(A) Program established. There is hereby established a citywide alley/curbside recycling program to be operated by the city which will provide for the separation of certain designated recyclable materials from normal household refuse for placement in designated containers. The recycling containers will be used only for the purpose of storing recyclable materials on site and for the placement of those materials in the alley/curbside or in the designated trash collection pickup point on the designated collection day.
(B) Recyclable materials defined; removal for scavenging prohibited. The initial alley/curbside recycling program will provide for the separation of aluminum, glass, plastic and newsprint from normal household refuse for placement in the recycling container and collection from the normal collection point on the regular designated pickup day. The city may from time to time alter the materials to be separated from the household waste stream and include those materials in the recycling program. Residents will be notified of any change in the recyclable materials to be separated from household refuse. Once recyclable materials have been placed in or alongside the container and set at the curb or other designated collection location, recyclable materials become the property of the city and it shall be unlawful for persons, firms or corporations to remove any recyclable materials.
(C) Business, demolition and multi-family recycling.
(1) Each business located within the boundaries of the City of Hammond, upon being licensed/permitted or obtaining any renewal thereof, shall provide as part of its submission a plan describing how its solid waste will be managed, including reduction, reuse and recycling steps taken to reduce its waste stream, which plan shall be submitted to the Hammond Recycling Department subject to approval by that department; and
(2) Each person and/or entity applying for business or commercial building permits shall provide as part of their submission a plan describing how their solid waste will be managed, including reduction, reuse and recycling steps taken to reduce their waste stream, which plan shall be submitted to the Hammond Recycling Department subject to approval by that department.
(3) Each individual, business or other entity, or any applicant, upon being permitted to demolish any structure, be it residential, business or otherwise, or obtaining any renewal thereof, to provide as part of its submission a plan describing how the material will be managed, including reduction, reuse and recycling steps taken to reduce its waste stream, which plan shall be submitted to the Hammond Recycling Department subject to approval by that department; and
(4) Each person or entity applying for building permits for multi-family structures, including but not limited to duplexes, fourplexes and other such structures, shall provide as part of their submission a plan describing how the solid waste for the occupants of such structures will be managed, including reduction, reuse and recycling steps taken to reduce their waste stream; and
(5) Private garbage haulers who service multi-family structures, shall maintain a recycling program for each structure serviced.
(D) Garbage not in container. Garbage that is left lying upon the ground and not contained within the appropriate container will not be collected and the Public Works Department will take legal steps to prosecute offenders.
(E) Containers. A container shall be provided free of charge, to collect any and all recyclables. Residents are responsible for the care of the container. If the container is accidentally damaged, the city will replace it free of charge, upon return of the old damaged container. However, if a container is lost or stolen, the resident shall replace it at his/her own expense. The container for recyclables will be placed at curbside or alley line. Recyclables will be collected every bi-monthly the same day as garbage is collected. Voluntarily, residents shall collect and prepare recyclables according to instructions.
(F) Non-profit organizations. Effective January 1, 1991 all non-profit organizations who use city park property for festive events, such as festivals, craft fairs, picnics and summer events shall work with the Hammond Park Department to sort and separate waste generated at these events. Containers clearly marked for each item collected, such as glass, metal cans, Styrofoam, garbage and the like, will be available. Each organization shall be responsible for maintaining each container and carefully separating bagged collected waste for proper disposal. The separated waste will be collected by the Hammond Sanitation Department.
(G) City-run functions. All city-run functions shall work with the Hammond Sanitation or Park Department in the same manner as above.
(H) Recycling. All Hammond residents are to consider recycling their own yard waste on their own property. If home composting is not possible, residents must dispose of their yard waste in 30 gallon containers or compostable paper bags which are authorized by the city, and the Hammond Sanitation Department will collect the yard waste on special pick-up days.
(I) Violation. Persons, firms or corporations in violation of this section shall be subject to the penalties stipulated in § 94.999.
(Prior Code, § 94.76) (Ord. 7302, passed 9-10-1990; Am. Ord. 7511, passed 8-10-1992; Am. Ord. 8648, passed 1-24-2005)