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§ 16-120 Receptacles for the removal of waste material.
   a.   1.   The owner, lessee, agent, occupant or other person who manages or controls a building or dwelling shall provide and maintain in accordance with this section separate receptacles for the deposit of incinerator residue and ashes; refuse, and liquid waste. The receptacles shall be provided for the exclusive use of each building or dwelling and shall be of sufficient size and number to contain the wastes accumulated in such building or dwelling during a period of 72 hours. The receptacles shall be made of metal or other material of a grade and type acceptable to the department, the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of housing preservation and development. Receptacles used for liquid waste shall be constructed so as to hold their contents without leakage. Metal containers shall be provided with tight fitting metal covers.
      2.   (a)   Where the conditions precedent and requirements set forth in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this paragraph are satisfied and apply, respectively, the receptacles used to meet the requirements set forth in paragraph 1 of this subdivision shall be of a material or design approved by the department, department of health and mental hygiene and department of housing preservation and development to minimize rodent access and harborage.
         (b)   (1)   The requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph apply to a building or dwelling to which two or more notices of violation have been issued pursuant to section 151.02 of the New York city health code within a 12-month period, provided that such a notice of violation that has been dismissed by the office of administrative trials and hearings shall not be counted in determining whether such requirements apply, and such a notice of violation for which an appeal is pending at such office shall not be counted unless and until such office has upheld such notice of violation.
            (2)   The requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph begin to apply on the date that the department notifies the owner of record of such building or dwelling that any combination of the following has occurred that amounts to two violations: (i) the owner has admitted the violation, (ii) the owner has defaulted on the violation, and the time to reopen the case has expired, or (iii) the office of administrative trials and hearings has upheld the notice of violation.
            (3)   The requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph continue to apply until two years have elapsed following such notification by the department, provided that the occurrence of a new violation that may be counted in accordance with clause (1) of this subparagraph extends the duration of applicability until two years have elapsed following the date of the new violation as indicated in the corresponding new notice of violation.
         (c)   (1)   The requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph apply to a building or dwelling to which two or more notices of violation relating to the presence of rats have been issued pursuant to section 27-2017.4 of the housing maintenance code, provided that a violation that the owner of record of such building or dwelling has certified as corrected within the correction period indicated on the notice of violation shall not be counted in determining whether such requirements apply unless the department of housing preservation and development has identified such certification as false.
            (2)   The requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph begin to apply on the date that the department notifies the owner of record of such building or dwelling that the two violations triggering such requirements have occurred.
            (3)   The requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph continue to apply until two years have elapsed following such notification by the department, provided that the occurrence of a new violation that may be counted in accordance with clause (1) of this subparagraph extends the duration of applicability of such requirements until two years have elapsed following the date of such new violation as indicated in the corresponding new notice of violation.
         (d)   The department may waive the requirements set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph for a building or dwelling if the owner of record or managing agent of such building or dwelling demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that compliance with such provisions would (i) create an undue burden on such owner of record or managing agent or (ii) create a public safety hazard because the sidewalk on which a receptacle is placed would be substantially obstructed by such receptacle during the time it is set out for purposes of removal of waste material. The department shall make such waiver in writing and share such waiver with the owner of record or managing agent of such building or dwelling, the relevant community board, the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of housing preservation and development.
   b.   Ashes and incinerators residue, refuse and liquid wastes shall be separated and placed into separate receptacles. No receptacle when filled shall weigh more than one hundred pounds.
   c.   1.   Incinerator residue, ashes, refuse and liquid waste shall be stored in the building or dwelling or at the rear of the building or dwelling as may be required by the department of health and mental hygiene or the department of housing preservation and development until time for removal and kept in tightly covered metal receptacles or containers made of other materials of a type and grade acceptable to the department, the department of health and mental hygiene, and the department of housing preservation and development. After the contents have been removed by the department or other collection agency any receptacles remaining shall be removed from the front of the building or dwelling before 9:00 p.m. on the day of collection, or if such collection occurs after 4:00 p.m., then before 9:00 a.m. on the day following collection. The receptacles shall at all times be kept covered or closed and kept in a manner satisfactory to the department, the department of health and mental hygiene, and in the case of residential premises, the department of housing preservation and development. No receptacles, refuse, incinerator residue or ashes, or liquid waste shall be kept so as to create a nuisance. Yard sweepings, hedge cuttings, grass, leaves, earth, stone or bricks shall not be mixed with household wastes.
