operation, in which solid, semisolid, liquid or gaseous combustible refuse is ignited and burned efficiently, and from which the solid residues contain little or no combustible material, as acceptable to the Environmental Protection Commission, and permitted by Polk County and/or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
3. Scavenging. Take or collect any solid waste which has been placed out for collection on any premises, unless such person is an authorized solid waste collector.