[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Palmer as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-15-1967 by Ord. No. 85]
This ordinance shall be known as the "Palmer
Township Refuse Disposal Ordinance."
A.
ASHES
DISPOSAL
GARBAGE
PERSON
REFUSE
Definitions. As used in this ordinance, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The residue resulting from the burning of wood, coal, coke
or other combustible material.
The storage, collection, disposal or handling of refuse.
All animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling,
preparation, cooking or consumption of foods.
Any natural person, association, partnership, firm or corporation.
All solid wastes, except body wastes, including "garbage,"
"ashes" and nonputrescible solid wastes, recyclables, and hazardous
waste.
[Amended 10-8-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-415[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal
of the definition of "rubbish," which immediately followed this definition.
B.
Word usage. The singular shall include the plural,
and the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter.
[Amended 7-11-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-472]
B.
Refuse containers.
(1)
Containers shall be made of durable, watertight, rust-resistant
material, having a close-fitting lid and handles to facilitate collection.
(2)
Residential containers shall be of the size and type
as designated by the Township.
(3)
It shall be unlawful to permit the accumulation of
residue of liquids, solids or a combination of such material on the
bottom or sides of containers, it being the intention of this provision
that the interior of containers shall be kept clean by thorough rinsing
and draining as often as necessary.
C.
Storage of refuse on residential properties.
(1)
Containers. Each residential unit shall utilize Township-approved
containers and shall place and keep all refuse therein.
(2)
Except for days on which refuse is being collected,
all refuse containers must be kept to the side or rear of the premises.
Municipal waste containers shall not be stored on front porches or
within three feet of the front door. Exceptions:
(b)
For single-family attached and semidetached homes, containers may be kept along the front of the house or structure, upon request and approval by the Board of Supervisors, provided that such containers are obscured from view from the public street by a natural or man-made screen and located a minimum of five feet from property lines. Man-made screens shall be in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 190.
(c)
Where a waiver is obtained, by the Board of Supervisors,
due to the infeasibility by topographic constraints or disability
limitations.
(d)
For residents that are approved for and utilize
the Township's assisted collection program provided by the contracted
hauler.
D.
Storage of municipal waste on multifamily, commercial,
institutional, and industrial properties and establishments.
(1)
Containers. Storage of municipal waste on commercial,
institutional, and industrial properties shall be made of durable,
watertight, rust-resistant material, having a close-fitting lid when
necessary, and in the size and shape suitable to facilitate safe collection.
Such containers shall be kept clean and in good working order.
(2)
Location of containers. Containers for collection
at multifamily, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties
and establishments shall be located on such premises at a place which
shall not interfere with public or private sidewalks, driveways, roads,
streets, highways or entrances and exits or public or private buildings.
(3)
Except for days on which refuse is being collected,
all municipal waste containers must be kept to the side or rear of
all premises, obscured from view from the public street and shall
be in accordance with the approved site plan, if applicable.
A.
Place of collection.
(1)
Refuse containers shall, for the purpose of collection,
be placed at ground level and be made readily accessible to the collector.
They shall be placed in the area from which collection is to be made.
B.
Frequency of collection.
(1)
Refuse shall be collected once weekly, except that
during the months of May, June, July, August and September, the Board
of Supervisors of Palmer Township may require collection twice weekly.
(2)
Hotels, restaurants, institutions and commercial establishments
may be required to have more frequent collection if determined by
the Board of Supervisors of said Township to be essential to protect
the public health.
C.
Licensing of collectors.
(1)
No person shall collect, remove, haul or convey any
refuse through or upon any of the streets or alleys of the said Township
of Palmer, or dispose of the same in any manner or place, without
obtaining a license from said Township through the Township Secretary.
(2)
The fee for such license shall be $25 per annum, and
all licenses shall be issued for the calendar year.
(3)
Every person who shall apply for a license under this
section shall state the type or types of refuse to be collected and
the place and method of disposal.
