Township of Little Egg Harbor, NJ Solid Waste and Recycling Collection

It shall be unlawful for the occupant of any dwelling house, store or other building to place or cause or suffer to be placed upon any street, sidewalk, gutter, areaway or public place any garbage, rubbish, ash and recyclable materials except in compliance with the provisions of this article and Article II, Recycling, of this chapter, as applicable.

§ 293-2 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ASH

The residue from the burning of coal or other fuel and shall include accumulations of dirt or floor sweepings made up mostly of noncombustible materials.

BUILDING MATERIALS

Those materials resulting from the alteration, construction, destruction, rehabilitation, or repair of any man-made physical structure including houses, buildings, industrial or commercial facilities, and roadways by a developer or contractor. Does not include amounts of such debris which are created by minor projects undertaken by a homeowner or residential tenant when the amount of debris fits within the Township-provided automated trash and recycling containers.

BULK ITEMS

Any large items that are not easily combustible or disposable such as refrigerators, car parts, boat motors, water heaters, metal cabinets, and other similar items.

GARBAGE

The refuse of animal or vegetative matter; noncombustible debris composed of natural or man-made materials; unwanted trash.

RECYCLABLE MATERIAL(S)

Those materials which would otherwise become municipal solid waste and which may be collected, separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products. This term is intended to have the same meaning as utilized within Article II, Recycling, of this Chapter 293 of the Township Code.

RUBBISH

Combustible debris, such as rags, mattresses, discarded wearing apparel, furniture, carpets, rubber and refuse.

§ 293-3 Rules and regulations.

The following regulations shall govern the collection and removal of garbage, rubbish, ash and recyclable materials:

Occupants of any dwelling, house, or other residential building shall place the materials described in this article for collection in an appropriate place on the curb in front of such dwelling house, store or other building, after separation in appropriate separate containers. The owner of the said dwelling house or other residential building shall be jointly and concurrently responsible for the compliance with the terms of this article by all occupants of the same.

All garbage and rubbish containing food waste shall be kept in containers or bags which do not leak and do not absorb liquids. If bags are utilized, they must be enclosed within the Township-provided automated trash containers, the fees for which are established by § 293-7.

Each container shall be placed for collection at the curbline in a place which is easily accessible and at least three feet from any obstacle adjacent to the road if no curb exists.

Additional solid waste containers procured by the property owner for curbside pick-up must be compatible with the Township's automated trash collection system.

There shall be a sufficient number of containers to hold all of the garbage and rubbish containing food waste which accumulates between periods of removal from the premises. Residents are permitted to purchase additional containers if necessary.

Tree trimmings, hedge clippings and similar materials shall be cut to a length not to exceed four feet and not wider than four inches in circumference before being deposited just inside the curbline for collection.

Leaves shall be loosely piled on the curbside for collection. No bags or bundling of leaves is permitted. No leaves may be burned in any street or highway. Leaves may also be brought to the Township Department of Public Works for disposal.

All grass, weeds and similar growths shall be placed in a Township-provided automated trash container for nonrecyclable items so they may be readily emptied into the municipal collection vehicle. No bag shall be utilized for the disposal of grass, weeds and similar growths.

If any container of garbage or refuse is upset or overturned, other than by Township employees engaged in garbage and refuse collection, the property owner, tenant or other person placing garbage for municipal collection shall promptly clean up such spilled garbage and restore it to the garbage can.

If any container of garbage or refuse is upset or overturned by a Township employee, they shall immediately collect such garbage and dispose of same in the municipal garbage truck.

No person shall place any of the items referred to in this section in any street or highway, either for municipal collection or other disposal.

The use of fifty-five-gallon drums or drums of greater size as containers is strictly prohibited.

Any containers deemed unacceptable due to the contents thereof shall be affixed with a red tag. In the event that a container is affixed with a red tag, it shall be a violation of this chapter to attempt to dispose of the contents through the Township's solid waste collection program.

Garbage or other refuse shall be placed for municipal collection at the curb or street line no sooner than 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the designated day for collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the designated day for collection. Township employees will not be responsible for picking up any garbage or refuse which is placed for municipal collection in violation of these time restrictions. All garbage containers must be removed from the curb by the property owner, tenant, or other person placing garbage for municipal collection, the same day that garbage or other refuse is collected, unless suitable rack is provided for receptacle storage.

Collection of bulk items shall only occur on days designated by the Township.

[Amended 12-9-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-22]

(1)

Up to five bulk items may be placed for collection per residential property for the particular zone bulk pickup each month.

(2)

No person shall place for collection multiple bulk items (six or more) and/or the contents of a residential dwelling subsequent to an entire clean out of a residential dwelling at the curb, right-of-way or any other place at a residential property unless the Department of Public Works has been notified, arrangements made for such collection and a payment of a $250 fee is made to the Township prior to the date arranged for such collection.

Township employees shall not be responsible for discarding building materials and debris from any site within the Township. This is the responsibility of the owner and/or builder, and no such discarded building materials or debris shall be placed for municipal collection. Building materials and debris must be brought to a County landfill or other suitable disposal site. Building materials may not be brought to the Township Department of Public Works.

It shall be unlawful for any person to dump garbage, rubbish, ash or recyclable materials upon any public property of the Township or to trespass upon the property of another and deposit said materials thereon.

No person shall break into any container of garbage, rubbish, ash or recyclable materials that may be found upon the streets or sidewalks of the Township, nor shall any owner or occupant permit the same to occur with regard to such garbage, rubbish, ash or recyclable materials placed at or near the curb for collection.

No garbage, rubbish, ash or recyclable materials shall be collected by the Township from any manufacturing, commercial office or other business establishment. Any manufacturing, commercial or other business establishment, including nonprofit organizations, that receives Township solid waste collection services (for either Township-provided automated trash containers or commercial dumpsters) as of April 1, 2018 shall, either pursuant to past practice or to a resolution of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, be entitled to continuation of such service at no greater than the level of service provided as of April 1, 2018, only until such time as a relevant manufacturing, commercial or other business establishment or nonprofit organization ceases operation or a relevant manufacturing, commercial or other business establishment changes ownership. Governmental offices or operations shall receive Township solid waste services pursuant to past practice as of April 1, 2018, as authorized by a shared service or other appropriate agreement.

§ 293-4 Presumption created by curb placement.

When any of the items named in or referred to in this chapter are placed at or just inside the curbline, it shall be assumed same are so placed for municipal garbage and refuse collection and disposal.

§ 293-5 Noncollection of garbage and refuse.

No municipal employee shall be obligated to collect any garbage or refuse unless and until said garbage or refuse is prepared for collection and disposal as referred to and directed in this chapter.

§ 293-6 Enforcement.

The Code Enforcement Official, the Property Maintenance Official, or their designees, and the Ocean County Department of Health are hereby individually and severally empowered to enforce the provisions of this article. An inspection may consist of sorting through containers and opening of solid waste bags.

§ 293-7 Fees for automated trash and recycling containers.

The following fees and charges are hereby established for automated trash containers:

Thirty-five-gallon container: $45 each.

Sixty-five-gallon container: $50 each.

Ninety-five-gallon container: $55 each.

Ninety-six gallon container: $55 each.

§ 293-8 Days of collection.

The Superintendent of Public Works shall determine the days of the week when collections shall be made, and public notice shall be given to the Township residents.

§ 293-9 Violations and penalties.

Any person, corporation, occupant, or entity who or which violates or fails to comply with any provision of this article or any of the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine not less than $200, nor more than $2,000, and/or a term of community service of not more than 90 days, and/or by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days in the Ocean County Jail or any combination of fine, community service and imprisonment, as determined in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. Each day for which a violation of this article occurs shall be considered a separate offense.

Article II Recycling

§ 293-10 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

DESIGNATED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

Those materials designated within the Ocean County District Solid Waste Management Plan to be source-separated for the purpose of recycling are: commingled (bottles, glass and cans), newspaper, mixed paper (magazines, catalogues, junk mail, used writing paper), leaves, white goods, newspaper, cardboard, high-grade office paper, tree parts, leaves, ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal.

DUAL STREAM

Commingled; all plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and containers.

Paper: magazines, catalogues, junk mail, used writing paper, newsprint, corrugated cardboard, office and school paper; no chipboard or pizza boxes.

ELECTRONIC WASTE

A computer central processing unit and associated hardware, including keyboards, modems, printers, scanners and fax machines; cathode ray tubes, cathode ray tube devices, flat panel displays or similar video display devices with screens that are greater than four inches measured diagonally and that contain one or more circuit boards, including televisions and cell phones.

MULTIFAMILY DWELLING

Any building or structure, or complex of buildings in which three or more dwelling units are owner-occupied or rented or leased, or offered for rental or lease, for residential purposes [See N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.13(a).] and shall include hotels, motels, or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal guests as those terms are defined under Subsection (j) of Section 3 of the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law, P.L. 1967, c. 76 (N.J.S.A. 55:13-A-1 et seq.).

MUNICIPAL RECYCLING COORDINATOR

The person or persons appointed by the Township Committee who shall be authorized to, among other things, enforce the provisions of this article, and any rules and regulations which may be promulgated hereunder.

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) STREAM

All solid waste generated by residential, commercial, and institutional establishments within the boundaries of the Township of Little Egg Harbor.

RECYCLABLE MATERIAL

Those materials which would otherwise become solid waste, and which may be collected, separated, or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products.

