(A) (1) Every person who owns or occupies property within the city for business, commercial, industrial or residential purposes shall dispose of all garbage, rubbish and recyclable material as defined herein, which may accumulate upon such property at least once a week.
(2) Yard waste as defined herein, which may accumulate upon such property shall be disposed of at least once a week during the yard waste season as determined by the City Manager. This provision does not apply to composting permitted by division (F) of this section.
(3) For purposes of this code:
COMPOSTING. Any above ground microbial process that converts yard waste to organic soil amendment or mulch by decomposition of material through an aerobic process providing adequate oxygen and moisture.
GARBAGE. Organic refuse resulting from the preparation of food and decayed, spoiled food, and other organic refuse from any source.
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS. All items of refuse designated by the City Manager to be a part of an authorized recycling program and which are intended for transportation, processing and remanufacturing or reuse.
RUBBISH. All inorganic refuse matter such as metals, glass, packaging material, ashes, and the like.
SHEET COMPOSTING. The spreading, incorporation or application of raw or composted yard waste onto land.
YARD WASTE. Grass, clippings, leaves, weeds, garden waste, twigs and branches less than four inches in diameter.
(B) (1) Every person responsible under this section, except as otherwise provided below, for the disposal of rubbish and garbage shall use containers for the storage of such matter between periods of collection, one or more garbage containers that meet state and federal standards. Rubbish and garbage placed into the containers shall be properly enclosed (i.e. bagged or boxed) to prevent loose trash from spilling out of the container. The containers shall be tightly covered to prevent exposure of the contents to potential fly or vermin infestation and shall be provided with handles for ease of lifting. Containers for the storage of garbage and rubbish shall be maintained in a manner which will prevent the creation of a nuisance or menace to the public health, safety and general welfare. Containers which are damaged, broken or otherwise create a nuisance or menace to public health, safety and general welfare shall be replaced with acceptable containers.
(2) Disposal of yard waste shall be from Anoka County and State of Minnesota approved bags, or a permanent ventilated flytight metal or thermoplastic container which is clearly identified as containing yard waste. Containers for the storage of yard waste shall be maintained in a manner which will prevent the creation of a nuisance or menace to the public health, safety and general welfare. Containers which are damaged, broken or otherwise create a nuisance or menace to public health, safety and general welfare shall be replaced with acceptable containers.
(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (B) of this section, persons responsible under this section for the disposal of rubbish or garbage at each commercial and industrial establishment, or restaurant necessitating the storage and disposal of garbage and rubbish, shall utilize a vat service in lieu of the above requirements. Such vats shall be designed with the proper attachments for lifting onto refuse trucks.
(D) All accumulations of garbage, rubbish and yard waste must be deposited and contained within the containers as provided in this section, except those residential properties that pay for “full service” through the municipal provided refuse service, may have extra bagged garbage and rubbish outside of the container on collection day.
(E) (1) Where alleys are platted and open for traffic, garbage and recycling containers shall be placed at the rear of said property adjoining the alley. Where no alley exists, containers will be kept at or near the back door; provided, however, that where the back door is not reasonably accessible from the front yard, the container shall be placed at a point adjacent to the house which is reasonably accessible from the front yard. Garbage and recycling containers must be removed from the curb line within 24 hours after scheduled collection, and cannot be placed on the curb line more than 24 hours before scheduled collection.
(2) All yard waste, appliances, and electronics shall be placed at the street curb line on collection day.
(F) Composting is prohibited for any owner or occupant of property within the city for business, commercial, industrial or residential purposes, except as hereinafter provided:
(1) Composting shall be established in such a manner so as not to create an odor or other condition that is a nuisance;
(2) Composting may consist only of yard waste, wood ash, and sawdust generated from the site on which the composting is located;
(3) Composting must be in a back yard and must be five feet from any side or rear yard lot line and no closer than 20 feet to any habitable building, other than the resident’s own home, or less than two feet from the alley if any alley exists;
(4) Composting shall be conducted within an enclosed container(s) not to exceed a total of 100 cubic feet in volume for city lots less than 10,000 square feet, and five feet high, the container(s) shall be of a durable material such as wood, block, or sturdy metal fencing material;
(5) Sheet composting shall cover no more than 0.025 of the total lot area, and in no case exceed 500 square feet, must be in a back yard, and must be five feet from any side or rear yard lot line. Sheet composting must be incorporated directly into the soil; and
(6) None of the following materials shall be placed in the composting container(s): meat, bones, fat, oils, dairy products and other kitchen wastes, whole branches or logs, plastics, synthetic fibers, human or pet wastes or diseased plants.
(G) Refuse or garbage for commercial and industrial properties shall be located to the rear property line of the building. Said containers shall be located immediately adjacent to the buildings which the containers serve. The location of the containers shall be in such proximity to the property that their appearance will not be evident from the street.
(1) Said containers shall be screened by appropriate fencing and/or shrubbery when adjacent to or across from residential property.
(2) Where it is physically impossible to place the containers behind the rear line of the main building, the containers shall be placed as inconspicuously as possible along the side or front of the building with appropriate screening or in such place as the Council may require.
(H) The presence of any garbage or rubbish on any property other than within a structure permitted by the zoning code within the city or in any container other than a container authorized by this section or in the presence of containers not conforming with the requirements of this section, except as specifically authorized by this section, shall constitute a public nuisance under this section and shall constitute an offense punishable under this division.
(I) Any person, firm or corporation who causes any violation of any provision of this section or who owns, maintains, or has a superior possessory interest in any estate where violations of the provisions of this section exist, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in § 1.999.
(`77 Code, § 8.301) (Am. Ord. 1181, passed 3-27-89; Am. Ord. 1231, passed 9-9-91; Am. Ord. 1334, passed 11-25-96; Am. Ord. 1578, passed 4-12-10)