[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 5-20-2008 by L.L. No. 2-2008. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The management of solid waste is the inherent responsibility of local government, whose authority in this area is derived from its police powers. County-wide collection and disposition of municipal solid waste, more commonly referred to as "flow control," will allow for more effective and environmentally responsible waste planning and management, and more effective implementation of the County's integrated solid waste management plan.
B. 
Flow control is needed so that environmentally beneficial management options which are not economically appealing to the waste management industry, such as source reduction, resource recovery, and alternative solid waste processing technologies, can be implemented. Flow control will further the goals of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Rockland County from offensive materials by regulating the removal, transportation and disposal of solid waste and reducing the amount of infected and contaminated solid waste that would require special processing.
C. 
More than 16 years after the adoption of its integrated solid waste management plan in September 1991, the County desires to further increase its rate of recycling, and to implement an alternative solid waste processing technology with the goal of eliminating, or severely reducing the amount of County-generated waste that needs to be disposed of in landfills. Flow control will guarantee the quantity of waste to make the implementation of an alternative solid waste processing technology a viable goal, and serve important environmental and public health, welfare, and safety objectives.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTHORITY
The Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, a public benefit corporation organized and existing under the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority Act, Title 13-M of Article 8 of the Public Authorities Law, Chapter 43-A of the Consolidated Laws of the State of New York, as amended from time to time.
BIODEGRADABLE LEAF BAGS
Kraft paper bags used in storing and composting yard waste.
BULK ITEMS
Items that may be too large to fit into standard household trash cans or are typically not collected as part of weekly trash collections, such as small household appliances and housewares; painted, laminated and treated wood, including lumber under four feet in length and under 25 pounds, and plywood; furniture (wooden and upholstered); mattresses; textiles; bulky plastics; packing materials; insulation; office equipment; and small machinery, generated within the County and which has been discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless, or in excess to the owners at the time of such discard or rejection, having served their intended use. Bulk items shall not include any items or materials that appear on the list of designated recyclables.
COMMERCIAL
Any firm, company, corporation, partnership, association, institution, multifamily residence, townhouse, cooperative or condominium apartment building or complex, joint stock association or any other group of individuals, or other entity providing a public service or engaged in a business for profit, and includes the plural as well as the singular.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS
Solid waste resulting from construction, remodeling, repair, demolition of structures, and road building, which is generated within the County. Such wastes include but are not limited to bricks, concrete and other masonry materials, lumber, and asphalt, as designated by the Authority, and modified from time to time, by resolution.
COUNTY
The County of Rockland.
CURBSIDE
The location within five feet from the public street at which yard waste, solid waste, scrap metal, construction and demolition debris, or recyclables may be set out for collection by a hauler.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The Rockland County Department of Health.
DESIGNATED FACILITY
Any publicly owned solid waste facility(ies) and/or any solid waste facility(ies) owned and/or operated by the authority, and designated by the authority for acceptance or disposal of yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or recyclables, including but not limited to transfer stations, materials recovery facilities, drop-off centers, and resource recovery facilities.
DESIGNATED RECYCLABLES
Recyclables, as designated by the Authority, and modified from time to time by resolution and which shall be separated from the solid waste stream for collection and/or delivery to a materials recovery facility or other recycling facility.
DUMPSTER CONTAINER
A container used for the purpose of temporarily holding construction and demolition debris, solid waste, scrap metals, or recyclables and which generally ranges in size from 1/2 cubic yard to 40 cubic yards.
HAULER
Each such individual or carting company, or any municipality providing such collection service, authorized by a valid permit issued by the Department of Health to collect, pick up, remove, transport and/or dispose or cause to be collected, picked up, removed, transported or disposed any yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or recyclables generated within the County and placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by such hauler.
INFECTIOUS WASTE
Any material containing any organism (such as a virus or bacterium) that is capable of being communicated by invasion and multiplication in body tissues and is capable of causing disease or adverse health impacts in humans.
LANDSCAPER
Any person or entity, commercial or otherwise, who performs the following services for customers within Rockland County for financial consideration: cutting, trimming, lawn care, and maintenance of trees and shrubs; collection, consolidation, and removal of yard waste.
MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY
Any designated facility where designated recyclables are received and processed.
MUNICIPALITY
The County, any village, town, city, school district, special district, or public authority located in the County, or any combination thereof.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with another: (1) shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or (2) shall have charge, care, or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner, lessee, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, or as a receiver; of an executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any agent for any of the above shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter to the same extent as if he were the owner.
PERMIT
A written license and authorization to carry on a specified activity or activities as regulated by this chapter and includes any written approval issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Health or his duly designated representative.
PERSON
Includes any individual; landlord, tenant, owner or manager of a multifamily residence, townhouse, cooperative or condominium apartment building or complex; chief executive officer, owner or manager of a commercial entity; director or manager of any institution, including nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations; firm; public or private corporation; municipality; political subdivision; association; partnership; institution; public body; joint stock association or any other group of individuals, including apartment, condominium, and townhouse association; and the term "person" shall include plural as well as singular.
PUTRESCIBLE
That the material in question is capable of undergoing the process of decomposition resulting in the formation of malodorous byproducts.
RECYCLABLES
Any material generated within the County and which, under any applicable law, is not hazardous and which is designated to be separated from the waste stream to be recycled.
REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE
Any medical waste that is a solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment (e.g., provision of medical services), or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, that is not excluded or exempted under 6 NYCRR Part 360-17.2(h)(2).
ROCKLAND COUNTY SANITARY CODE
The Sanitary Code of the County of Rockland.
SCRAP METALS
White goods (stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and hot water heaters), metal furniture, recognizable and uncontaminated metal vehicle parts (excluding mufflers and catalytic converters and parts that contain fluids or motor oils), metal pipes, bed frames, metal sheds and other metal objects, generated within the County and which have been discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless, or in excess to the owners at the time of such discard or rejection, having served their intended use.
SOLID WASTE
All putrescible and non-putrescible solid wastes resulting from handling, preparation, cooking, serving or consumption of food and other non-recyclable household waste products, as well as residue from the burning of coal or wood, as well as bulk items, which are generated within the County. It shall include, but not be limited to, materials or substances discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless, or in excess to the owners at the time of such discard or rejection, or that are being accumulated, stored, or physically, chemically or biologically treated prior to being discarded or rejected, having served their intended use, or as a manufacturing by-product, including, but not limited to, garbage, refuse, industrial, commercial and agricultural waste, rubbish, ashes, contained gaseous material, incinerator residue, offal, but not including sewage sludge and other highly diluted water-carried materials or substances and those in gaseous form, special nuclear or by-product material within the meaning of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or waste which appears on the list or satisfies the characteristics of hazardous waste promulgated by the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
SUITABLE CONTAINER
The receptacles to be utilized for the set-out of mandated materials, as designated by the Authority.
TIRES
Tires from cars and trucks and their casings.
YARD WASTE
Grass clippings, leaves, and brush which are generated within the County, and excluding trees and tree stumps, and which shall be separated from the solid waste stream for collection and/or delivery to a designated facility. Yard waste may also include other types of green waste as designated by the Authority, and modified from time to time, by resolution.
YARD WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITY
Any publicly owned yard waste composting facility(ies) designated by the Authority to receive, process, and market compost and wood products from yard waste generated within the County.
The Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority shall implement and administer the provisions of this chapter related to:
A. 
Determination of the designated facility that shall serve a particular municipality;
B. 
Determination of the types of wastes that shall be handled and processed at each designated facility;
C. 
Designation of those materials that are to be separated and collected for recycling at the materials recovery facility or other designated facility. A current official list of designated recyclables shall be maintained by and be available from the Authority;
D. 
Coordination with the Department of Health on the implementation and enforcement of this chapter, and exchange of information with the Department of Health related to such implementation and enforcement;
E. 
Promulgation of regulations applicable to commercial entities requesting Authority approval of their recycling programs for purposes of § 350-11C of this chapter;
F. 
Promulgation of regulations applicable to landscapers, tree service companies, and green waste recyclers requesting authority approval of their green waste recycling programs for purposes of § 350-13D of this chapter;
G. 
Promulgation of such other regulations and performance of such other duties and functions determined by the Authority to be in furtherance of the goals of this chapter.
A. 
The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall enforce violations for any noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The Rockland County Department of Health shall require a background check and fingerprinting of a hauler's principals as a requirement for issuance of a permit under Article III of the Rockland County Sanitary Code to commercially collect, pick up, remove or transport or cause to be collected, picked up, removed or transported any yard waste, construction and demolition debris, solid waste, scrap metals, and/or recyclables. The Commissioner of the Department of Health may satisfy the requirement for such background checks and fingerprinting by recognizing the licenses of other jurisdictions such as the Town of Clarkstown, Town of Orangetown, County of Westchester, the City of New York, and any other jurisdiction that requires background checks and fingerprinting for issuance of a hauling permit or license.
C. 
The Department of Health shall coordinate with the Authority on the implementation and enforcement of this chapter, and provide the exchange of information related to such implementation and enforcement between the Department of Health and the Authority.
D. 
All such costs incurred by the Department of Health pursuant to this chapter shall be reimbursed by the Authority, including enforcement actions.
E. 
The Commissioner of Health shall require all permittees covered by this chapter to submit quarterly reports, on forms provided by the Department of Health, of the amounts (in cubic yards or tons, as applicable) of solid waste, yard waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and recyclables and the facility to which such materials were delivered.
A. 
In order to provide for public health and safety and to facilitate the conservation of vital resources, each person shall provide for the removal of yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals and designated recyclables from the property on which they are generated either through a service provided by a municipality or hauler or by direct haul by such person to the designated facility as determined by the authority to serve the municipality where such person resides or has a place of business, and which receives each such type of waste.
B. 
In order to provide for public health and safety and to facilitate the conservation of vital resources, each commercial entity shall provide for the removal of yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and recyclables from the property on which they are generated either through a service provided by a hauler or by direct haul to the designated facility as determined by the authority to serve the municipality where such commercial entity resides or has a place of business, and which receives each such type of waste.
C. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to place at curbside or other designated area for collection any appliance containing chlorofluorocarbons ("CFCs"), such as freon, in such a manner that would allow for it to be crushed or for CFCs to escape into the atmosphere.
D. 
This chapter shall not affect the handling and disposal of infectious waste and regulated medical waste by medical facilities, such as doctor's offices, clinics, nursing homes, and hospitals.
A. 
In order to provide for public health and safety, each person shall provide for the separation of solid waste from all other types of waste and shall provide for the placement of such solid waste into a dumpster container, compactor, or other suitable container at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler.
B. 
All solid waste placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler must be delivered to the designated facility.
C. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to place at curbside or other designated area for collection any can, container or dumpster container that has scrap metals, recyclables or yard waste mixed with solid waste.
D. 
Yard waste shall be separately placed in biodegradable leaf bags or as directed by the municipality where the person resides or has a place of business, and set out for collection by a hauler.
E. 
All scrap metals must be separately placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler. Such scrap metals must be delivered to the designated facility.
A. 
In order to facilitate the conservation of vital natural resources through recycling, each person shall separate his or her designated recyclables from all other types of waste and shall provide for the placement of such designated recyclables into separate suitable containers designated for each type of designated recyclables, e.g., paper products and containers made of aluminum, glass, ferrous metals, and all grades of plastic.
B. 
All recyclables placed at curbside for collection by a hauler must be delivered to the materials recovery facility or other designated facility.
A. 
In order to provide for public health and safety, each person creating his or her own yard waste shall provide for the separation of yard waste from all other types of waste and shall provide for the placement of such yard waste into biodegradable leaf bags at curbside for collection by a hauler, or as directed by the municipality where the person resides or has a place of business.
B. 
All yard waste placed at curbside for collection must be delivered to the designated facility.
C. 
All yard waste generated by the activities of a landscaper and collected and/or consolidated for removal by said landscaper from the premises where generated must be delivered to the designated facility.
D. 
Where allowed by law or regulation, this section shall not prohibit private noncommercial composting of yard waste, or mulching of leaves, grass clippings and cuttings.
A. 
In order to provide for public health and safety, all construction and demolition debris that has been placed into a dumpster container for collection by a hauler must be delivered to the designated facility.
B. 
In order to facilitate the conservation of vital natural resources through recycling, each person and commercial entity shall separate his or her construction and demolition debris from all other types of waste and shall provide for the placement of such separated construction and demolition debris into suitable containers for pick up by a hauler and delivery to the designated facility.
A. 
In order to provide for public health and safety, each commercial or industrial entity that generates solid waste shall provide for the separation of such waste from all other types of waste and shall cause the placement of such solid waste into a dumpster container, compactor, or other suitable container and the placement of such container at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler.
B. 
All such solid waste placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler must be delivered to the designated facility.
C. 
All scrap metals must be separately placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler. Such scrap metals must be delivered to the designated facility.
A. 
In order to facilitate the conservation of vital natural resources through recycling, each commercial and industrial entity shall provide for the separation of designated recyclables from all other types of waste and shall provide for the placement of such designated recyclables into separate suitable containers labeled as containing recyclables and set out at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler.
B. 
All recyclables placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler must be delivered to the materials recovery facility or other designated facility.
C. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any commercial entity having in place a recycling program approved by the Authority pursuant to regulations promulgated in accordance with § 350-3E of this chapter.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any hauler without a valid permit issued by the Department of Health pursuant to Article III of the Rockland County Sanitary Code, to commercially collect, pick up, remove or transport or cause to be collected, picked up, removed or transported any yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or recyclables placed at curbside or other designated area for collection by a hauler. Each such collection, pick up, or removal from one or more premises shall constitute a separate and distinct offense in violation of this chapter.
B. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any hauler to take yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or designated recyclables to any facility other than a designated facility.
C. 
From the time of placement of yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or designated recyclables at curbside or other designated area by a person for collection by a hauler in accordance herewith, such yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and designated recyclables shall be delivered to the designated facility.