SINGLE STREAM

The combination of commingled and paper, listed above, in one container; does not include plastic bags, food waste, paper towels, paper napkins, pizza boxes, egg cartons, aluminum foil, plastic cups and utensils; no plastic other than bottles; no juice boxes or bags; no garbage.

SOURCE SEPARATION

The process by which recyclable materials are separated at the point of generation by the generator thereof from solid waste for the purposes of recycling.

SOURCE-SEPARATED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

Recyclable materials which are separated at the point of generation by the generator thereof from solid waste for the purposes of recycling.

§ 293-11 Mandatory source separation.

It shall be mandatory for all persons who are owners, tenants or occupants of residential and nonresidential premises, which shall include but not be limited to retail or other commercial locations, as well as government, schools and other institutional locations within the Township of Little Egg Harbor, to separate designated recyclable materials from all solid waste. Designated recyclable materials shall be deposited separate and apart from other solid waste generated by the owners, tenants, or occupants of such premises and shall be placed separately at the curb in a clean and safe manner to coincide with the designated recycling schedule.

§ 293-12 Residential dwelling compliance requirements.

The owner of any property shall be responsible for compliance with this article. For multifamily units, the management or owner is responsible for setting up and maintaining the recycling system, including collection of recyclable materials, in accordance with guidelines or regulations established by the appropriate municipal office. Violations and penalty notices will be directed to the owner or management in those instances where the violator is not easily identifiable. The management shall issue notification and collection rules to new tenants when they arrive and every six months during their occupancy. All uses, except for single- and two-family dwellings, shall comply with the requirements of § 15-11.18, Solid waste management.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 212, Land Development.

§ 293-13 Nonresidential establishment compliance requirements.

All commercial or institutional generators of solid waste shall be required to comply with the provisions of this article.

The arrangement for collection of designated recyclables hereunder shall be the responsibility of the commercial, institutional or industrial property owner or its designee, unless the municipality provides for the collection of designated recyclable materials. All commercial, institutional or industrial properties which provide outdoor litter receptacles and disposal service for their contents shall also provide receptacles for designated recyclable materials, for those materials commonly deposited, in the location of the litter receptacle, and shall provide for separate recycling service for their contents.

Every business, institution, or industrial facility shall report, on an annual basis, to the Municipal Recycling Coordinator, on such forms as may be prescribed, on recycling activities at its premises, including the amount of recycled material, by material type, collected and recycled and the vendor or vendors providing recycling service.

All food service establishments, as defined in N.J.A.C. 8:24-1.5, shall, in addition to compliance with all other recycling requirements, be required to recycle grease and/or cooking oil created in the processing of food or food products and maintain such records as may be prescribed for inspection by any code enforcement officer.

All nonresidential uses shall comply with the requirements of § 293-14.1, Solid waste management.

[Amended 4-26-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03]

§ 293-14 New developments of multifamily residential units or commercial, institutional or industrial properties.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.13(a) and 13:1E-99.16(c):

Any application to the Planning Board of the Township of Little Egg Harbor for subdivision or site plan approval for the construction of multifamily dwellings of three or more units, single-family developments of 50 or more units or any commercial, institutional, or industrial development for the utilization of 1,000 square feet or more of land must include a recycling plan. This plan must contain, at a minimum, the following:

(1)

A detailed analysis of the expected composition and amount of solid waste and recyclables generated at the proposed development; and

(2)

Locations documented on the application's site plan that provide for convenient recycling opportunities for all owners, tenants, and occupants. The recycling area shall be of sufficient size, convenient location and contain other attributes (signage, lighting, fencing, etc.) as may be determined by the Municipal Recycling Coordinator.

Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Township of Little Egg Harbor, the owner of any new multifamily housing or commercial, institutional, or industrial development must supply a copy of a duly executed contract with a hauling company for the purposes of collection and recycling of source-separated recyclable materials, in those instances where the municipality does not otherwise provide this service.

Provision shall be made for the indoor, or enclosed outdoor, storage and pickup of solid waste, to be approved by the municipal engineer.

All uses, except for single- and two-family dwellings, shall comply with the requirements of § 293-14.1, Solid waste management.

[Amended 4-26-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03]

§ 293-14.1 Solid waste management.

[Amended 4-26-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03]

Provisions shall be made for the indoor or enclosed storage of garbage and refuse.

Outside garbage, when permitted, shall only be permitted in areas approved by the municipal agency. Such areas shall, as nearly as may be practicable, be shielded from public view and protected by adequate fencing and/or screening.

