Albert Carbon, III, PE

Public Works Director

A Text Amendment to Specifically Amend Section 13-8 of the Code of Ordinances “Placement for Collection and Removal After Collection.”  

Issue Statement:   The City provides twice weekly residential garbage service and once weekly residential recycling service.  The current code governing the placement and removal of the carts on curbside for service places no restrictions on when the carts can be placed at curbside prior to the service date, only requiring that carts be placed for collection by 7:00 a.m. on the service day.  Carts are required to be removed by 11:00 p.m. on the collection day.  Staff and residents have noted concerns with receptacles being left at curbside for extended time prior to the collection day, which can create impediments to driving, use of sidewalks, etc.

Recommended Action: The City Commission adopt an Ordinance amending Section 13-8, "Placement for collection and removal after collection of trash and recycling containers", to include a time provision for the placement of solid waste and recycling carts no earlier than twenty-four hours before the next scheduled pick-up and an enforcement provision.

Section 13-8 of the City’s Code of Ordinance provides for the placement for collection and removal after collection of solid waste and recycling containers in the City.  The Code currently requires the receptacle to be placed for collection by 7:00 a.m. and requires that the receptacle be removed by 11:00 p.m. on the collection day. The Code does not establish how a time when the placement of receptacles prior to collection is permitted.  Staff and residents have noted concerns with receptacles being left at curbside for extended time prior to the collection day.

The proposed amendment would specify that all solid waste and recycling containers can be placed “no earlier than twenty-four (24) hours before the next scheduled pick-up.”  The amendment additionally includes an enforcement section providing for violations of the provisions of the Code of Ordinances shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 24 Article XVII Section 234 of the Code of Ordinances, and through fines in accordance with ordinances and resolutions adopted by the City Commission.

Violation of the proposed ordinance would be categorized as "Improper placement of refuse containers," which is a Class I Violation under City Code.  Class I violations have a $25 penalty for the first violation and a $50 penalty for each repeat violation thereafter.

There is no financial impact to this item.