§ 185-1. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases have the meanings given them in this section:

GARBAGE

Organic waste resulting from the preparation of food and decayed and spoiled food from any source.

RECYCLABLES

Includes paper, plastic, tin cans, aluminum, motor oil, glass, and other metal goods, each separated or otherwise prepared so as to be acceptable to the recycling center where they are to be deposited.

RECYCLING CENTER

Premises used for the receipt, storage, or processing of recyclables and approved as such by the City Council when the premises are in the City or by the governing body of the local governmental unit having jurisdiction when the premises are outside the City.

REFUSE

Includes garbage and rubbish.

RUBBISH

Inorganic solid waste, such as tin cans, glass, paper, ashes, sweepings, etc.

§ 185-2. Unauthorized accumulation.

Any unauthorized accumulation of refuse on any premises is a nuisance and prohibited.

§ 185-3. Refuse in streets and bodies of water.

No person shall place any refuse in any street, alley, or public place or upon any private property except in a proper container for collection. No person shall throw or deposit refuse in any stream or other body of water.

§ 185-4. Scattering of refuse.

No person shall deposit anywhere within the City any refuse in such manner that it may be carried or deposited by the elements upon any public or private premises within the City.

§ 185-5. Burying of refuse; composting.

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). No person shall bury any refuse in the City except in an approved sanitary landfill, but leaves, grass clippings, and easily biodegradable, nonpoisonous garbage may be composted on the premises where such refuse has been accumulated. Garbage may be composted only in a rodent-proof structure and in an otherwise sanitary manner and after the Council or Health Officer has given approval to such composting after a finding that the composting will be done in accordance with these standards.

§ 185-6. Disposal of accumulated refuse required; collection requirements.

Every person shall, in a sanitary manner, dispose of refuse that may accumulate upon property owned or occupied by him. Garbage shall be collected, or otherwise lawfully disposed of, at least once each week during the months of May through September and at least every two weeks during other months.

§ 185-7. Containers.

A. General requirements. Every householder occupant or owner of any residence and any restaurant, industrial establishment or commercial establishment shall provide on the premises one or more containers to receive and contain all refuse which may accumulate between collections. All normal accumulations of refuse shall be deposited in such containers. Leaves, trimmings from shrubs, grass clippings, shavings, excelsior, and other rubbish of similar volume and weight may be stored in closed containers meeting the requirements of Subsection B of this section. Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. Container requirements. Each container shall be watertight, shall be impervious to insects and rodents, shall be fireproof, and shall not exceed 32 gallons in capacity, except that any commercial or business establishment having refuse volume exceeding two cubic yards per week shall provide bulk or box-type refuse storage containers. Containers shall be maintained in good and sanitary condition. Any container not conforming to the requirements of this article or having ragged or sharp edges or any other defect likely to hamper or injure the person collecting the contents shall be promptly replaced after notice by the City.

C. Placement. Where an alley open to traffic is available, each container for premises abutting the alley shall be placed at the rear of the property next to the alley. Where no alley exists, the container shall be placed near the rear door of the building to which it relates. In that case the container shall be placed in the front property line for collection.

D. Use of containers. Refuse shall be drained of liquid and household garbage shall be wrapped before being deposited in a container. Highly inflammable or explosive material shall not be placed in containers.

§ 185-8. Violations and penalties.

Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). Violations of this article shall be punishable as a misdemeanor as provided in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty.

§ 185-9. Containers.

All garbage, rubbish and refuse accumulated on any premises shall be placed and maintained in plastic bags, containers, dumpsters or packaged or bundled in a manner so as to enable convenient pickup. Garbage, rubbish and refuse bags and/or containers provided by the owner, tenant, lessee or occupants of the premises shall be maintained in good, clean, neat and sanitary condition at all times. All garbage, rubbish and refuse bags and/or containers shall be used solely and only by that owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of the premises or commercial establishment as a receptacle.

§ 185-10. Illegal dumping or depositing.

It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit or dump any residential, commercial or large amount of garbage, rubbish, refuse or any other type of waste on any public or private property and/or in any commercial establishment dumpster, container or receptacle unless specifically authorized by the commercial establishment.

§ 185-11. Violations and penalties.

Any person found in violation of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided by Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty.