(a) Responsibilities of Owners and Occupants. It shall be the duty and responsibility of any owner or person in possession, charge or control of any dwelling or place of business where garbage, rubbish and other refuse is produced and accumulated, and of every resident, household, tenant and person occupying a dwelling unit and other such places within the borough to:
(1) Place all garbage, rubbish and similar household refuse in plastic bags, or either a thirty-five gallon or a ninety-six gallon trash container.
(Ord. 2581. Passed 7-19-21.)
(2) Keep and maintain receptacles in good and sanitary condition and replace any such receptacles which may have ragged or sharp edges, holes or other defects.
(3) Deposit in receptacles all garbage and rubbish which may be produced or accumulated daily on the premises. In the case of residential properties, such receptacles shall first have a plastic bag inserted.
(4) Keep all receptacles securely covered to prevent the contents from being scattered about and to prevent the propagation of rats, flies and other insects or vermin.
(b) Storage on Residential Property.
(1) Containers. Garbage and rubbish that has accumulated shall be placed in containers into which plastic bags have first been inserted. Containers shall be durable, watertight and made of rust-resistant galvanized material or heavy plastic, with a tight-fitting lid. Upon notification of the Health Officer, unsatisfactory containers must be replaced. Plastic bags must be securely tied off prior to the time of collection.
(2) Plastic bags.
A. Persons on residential properties must place all refuse as described herein in polyethylene plastic bags, as provided by the contractor designated by the Borough. Such bags shall be available from the contractor and from other points of distribution as may be announced by the contractor. The purchase of the bags shall include the cost of collection, removal and disposal by the contractor in accordance with the specifications prepared by the Borough and the bid awarded by the Borough to an acceptable contractor. The bags shall be designed to hold the contents of a standard thirty-gallon refuse container and shall be waterproof, sealable and of sufficient strength to permit rough handling. The minimum thickness of the polyethylene shall be two mils. The gross weight of the bag placed for collection shall not exceed seventy pounds. The bags must be closed and secured prior to placement for collection. Bags exceeding the maximum weight may not be collected.
B. The contractor shall include the cost of collection service in the price of the bags. A customer purchasing bags will also purchase the contractor's collection service. The contractor may provide the bags through sale at established outlets and as approved by the Borough. No location shall be used by the contractor without the approval of the Borough. The bags shall be packaged to permit convenient purchase of small or large quantities.
C. The number of containers and bags per residential property or for each dwelling unit is unlimited, provided that there is a sufficient number of containers with bags to store all refuse materials accumulated between collection periods.
D. No person, within the Borough, shall place for collection or use for collection any plastic bag which is not a plastic bag provided by the contractor. Such bags shall not be collected by the contractor under the terms of this chapter and the contract between the Borough and the contractor.
(2A) Garbage Carts.
A. All carts furnished shall be new or in like new condition. The waste carts shall be designed to contain bags of municipal waste generated at single-family residences, and multi-family dwellings. The cart shall consist of a suitable body, wheels, axle, lift bars, handle, lid and necessary accessories.
B. The cart shall be capable of regularly receiving and dumping materials up to three hundred pounds for a ninety-five gallon; one hundred pounds for a thirty- five gallon: excluding the weight of the cart. Each cart shall be furnished with a fully functional lid attached. Lids shall be hinged and open a full two hundred seventy degrees, free of tension. Lids shall overlap the cart body in order to prevent the intrusion of rain or other debris. Lid shall be designed so as not to warp, bend, slump or distort to an extent that it will no longer fit the cart or otherwise become unserviceable.
C. The cart must be equipped with handles designed to safely maneuver the cart. Handles can be molded in or bolted on but must be attached prior to delivery and durable enough to withstand everyday usage and wear and tear.
D. The cart shall be equipped with two wheels and a metal axle. The wheels shall be a minimum of ten inches and able to support the specified maximum cart weight. The cart shall be stable and self-balancing when in the upright position, either loaded or empty. The cart must be designed to withstand minimum winds of twenty-five miles per hour when empty. Carts must be easy to tilt and roll when fully loaded to specified capacity.
E. The cart must be equipped with attachment points, which make it compatible on American semi-automated bar-locking lifters. Carts must also be compatible with the gripping devise (pinchers) on fully automated collection vehicles. Thirty-five gallon carts will be accepted with plastic lower lift bars if they meet all other specifications. The exterior dimensions of the completely assembled carts shall be within the allowable ranges as follows:
95 Gallon | 35 Gallon |
Height 42 to 48 inches Depth 33 to 35 inches Width 26 to 29 inches | Height 37 to 42 inches Depth 22 to 27 inches Width 19 to 24 inches |
F. Each cart must be permanently marked as follows:
Serial numbers: Each cart must have a six-digit serial number hot stamped in white on the cart in a visible location.
G. Cart colors should easily differentiate yard waste carts from recycling carts.
H. The contractor must have storage capacity sufficient to handle the inventory of carts and lids required prior to start-up of the contract and also for replacement inventory during the duration of the contract.
