AGENDA #4c
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Revision to Sanitation Ordinance Related to Rules for Curbside Roll-carts
DATE: September 24, 2001
The attached ordinance would amend Chapter 8 of the Town’s Code of Ordinances to change the time for placement of residential trash receptacles, including Town issued wheeled carts, at the curb.
The Council approved changing the collection of residential garbage collection from twice weekly, rear yard collection to weekly curbside collection as part of the Fiscal 2000-2001 budget. On June 25, 2001, the Town’s Code of Ordinances was revised, in part to establish requirements related to placement and removal of wheeled carts at the curb for collection. Subsequent to this change, we received a citizen request to allow placement of carts at the street no earlier than 4:00 p.m. (rather than 6:00 p.m.) on the day prior to the collection date. The 6:00 p.m. time specified in the ordinance could result in residents having to roll the carts to the street in the dark during the winter. The change to 4:00 p.m. would enable residents to take carts to the street during day light hours.
The attached amendment to Chapter 8 of the Town’s Code of Ordinances would change the time for setting out roll carts at the street, specifying that roll carts be taken to the street no earlier than 4:00 p.m. (rather than 6:00 p.m.) on the day before the collection date.
This change would not have much practical effect on enforcement; our policy, as discussed with the Council in June, would include a graduated enforcement practice of notices and contacts with offending residents. The first likely targets of enforcement would be those individuals who leave their carts at the street for long periods of time. The change in the ordinance would be a minor change to ensure that there would not be confusion about the described practice of setting out carts in the late afternoon of the day before collection.
We note that we have had printed a significant number of materials that cite the existing times for setting out and retrieving carts. These include nearly 5000 fliers mailed out to residents in the areas to be converted to curbside this year. It also includes about 4000 fliers printed to notify residents of holiday service changes. We propose using these materials until they are exhausted and correcting the time on subsequent mailings or hangers.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ON GARBAGE, TRASH AND REFUSE (2001-09-24/O-4)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Sec. 8.5 is hereby revised to read as follows:
“Section 8-5. Garbage and household waste cans; construction; location.
Any person or association referred to in section 8-3, and
receiving twice weekly service, shall provide suitable standard metal or
plastic receptacles, generally known as garbage cans, for deposit of garbage,
household refuse, and other refuse. Said receptacles shall be of thirty-two
gallon capacity or less and shall be watertight, of fly-proof construction and
with a tight-fitting lid when used for wet garbage or other decomposable
material. Such receptacles shall weigh sixteen (16) pounds or less when empty
and may not be loaded with more than forty-five (45) pounds of refuse at a
time. Such receptacles shall be located conveniently for the collector, but
shall in no case be placed on the street or sidewalk unless done under the
regulations prescribed by the town manager under authority of the council. Any
person or association referred to in section 8-3, and receiving once weekly
curbside service, shall provide suitable standard metal or plastic receptacles,
generally known as garbage cans, for deposit of garbage, household refuse, and
other refuse. Said receptacles shall be of thirty-two gallon capacity or less
and shall be watertight, of fly-proof construction and with a tight-fitting lid
when used for wet garbage or other decomposable material. Such receptacles
shall weigh sixteen (16) pounds or less when empty and may not be loaded with
more than forty-five (45) pounds of refuse at a time. Residents may choose to
utilize a mobile refuse cart provided by the town. Unless granted an exemption
by the town due to age or health, once weekly service collections will be
curbside. Receptacles shall be conveniently located at the curb, but shall in
no case be placed on the street or sidewalk as to create a hazard or interfere
with traffic. Trash is to be placed at the curb no earlier than 4:00 6:00
p.m. on the day beforecollection, with containers removed before 6:00
a.m.on the day following collection.”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.
This the 24th day of September, 2001.