1. Disposal of Yard Waste. The collection, storage, and disposal of yard waste shall be subject to the following:
A. Separation of Yard Waste Required. All yard waste shall be separated by the owner or occupant from all other solid waste accumulated on the premises. The owner or occupant may either compost the yard waste on the premises or contain it in bags, containers, or bundles for collection and disposal. All bags or containers must be clearly marked “Yard Waste.”
B. Yard Waste Containers. Persons choosing not to manage yard waste on their own property shall place yard waste in bags, containers, or bundles for collection and disposal. Bags shall be any untreated paper bags acceptable to the composting station used by the licensed yard waste collection hauler. Tree limbs less than four (4) inches in diameter and brush shall be securely tied in bundles not larger than forty-eight (48) inches long and eighteen (18) inches in diameter when not placed in containers. The weight of any individual bag, container, or bundle shall not exceed seventy-five (75) pounds.
C. Composting. Back yard composting of yard waste is encouraged. Information about this process is available to all residents and may be obtained from the office of the City Administrator located at the City Hall. Owners and occupants are encouraged to accumulate upon property under their respective control such quantities of yard waste as can be properly composted without creating offensive odors, litter, fire, or vector problems. Such composting so carried out shall be deemed to be an acceptable, alternative disposition of yard waste and shall satisfy any requirement to separate yard waste contained in this Code.
D. Frequency of Collection. All yard waste not composted shall be collected from residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional premises at least once per week. Yard waste shall be collected on a City-wide basis between March 1 and November 30. City residents may arrange for individual yard waste pickup with the City, or its agent, between December 1 and February 28.
E. Location of Containers. Containers for the storage of yard waste awaiting collection shall be placed at the curb by the owner or occupant of the premise served. Yard waste must be placed a minimum of three feet from other solid waste.
F. Number of Bags or Containers. The number of bags, containers, or bundles containing yard waste which persons may place out for collection shall be unlimited.
G. Time Limit. Bags, containers, or bundles of yard waste shall not be placed for collection more than forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the regularly scheduled collection day.
2. Licensing of Yard Waste Collection Hauler. No person shall collect, transport, process, or dispose of yard waste generated within the jurisdiction of the City for compensation unless such person holds a valid license issued in accordance with the provisions of this section. In addition to meeting the requirements under this chapter for solid waste collectors, each licensed collector of yard waste shall provide the City a detailed description of the manner in which the collector intends to collect and haul away yard waste. Each such licensed collector shall haul yard waste to a compost site approved pursuant to State or local law or regulation and shall keep an accurate accounting of the amount of such yard waste. Each licensed collector shall submit an annual written report to the City detailing the amount of such yard waste that has been collected and delivered for composting during each month of the reporting year. Any collector licensed under the provisions of this section shall not mix yard waste and solid waste together. The license of any hauler who delivers for disposal yard waste and solid waste mixed together shall be subject to revocation.
3. Containers and Charges. Containers and charges for yard waste collection and disposal shall be fixed and determined by the Council, adopted by resolution, and uniformly enforced. Such containers and corresponding charges may, from time to time, be amended by the Council by resolution. A copy of the resolution setting forth the currently effective containers and corresponding charges shall be kept on file in the office of the City Administrator, and be open to inspection during regular business hours. Residents shall purchase their own bags, which are in addition to these charges. No additional charge will be imposed upon a resident for the collection of holiday trees and wreaths.
4. Owner May Transport. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent an owner from transporting yard waste accumulating on the premises of the owner, provided such yard waste is disposed of at composting stations approved pursuant to State or local law or regulation and in accordance with policies established by the composting station.
5. Violations. No person shall place or cause to be placed any yard waste into the solid waste collection system of the City. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter concerning yard waste shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.