I. The carts shall be provided with instructions for proper use, including any customer actions that would cause damage, such as placement of hot ashes in the container causing the cart to melt, and procedures to follow to minimize potential fire problems. The Borough will provide to the contractor for reproduction and distribution with the carts, a template of a pamphlet explaining the "do's and don'ts," for garbage, yard waste and recyclables, directions for placement of the cart, and a place for the contractor to indicate the day of the week when the customer will receive collection.
J. The contractor shall deliver the thirty-five and ninety-five gallon carts to occupants who move into the contractor's collection area; to customers who switch to a new service level; and to customers who need a cart replacement for a damaged cart. Carts shall be delivered no later than five business days after request from the resident. Damaged carts shall be removed at the same time a replacement cart is delivered. Upon breach of the contract contractor supplied carts shall remain the property of the Borough until arrangements can be made with a new contractor to supply carts and commence service.
K. Deliveries to newly constructed housing units shall be free of charge. The contractor may collect a service charge of $5.00 for one cart, $8.00 for two carts, or $10.00 for three carts for the delivery/exchange for whatever reason to existing occupants and those moving into existing structures. Existing occupants shall be limited to one exchange per calendar year. Carts shall be delivered no later than five business days after notice from the Borough. Damaged carts shall be removed at the same time a replacement cart is delivered.
(Ord. 2581. Passed 7-19-21.)
(3) Point of collection.
A. All containers or bags shall be placed at the edge of travelable alleys. For dwellings not located near a travelable alley, the containers or bags shall be placed at the front curb.
B. Containers or bags shall not be placed out for collection until after 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the collection day and at the same location, so that none will be missed by the collectors.
C. The collector shall not be responsible for any broken or torn plastic bags which have been placed out for collection, the contents of which may have been spilled or spread upon the ground in the area. It shall be the responsibility of the occupant of the premises placing the refuse out for collection to clean up all such scattered refuse materials immediately.
(4) Clean-up materials. Clean-up materials for collection shall not be placed out prior to 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the day scheduled for collection. The days scheduled for collection of such clean-up materials shall be fixed by Council from time to time and by arrangement with the contractor.
(3) Point of collection.
A. All containers or bags shall be placed at the edge of travelable alleys. For dwellings not located near a travelable alley, the containers or bags shall be placed at the front curb.
B. Containers or bags shall not be placed out for collection until after 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the collection day and at the same location, so that none will be missed by the collectors.
C. The collector shall not be responsible for any broken or torn plastic bags which have been placed out for collection, the contents of which may have been spilled or spread upon the ground in the area. It shall be the responsibility of the occupant of the premises placing the refuse out for collection to clean up all such scattered refuse materials immediately.
(4) Clean-up materials. Clean-up materials for collection shall not be placed out prior to 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the day scheduled for collection. The days scheduled for collection of such clean-up materials shall be fixed by Council from time to time and by arrangement with the contractor.
(c) Storage on Commercial Properties.
(1) The storage of garbage, rubbish and other refuse on commercial properties shall be in the same type of containers as are required for residential properties, except where the accumulation of such commercial property is in excess of an amount that can be stored in three such containers for a period of one calendar week. The owner or occupant of the commercial establishment shall make special arrangements with the collector for the storage and removal of such additional quantities. Special arrangements between the owner or occupant of a commercial establishment and the collector shall include the following:
A. The type of special bulk container to be furnished by the collector, as may be approved by the Health Officer.
B. Collection periods that may be more frequent than are required for residential properties, such schedule of collection to be approved by the Health Officer.
C. The cost of collection service, such cost to be agreed upon by the collector and the owner or occupant of the commercial property.
(2) Containers for collection at commercial properties shall be located on the premises at a place agreed upon by the owner or occupant of the commercial property and the collector and approved by the Health Officer and the Fire Chief. Such locations shall not interfere with public or private sidewalks, walkways, driveways, roads, streets or other entrances and exits of private or public buildings.
(d) Storage on Special Premises. The storage of garbage, rubbish and other refuse on special premises shall be subject to the same provisions as are provided for commercial properties in subsection (c) hereof.
(e) Storage on Industrial Properties. The storage of garbage, rubbish and other refuse on properties classified as industrial and manufacturing shall be the same as provided for commercial properties in subsection (c) hereof.
(f) Storage for Certain and Special Conditions.
(1) The storage, for collection and removal, of clothing, bedding or other refuse from homes or other places where infectious or contagious diseases have prevailed shall be performed under the supervision and direction of the Health Officer. Such materials shall not be placed in containers for regular collection.
(2) Highly inflammable or explosive materials shall not be placed in containers for regular collection, but shall be disposed of as directed by the Fire Chief and at the expense of the owner or possessor thereof.
(Ord. 1993. Passed 7-17-86; Ord. 2037. Passed 11-11-88.)