      2.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this subdivision, the department may set by rule requirements for the set-out of solid waste or recyclable material for collection by the department. Such requirements shall prioritize:
         (a)   Minimizing rodent harborage associated with such waste or material set-out; and
         (b)   Minimizing the amount of time that such waste or material is placed at the curb prior to collection by the department.
      3.   Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subdivision, if the department sets by rule requirements for the set-out of solid waste or recyclable material pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision, the department shall set by rule alternative requirements for the set-out of solid waste or recyclable material for collection by the department for multiple dwellings containing nine or more dwelling units, in furtherance of the goals identified in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 2 of this subdivision, provided that any such requirements allow such multiple dwellings to opt in to such requirements and provided further that any such requirements allow for solid waste or recyclable material to be set out for collection by the department no more than four hours prior to the start of the scheduled collection shift. Such four hour time shall not apply to solid waste or recyclable material that is stored in a receptacle that is kept covered or closed in a manner to prevent rodent harborage and in a manner satisfactory to the department, the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of housing preservation and development. Any multiple dwelling that does not opt in to such requirements, or that opts out of such requirements, shall be subject to the requirements set by rule pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision.
   d.   Newspapers, wrapping paper or other light refuse or rubbish which is likely to be blown or scattered about the streets shall be securely bundled, tied or packed before being placed for collection. Such material shall be kept and placed for collection in the same manner as the receptacles.
   e.   (1)   No person shall deposit household or commercial refuse or liquid wastes in a public litter basket placed on the streets by the department or any other person. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person whose name, or other identifying information, appears on any household or commercial refuse or liquid wastes deposited in such public litter basket violated this paragraph.
      (2)   No person shall place household or commercial refuse in or upon any sidewalk, street, lot, park, public place, wharf, pier, dock, bulkhead, slip, navigable waterway or other area whether publicly or privately owned, except in accordance with rules of the department relating to collection (i) by the department or (ii) by a private carter that is required to be licensed or registered pursuant to chapter 1 of title 16-A of the code. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person whose name, or other identifying information, appears on any household or commercial refuse placed in or upon any sidewalk, street, lot, park, public place, wharf, pier, dock, bulkhead, slip, navigable waterway or other area whether publicly or privately owned violated this paragraph.
   f.   Any person violating the provisions of this section, except subdivision e, shall be liable for a civil penalty of $50 for the first violation, $100 for a second violation within any twelve-month period, and $200 for a third or subsequent violation within any twelve-month period. Any person violating the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision e of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of $100 for the first violation, $250 for a second violation within any twelve-month period, and $350 for a third or subsequent violation within any twelve-month period. Any person violating the provisions of paragraph (2) of subdivision e of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty $75 for the first violation, $300 for a second violation within any twelve-month period, and $400 for a third or subsequent violation within any twelve-month period.
   g.   In the instance where a notice of violation is issued for breach of the provisions of this section such process shall be returnable to the environmental control board, which shall have the power to impose the civil penalties provided in subdivision f of this section.
   h.   In the event that a person fails to answer such notice of violation within the time provided therefor by the environmental control board, that person shall become liable for additional penalties. The additional penalties shall be $300 for each violation.
   i.   Nothing herein contained shall be construed to supersede, substitute for or abrogate the provisions of article one hundred fifty-three of the health code or article five of subchapter two of chapter two of title twenty-seven of the code.
(Am. L.L. 2018/135, 7/29/2018, eff. 9/27/2018; Am. L.L. 2021/080, 7/18/2021, eff. 11/15/2021; Am. L.L. 2022/110, 11/18/2022, eff. 11/18/2022; Am. L.L. 2022/111, 11/18/2022, eff. 4/1/2023)
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 2021/080 and L.L. 2022/111.