§ 54-37. Use of containers; preparation of waste for collection.

(a)

At apartments and places of business where dumpsters or recycling containers are provided by the city, no municipal solid waste or recyclable commodities shall be placed in or collected from any location or container other than the dumpster or recycling container placed by the city, without permission of the city manager. Cardboard boxes, wooden boxes, crates and other bulky objects shall be broken down before being placed in a dumpster.

(b)

It shall be unlawful to dump or place, or cause to be dumped or placed, any municipal solid waste or litter of any kind in any dumpster owned by the city, by anyone other than the individual renting the dumpster or authorized to use the dumpster by the renter.

(c)

In residential areas, no municipal solid waste shall be placed on any street or sidewalk. Except as set forth in this chapter, municipal solid waste shall be placed in municipal solid waste containers. Yard waste shall be separated from all other municipal solid waste and placed in containers or stacked neatly in one consolidated pile at curbside or the alleyway, away from trees, fences, meters and other obstructions. Tree limbs and branches shall be cut in four-foot lengths and stacked separately. No person shall place or pile municipal solid waste or yard waste in such a manner that it may be moved by the elements upon any street, sidewalk, alley, parkway or other public place, or onto the premises of any other person or business.

(d)

In residential areas, it shall be permissible to use up to five residential municipal solid waste containers for the deposit of municipal solid waste or up to 20 reusable containers for separated yard waste.

(e)

In business districts, only municipal solid waste shall be deposited in dumpsters.

(f)

No person depositing yard waste in containers at curbside may exceed the four-foot limb length, a maximum of 20 containers or 50-pound maximum weight per filled container.

(g)

All municipal solid waste (excluding hazardous waste) shall first be drained of all liquids, and shall be deposited in the commercial or residential municipal solid waste container required in this chapter. Wet garbage or food waste shall be drained and placed in a removable plastic bag not less than one and one-half mill thick and securely closed before being placed in the commercial or residential municipal solid waste container. Commercial or residential municipal solid waste containers shall be kept tightly covered at all times except when it is necessary to lift the cover to deposit municipal solid waste in the container.

(h)

When preparing items for recycling, a person shall:

(1)

Remove and discard all lids and caps from containers.

(2)

Rinse all containers to eliminate all visible food or drink residue, and drain all liquids.

(3)

Deposit in recycling containers only what is requested by the city.

(i)

Dumpster pads. Dumpster pads, built to city specifications in accordance with section 54-36, must be provided by new businesses, renovated business sites or apartment buildings. Garbage and refuse containers and dumpsters located outside shall be stored on or above a smooth surface of nonabsorbent material such as concrete that is kept clean and maintained in good repair. If a compactor system is approved for the storage of garbage, it shall be placed on a concrete pad, which is graded to drain to a sanitary sewer system. Adequate cleaning facilities shall be provided and each container, room or area shall be kept clean of litter, liquid spills and free of excessive odors. Dumpster pad options do not allow for storage. Pad site area shall be indicated as separate from any storage area on the site plan. Enclosures and gates are optional and not required by the city, but, if built, must conform to city specifications. Establishments which secure their gates with a lock must use a lock provided by the department. The added service to either open gates or handle a lock will incur an additional charge per month, which shall be established by separate resolution.

(Ord. No. 5084, § 1, 10-10-02; Ord. No. 5192, § 7, 8-5-03; Ord. No. 5564, § 7, 9-19-06)