(a) Recyclable materials and yard waste shall be kept separate from solid waste and placed by residences at the curb (or in areas designated by the Municipality) for collection at such times and dates as may be hereinafter established by regulations. Commercial, Municipal and institutional establishments, community activities and multifamily housing properties shall establish programs for the separation, storage and collection of recyclable and yard waste in a manner in accordance with hereinafter established regulations.
(b) Beginning on September 2, 1991, and thereafter, all persons who are residents of the Borough shall separate all of those recyclable materials designated by the Borough from all other Municipal waste produced at their homes, apartments and other residential establishments, store such materials for collection and place the same for collection in accordance with the guidelines established hereunder. The following shall be considered recyclable materials:
(1) Cans, including all food and beverage cans (aluminum/tin/steel/bimetal), aluminum foil and pie pans.
(2) Glass, including all clear, brown and green bottles and jars.
(3) Plastics, including plastics with symbols 1 for PETE and 2 for-HDPE.
(4) Paper, including high-grade office paper, newspaper, when boxed or wrapped in plastic bags separately, and high-gloss magazines.
(c) All persons in residences must separate recyclable materials from other refuse. Recyclable materials shall be placed at the edge of travelable alleys where appropriate, and, when dwellings are not located near a travelable alley, at the front curb, in containers provided by the Borough for collection. Any containers provided to residences for the collection of recyclable materials shall be the property of the Borough and shall be used only for the collection of recyclable materials. Any resident who moves within or from the Borough shall be responsible for returning the allocated containers to the Borough or shall pay the replacement cost of five dollars ($5.00) per container. Use of recycling containers for any purpose other than that for which the person was allocated such containers shall be a violation of this chapter. Residents may, if necessary, purchase additional containers of their own choosing for recyclable materials. However, any such container must bear the self-adhesive recycling logo label. The labels are available at the Borough Offices free of charge.
(d) All persons in residences shall separate yard waste from other Municipal waste generated at their houses, apartments and other residential establishments for collection and place the same for collection in accordance with the guidelines established by the Borough or its authorized agent, unless such persons have otherwise provided for the composting or yard waste.
(e) Any owner, landlord or manager, or agent of an owner, landlord or manager, of a multifamily housing property with more than four units, not serviced by the Borough program, may comply with its recycling and yard waste management responsibilities by establishing a collection system at each property. Such collection system must include suitable containers for collecting and sorting the recyclable materials, easily accessible locations for the containers, and written instructions to the occupants concerning the use and availability of the collection system. Owners, landlords, managers and agents of owners, landlords or managers who comply with this chapter shall not be liable for the noncompliance of the occupants of their buildings.
(f) All persons shall separate high-grade office paper, aluminum, corrugated paper, yard waste, clear, green and brown glass, and such other materials as may be designated by the Borough and which are generated at commercial, Municipal and institutional establishments and from community activities, and store the recyclable materials until collection.
(1) A person may be exempted from this subsection by:
A. Providing for the recycling of high-grade office paper, aluminum, corrugated paper, yard waste, clear green and brown glass, and other materials deemed appropriate by the Borough.
B. Submitting, at a minimum, an annual recycling report to the Secretary/Treasurer or the Manager. The report shall document the amount of Municipal waste generated per year as well as the type and weight of materials that were recycled and the amount of yard waste collected for composting in the previous calendar year.
1. Copies of weight receipts or statements which consolidate such information;
2. A report from the provider of recycling collection services which identifies the amount of each material collected and marketed. The type and weight of recyclables generated by an individual establishment may be approximated based on a representative sample of its source-separated materials.
3. A report from the provider of waste collection services that identifies the type and weight of each recyclable material collected and marketed in cases where recyclables are commingled with the establishments' waste. The type and weight of recyclables and yard waste generated by an individual establishment may be approximated based on a representative sample of its waste. For paragraphs (f)(1)B.2. and 3. hereof, where recyclables and yard waste from several establishments are collected in the same vehicle, an individual establishment's contribution to the load may be apportioned.
4. A report from the provider of yard waste collection services that identifies the weight of yard waste collected and the facility that processes the material.
(2) If recyclable materials and/or yard waste are collected from an establishment by a collector other than the Borough or its authorized agent, the occupants of said establishment shall submit an annual report to the Borough reporting the type and weight of materials recycled or processed for mulch or compost during the previous calendar year. This requirement may be fulfilled by the submission of a letter or form from the collector which certifies that recycle materials and/or yard waste are being collected, recycled, and processed for mulch or compost from the establishment.
(3) All employees, users (patrons) and residents of commercial, Municipal and institutional establishments must be informed of the recycling yard waste program.
(4) Commercial, Municipal and institutional establishments which generate more than 2,200 pounds of Municipal waste per month should also implement a waste minimization opportunity assessment, which includes:
A. Waste characteristics, including source, generation rate, management techniques and management costs. The assessment should expressly consider high-grade office paper, aluminum, corrugated paper, leaf waste, clear, green and brown glass and any other materials generated in significant quantities.
B. A description of all possible minimization options, including use and waste reclamation.
C. A description of the economic and technical feasibility of each option and a ranking of each option.
D. An evaluation of the economic and technical feasibility of each option and a ranking of each option.
E. An estimate of the pay-back period for each feasible option.
F. A statement of which options will be implemented, including an explanation and a timetable.
G. Identification of the person or persons who will be responsible for implementing the plan.
(5) The waste minimization plan should be periodically updated. Implementation of the plan should include:
A. Recycling or composting of materials to the greatest extent feasible, either privately or through a Municipal recycling program.
B. Use, to the greatest extent feasible, of products and materials which are recyclable or made of post-consumer materials.
C. Substitution, to the greatest extent feasible, of durable and reusable products and materials for products that are not durable or reusable.
D. Appropriate education materials and signs, which should be made available to employees or the public to encourage participation and waste reduction.
(g) All recycling collection activity shall be conducted from Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, and, if necessary, on Saturday. Collection is not permitted on Sunday. Collection shall occur bi-weekly on a schedule which is designated by the Borough's designated collector.
(h) Disposal by persons of recyclable materials and/or yard waste with wastes is prohibited and shall be a violation of this chapter.
(i) A charge of three dollars ($3.00) per month shall be placed on each and every electric bill. Said electric bill shall designate the charge as a recycling fee. Failure to pay said charge will be considered a partial non-payment of the electric bill. This charge shall be effective November 1, 2010. Said charge shall be amended from time to time by resolution of Council.
(Ord. 2079. Passed 10-22-90; Ord. 2102. Passed 9-20-91; Ord. 2303. Passed 7-15-02; Res. 2004-11. Passed 6-21-04; Ord. 2425. Passed 3-17-08; Res. 2010-14. Passed 10-18-10.)