A. Preparation for collection.
(1) Containers shall be provided by the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of the premises. Refuse containers shall be maintained in a clean, safe and good condition. Any container that does not conform to the provisions of this article or that may have ragged or sharp edges or any other defect liable to hamper or injure the person collecting the contents thereof shall not be utilized. The collector shall have the authority to refuse collection services for failure to comply herewith.
(2) Appropriate containers.
(a) The containers shall be of galvanized or plastic composition, shall not exceed 40 gallons in capacity, shall be no heavier than 50 pounds when filled, shall have a lid or cover and shall have two sturdy handles.
(b) Plastic bags not less than two mils thick and not larger than 40 gallons may be used if properly tied.
(c) Substitute containers may be used in place of approved containers, such as another bag which is water repellent and animal repellent, treated paper garbage and refuse bags or a bag of similar nature. These bags shall not be less than two mils thick and shall not be larger than 40 gallons. All bags used shall be properly tied and secured so as to prevent escape of solid waste.
(3) All garbage shall be thoroughly and completely drained of all liquids, wrapped securely in paper and placed in a receptacle as hereinbefore set forth.
(4) All grass, weeds, lawn clippings and similar growths shall be placed in a container so that they may be readily emptied into the municipal collection vehicle.
(5) Newspapers, magazines and periodicals shall be securely tied in bundles, each having a maximum weight of 50 pounds.
(6) All broken glass or any other dangerous materials shall be placed in a secure container to facilitate safe loading of broken glass or other dangerous material.
(7) All ashes shall be placed in a container covered in such a manner as to prevent contents of the container from becoming wet due to rain or snow. Ashes shall be cold and free from any hot coals to prevent the possibility of fire, and the container with the ashes shall not exceed 40 pounds in weight.
(8) Brush shall only be placed for collection in a single pile not exceeding four feet in height, six feet in length, and six feet in width. Any person, association, partnership, company, corporation, or property owner violating this § 241-20(A)(8) shall be subject to one or more of the following penalties:
1. For the first offense and second offense, a fine of $75; and
2. For a third or subsequent violation, a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days or a period of community service not to exceed 90 days.
[Amended 4-26-2010 by Ord. No. 6-2010; 7-25-2016 by Ord. No. 013-2016]
(9) Household furniture will be accepted. However, separate arrangements must be made by the individual owner with the Overseer of Highways of the Town of Hammonton for the purposes of removal of said items.
(10) No person shall place on the curb or anywhere else for purposes of collection any explosive or highly flammable materials or hazardous waste, including but not limited to benzene, gasoline, petroleum, explosive powder, nitrocellulose film or unbroken fluorescent tubes.
(11) Bulk items (as defined in this Chapter) shall not be collected with the regular weekly collection but may be collected in accordance with a schedule as determined by the Overseer of Highways for the Town of Hammonton. The Town reserves the right to refuse collection of bulk materials which, in its opinion, are excessively heavy or cumbersome including, but not limited to, motor engine blocks, automobile bodies or portions thereof, truck bodies or parts, carpets and other similar materials. No refrigerator shall be placed for collection unless and until the door of the refrigerator and/or freezer has been completely removed from the hinges and the lock has been rendered inoperable. In no event shall any person or entity cause to be placed for collection any item in violation of this subsection, nor shall any person or entity cause to be placed for collection in excess of three bulky items for any single collection. Any person, association, partnership, company, corporation or property owner violating this § 241-20(A)(11) shall be subject to one or more of the following penalties:
1. For the first offense and second offense a fine of $75, in addition to a fine of $50 per bulky item in excess of three bulky items, if any; and
2. For a third or subsequent violation, a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days or a period of community service not to exceed 90 days.
[Amended 4-26-2010 by Ord. No. 6-2010; 7-25-2016 by Ord. No. 013-2016]
(12) Old lumber, shingles, wallboard or other old building material or debris, if not able to be placed in containers, shall be stacked and securely tied in bundles of not more than four feet in length and weighing not more than 50 pounds each.
(13) Each box, carton or other container must be flattened out and disassembled so as to be readily and easily handled. No part of any such article shall exceed four feet in length or weigh more than 50 pounds when deposited for municipal collection.
(14) Arrangement for disposal of trees and stumps shall be made by the owner, occupant or person in control of the premises and shall not be collected by the Town of Hammonton.
(15) No person shall place in any receptacle any garbage, refuse or any other material which could be injurious to the collectors of the municipality.
(16) Any paper drum or plywood drum shall not be utilized for the storage of garbage or refuse or as ash containers, and containers of this type will be classified as rubbish and will be collected by the municipality.
(17) Each container of solid waste shall be placed on level ground or surface by the property owner, tenant or other person placing garbage for collection or from whose property such garbage is proposed to be collected so that it does not easily upset.
(18) If any container of garbage is upset or overturned other than by the town employees engaged in garbage or refuse collection, the property owner, tenant or other person placing the garbage for municipal collection shall promptly clean up such spill of garbage and restore it to a suitable container as defined hereinbefore.
(19) No person shall place any of the items referred to in this article for collection in any street or highway, either for collection by the municipality or private disposal.
(20) If any container of garbage is upset or overturned by a municipal employee other than as a result of improper preparation by the residential user, the municipal employee shall immediately collect such garbage and dispose of the same in the collection vehicle.
(21) If any town employee, in the course of his/her duties, observes noncompliance with any of the regulations of this article, the employee shall immediately inform the Overseer of Highways of the Town of Hammonton. In the event that the noncompliance is noticed by a collector of the municipality, the collector shall not make the collection of the noncom plying items and shall immediately report this noncollection to the Overseer of Highways of the Town of Hammonton.
(22) No trash or garbage shall be deposited upon any public street or any other public place except at the curb for collection by the municipality in accordance herewith.
(23) Receptacles utilized by nonresidential users must meet the minimum requirements as set forth herein. However, said receptacles can be larger in size as long as they are covered to prevent any refuse from being scattered about by wind or other elements, are rodent proof, are cleaned and sanitized as required and are conveniently located on the premises for storage of refuse and are maintained in such a manner as to prevent creation of a nuisance or menace to the public health. Nonresidential users shall arrange to have refuse removed daily unless suitable facilities are provided for the storage of solid waste until its removal.
(24) When a residential user elects to clean up accumulated refuse from cellars, back yards, alleys, attics and spare rooms and excess furniture, it shall be the obligation of the residential user to place such material in such quantity and in such a manner as not to create a public nuisance and safety hazard, and if the accumulation of solid waste exceeds more than five containers prepared in accordance with this article, the residential user shall either make special arrangements with the Overseer of Highways to have the materials picked up in accordance with the schedule established by the Overseer of Highways or shall arrange for private collection thereof.
(25) Municipal employees shall not be required to make garbage or trash collections from the premises of any residential user whereon a dog is permitted to run loose.
B. No person or persons shall prevent or interfere with any agent, servant or employee of the town or any authorized contractor or collector of garbage, trash or refuse or with any contractor's or collector's employees engaged in the discharge of their duties, in the sweeping or cleaning of any street or removal there from of sweepings, ashes, garbage, rubbish or paper or other refuse materials, or in the collection of garbage, trash, waste, ashes, rubbish or similar material.