2002-11-11 Regular Meeting and Workshop Meeting

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SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE CITY COUNCIL RETREAT SEPTEMBER 27-28, 2002 INTRODUCTION/CURRENT ACTIVITY The City of La Porte City Council approved a new Solid Waste Ordinance on October 14, 1996. The Ordinance was intended to manage the collection and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste to provide for the efficient, cost-effective management of solid waste within the City. With this in mind, the Ordinance established the rules and regulations to provide for the service. The City intended to educate the residents and customers of the new rules and regulations, with the thought that the public would gradually come into compliance with the new rules. Initial activities included letters to all residential and commercial customers, newspaper articles and publication in the annual heavy trash schedule and calendar. More recent efforts include the city's web page and cable channel. Although the majority of residents comply, a significant number continue to violate one or more portions of the Ordinance. The most common violation involves setting out heavy trash too early. The Ordinance prohibits the placement of heavy trash more than five (5) days before scheduled pickup. Frequently, heavy trash is placed just after the last cycle, sometimes the next day. With an approximate cycle of 2 % weeks per pickup, trash can be on the street for over two (2) weeks before collection. The Solid Waste Division has acted to educate the public by placing notices at the residents who have placed trash early. Reaction ranges from thanks, concern, to outright indignation. Many of these are repeat violators. The Ordinance provides for a fine up to $2,000.00 for this violation. No formal citations or warnings have been written to date. Another common violation is placement of excessive heavy trash. The Ordinance provides for the collection of up to ten (10) cubic yards of heavy trash. Trash placed for collection frequently exceeds this limit. In fact, we have seen trash piles exceeding•60 cubic yards (three truckloads) at individual households. Besides the educational door hangers, the Solid Waste Division tries to make personal contact to discuss alternative methods of disposal. We invite residents whose excessive trash consists of brush to haul it to our composting area. Additionally, if hauling is not possible, we will collect '/z truckload (approximately 12 cubic yards), leaving the remainder for the next scheduled pickup. This means that the trash will sit at the curb for an additional two-(2) weeks. Repeat violations are less common with excessive trash. The Ordinance provides that the City give the violator ten (10) days to remove the trash. If not, the City can remove, or cause the removal, and the cost is added to the violator's water bill. The City has not invoked this portion of the Ordinance to date. 1