(4)
No license shall be granted if the place and method
of disposal shall not conform to the requirements of this ordinance
or to the ordinance of any municipal or quasi-municipal corporation
wherein disposal of refuse is to be made.
(5)
No licensed collector shall make any change in the
arrangements for disposal of refuse collection by him without first
receiving approval from said Township through the Township Secretary.
(6)
It shall be unlawful to permit an unlicensed collector
to collect or remove refuse from a household, institution or commercial
enterprise.
[Amended 10-8-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-415]
It shall be unlawful to dump, burn, bury, destroy, or otherwise
dispose of refuse within the jurisdictional limits of the said Township
of Palmer except at a Township-approved refuse disposal site. It shall
be unlawful to dump, burn, bury, destroy, or otherwise dispose of
materials designated for recycling pursuant to the Act of July 28,
1988 (P.L. 556, No. 101), known as the "Municipal Waste Planning,
Recycling and Waste Reduction Act," except as prescribed by Palmer
Township's Municipal Recycling Program.
[Amended 10-25-1988 by Ord. No. 227]
A.
Any person or persons charged with the violation of
any of the provisions of this ordinance, upon conviction thereof before
a Justice of the Peace of the said Township of Palmer, shall pay a
fine not to exceed $600 and, in default thereof, be committed to the
Northampton County Prison for a period not exceeding 30 days.
B.
Each day of violation of the particular code or ordinance
applicable shall be considered a separate offense, for which the fines
and penalties stated herein may be imposed on a daily basis.
The provisions of this ordinance are severable;
and if any part hereof shall be held to be unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid by any court, such decision shall not affect or impair any
of the remaining provisions of the ordinance. It is declared to be
the intent of the Board of Supervisors that this ordinance would have
been adopted even if such invalid provision had not been included
herein.
This ordinance shall become effective 30 days
after enactment hereof.
[Adopted 8-23-1983 as Ord. No. 201]
The disposal site is herein identified as that
located at the South 25th Street Quarry, Palmer Township, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania.
Use of the disposal site is limited to Palmer
Township residents and Palmer Township businesses. Written proof of
residency is required in this regard.
Use of the disposal site is limited to tree
branches, leaves, grass and hedge and bush clippings removed by Palmer
Township residents and businesses from their property. Building supplies,
hazardous liquids or materials, white goods, junk and garbage are
not permitted.
No use of the disposal site is permitted for
people engaged in the business of tree trimming, landscaping, grass
cutting or hedge or bush cutting businesses and/or building contractors.
A.
The disposal site will be available for use commencing
March 15 of each year and ending November 15 of each year, Monday
through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
B.
The use of the disposal site at any time or for any
purpose other than those set forth above shall be authorized only
by the Board of Supervisors.
A.
Use of the disposal site shall be requested from the
police dispatcher at the Palmer Township Municipal Building. Individuals
requesting use of the disposal site shall pay a fee of $1 per load
to the dispatcher. The dispatcher will deposit the fee so received
in the security filing cabinet of the Police Department. The Custodian
of Records will tabulate the money, turn the money over to the Township
Cashier and receive a receipt therefor.
B.
Entrance to the disposal site will be equipped with
a swing gate to be locked and unlocked by Township police officers,
who will accompany the Township resident requesting use to the site
after being notified by the police dispatcher. If members of the Police
Department are occupied performing regular police work, residents
requesting use of the disposal site must wait until an officer is
available.
A record of those individuals given permission
to use the disposal site will be maintained by the Police Department.
A.
Any person found guilty of violation of the provisions
of this ordinance shall be charged with a summary offense and shall
be subject to a fine as follows: for the first offense, $100; for
the second offense, $200; and for the third and each succeeding offense,
$300 each.
B.
Each day of violation of the particular code or ordinance
applicable shall be considered a separate offense, for which the fines
and penalties stated herein may be imposed on a daily basis.
[Added 10-25-1988 by Ord. No. 227]
This ordinance shall become effective five days
after adoption.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances, insofar
as they are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed absolutely.