Screening of refuse areas. These areas adjacent to or within the parking area designated as refuse storage and pickup areas shall be properly screened to prevent the unsightly display and the scattering of debris. The following minimum requirements shall apply:

(1)

The area shall be surrounded on all sides by a uniform solid fence or masonry wall not less than five feet nor more than eight feet in height. The fence or wall shall be located and be of such type as to promote safety and ensure against creation of an unsightly condition. The fence must at all times be maintained so as to be kept in a sound, upright, fully repaired and painted condition or, if not painted, shall be made of such material as does not corrode, rust or change appearance if left unpainted. The opening in the fence or wall shall be so located as to prevent the visual display of refuse from any adjacent parking area, building, street or site.

(2)

In addition, the fence or wall shall be of a design which is consistent with the architectural design of the principle building on the site or the style of the neighborhood, including gates, which shall screen from view, entirely, the refuse containers and refuse storage areas.

(3)

No refuse enclosure or area shall be located in any area considered to be a front yard or in any area of a site which fronts on any street.

(4)

In addition to the fence or wall, plantings such as dense shrubs or trees shall be planted around the refuse enclosure to further screen the enclosure and enhance the enclosure aesthetically.

Debris.

(1)

Materials accumulated by clearing, grubbing and excavation, as above described, shall be disposed of by the developer in a manner satisfactory to the Engineer, except that materials suitable for embankment shall be used for that purpose if needed therefore. Burying of the above materials will not be permitted in any case.

(2)

At the time of the tender of a plan for final approval for subdivision of real estate in this municipality, an estimate shall be made, for and on behalf of the municipality, by the Township Engineer as to the cost of removal of the development debris for the development. Before final approval of the plan, such estimate furnished by the Township Engineer shall be included in the guaranty to be furnished by the developer.

(3)

The Township Code Enforcement Officer shall keep a constant check on debris from the subdivision of land and construction of buildings and shall not permit accumulations in any real estate development. In the event that there is any substantial accumulation of such debris in any development, the Building Inspector shall forthwith give written notice to the developer to remove such debris from the real estate development. In the event that such debris is not promptly removed, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized and directed to refrain from giving certificates of occupancy for building permits until the debris is cleared up and removed.

(4)

Whenever the subgrade is established to be coincident with the existing ground surface, the vegetation and underlying topsoil of the existing ground surface within the excavation and embankment areas shall be stripped off to a depth of not less than four inches and not more than six inches. Street and roadway excavation shall be carried out so that the subgrade throughout the work is kept properly drained.

(5)

Excavated materials shall be placed in an embankment when suitable therefore or shall be used for backfill or other purposes. Material in excess of that required shall be disposed of by the developer, contractor or subcontractor.

(6)

Borrow excavation for road construction shall include the furnishing, transporting, placing and consolidating of materials required for embankment in excess of that obtained from other excavations and other incidental work. All borrow excavation shall be suitable for embankment and approved by the Township Engineer.

Storage and waste disposal.

(1)

In all districts permitting such an operation, use or any activity involving the manufacture, utilization or storage of flammable, combustible and/or explosive materials, such storage shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Department of Labor and Industry of New Jersey or the Fire Code of the National Fire Protection Association, whichever is more restrictive.

(2)

All flammable, explosive and/or combustible material shall be stored in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association or the New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry Code, whichever is more restrictive. All outdoor storage facilities for fuel, raw materials and products and equipment stored outdoors, wherever permitted, shall be enclosed by an approved safety fence and visual screen and shall conform to all yard requirements imposed upon the principal buildings in the district.

(3)

No materials or wastes shall be deposited upon a lot in such form or manner that they may be transferred off the lot by natural causes or forces, nor shall any substance which can contaminate a stream or watercourse or otherwise render such stream or watercourse undesirable as a source of water supply or recreation or which will destroy aquatic life be allowed to enter any stream or watercourse.

(4)

All materials or wastes which might cause fumes or dust or which constitute a fire hazard or which may be edible or otherwise attractive to rodents or insects shall be stored outdoors only if enclosed in containers that are adequate to eliminate such hazards.

§ 293-15 Collection of solid waste mixed with recyclable materials prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for solid waste collectors to collect solid waste that is mixed with, or contains visible signs of, designated recyclable materials. It is also unlawful for solid waste collectors to remove for disposal those bags or containers of solid waste which visibly display a warning notice sticker or some other device indicating that the load of solid waste contains designated recyclable materials.

It shall be the responsibility of the resident or occupant to properly segregate the uncollected solid waste for proper disposal or recycling. Allowing such unseparated solid waste and recyclables to accumulate will be considered a violation of this article.

Once placed in the location identified by this article, or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article, no person, other than those authorized by the municipality, shall tamper with, collect, remove, or otherwise handle designated recyclable materials.

§ 293-16 Enforcement.

§ 293-17 Violations and penalties; Municipal Recycling Trust Fund.

Fines levied and collected pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be immediately deposited into the Municipal Recycling Trust Fund. Monies in the Municipal Recycling Trust Fund shall be used for the expenses of the municipal recycling program.