D. 
Solid waste shall not be mixed with either recyclables (including scrap metals) or with yard waste; each such type of waste shall be separately collected and separately disposed at the designated facility.
E. 
Tires shall not be mixed with solid waste but must be separately collected and disposed at the designated facility.
F. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any hauler to handle any appliance containing CFCs, such as freon, in such a manner that would allow for it to be crushed or for CFCs to escape into the atmosphere.
G. 
Every hauler shall offer recyclables collection to those persons for whom said hauler provides removal, collection or transport of solid waste.
H. 
Every hauler shall submit written quarterly reports, on forms to be provided by the Department of Health, to the Department of Health and to the Authority, of the amounts (in cubic yards or tons, as applicable) of solid waste, yard waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and recyclables collected during the quarter ended and the facility to which such materials were delivered, and any other information which the Commissioner of Health shall, from time to time, require.
I. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of this § 350-12 shall subject the violator to the penalties set forth in § 350-15.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any landscaper to take yard waste to any facility other than a designated facility.
B. 
Yard waste shall not be mixed with any other type of waste but must be separately collected and disposed at the designated facility.
C. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of this § 350-13 shall subject the violator to the penalties set forth in § 350-15.
D. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any landscaper, tree service company, or green waste recycler having in place a green waste recycling program approved by the Authority pursuant to regulations promulgated in accordance with § 350-3F of this chapter.
E. 
Every landscaper shall submit written quarterly reports, on forms to be provided by the Department of Health, to the Department of Health and to the Authority, of the amounts (in cubic yards or tons, as applicable) of yard waste collected during the quarter ended and the facility to which such materials were delivered, and any other information which the Commissioner of Health shall, from time to time, require.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to place for the purpose of collection solid waste, recyclables, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or yard waste at a property other than the property generating said material.
B. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to place solid waste, recyclables, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or yard waste in dumpsters and/or containers designated for solid waste use by commercial and/or industrial entities.
C. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to bury and/or burn solid waste material on public or private property, unless authorized by the applicable village or town.
D. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to throw, dump, deposit or place solid waste, recyclables, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or yard waste along the roadside or on public and/or private property within the County without the express consent of the owner of such property.
E. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to cause to be thrown, dumped, deposited, or placed solid waste, recyclables, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or yard waste along any public or private road or on lands bordering such roads.
F. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to burn, break, destroy, scatter, scavenge, collect or take any recyclables without the consent of the owner of such materials.
G. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to burn, break, destroy, scatter, scavenge, collect or take any recyclables from any recyclables drop-off location in the County or other designated facility.
A. 
Presumptions. The following shall be rebuttable presumptions in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter:
(1) 
The placement or presence of any container which is marked or identified with the name of any hauler, at any location within the County, shall be presumptive evidence that said hauler is providing solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or recyclables collection services at said location within the County as of the date of said placement or presence.
(2) 
Evidence of solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or designated recyclables in a container, and subsequent observation of the same container empty, shall be presumptive evidence that solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or designated recyclables were collected from the container by the hauler whose name is marked on the container. If such container does not bear the name of any hauler, the presumption shall be that solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, or designated recyclables were collected by the hauler who is responsible by contract or otherwise for collection of solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or designated recyclables at that location.
(3) 
The failure to deliver any yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or designated recyclables to a designated facility within three days of the collection of such yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, and/or designated recyclables from any location within the County shall be presumptive evidence that the yard waste, solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals and/or designated recyclables were illegally dumped or disposed of at a location other than a designated facility.
(4) 
Service upon any person, landscaper, or hauler in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law shall be presumptive evidence that such notice was received by that person, landscaper, or hauler.
B. 
Enforcement by civil penalties.
(1) 
The provisions of this chapter may be enforced as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of the Department of Health.
(2) 
The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall prescribe and impose administrative sanctions and/or civil penalties up to $1,000 for the violation of or failure to comply with any provision of this chapter or any regulation promulgated hereunder, as prescribed below.
(3) 
The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall be empowered to exercise all quasi-judicial powers conferred by the New York State Public Health Law, including but not limited to the issuance of subpoenas; designation of members of the Department of Health to issue subpoenas; issuance of warrants to the Sheriff of the County to bring to its aid the power of the County whenever it shall be necessary to do so; compel the attendance of witnesses; administer oaths to witnesses and compel them to testify; cause to be held a hearing on any violation of the provisions of this chapter after adequate notice to the person, landscaper, or hauler concerned; and maintain actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain by injunction violators of the provisions of this chapter or any of the Commissioner's orders, rules and regulations, or any of the Authority's rules and regulations, promulgated in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter.
(4) 
For purposes of penalties, each day during which a violation continues shall be deemed to be a separate violation.
C. 
Administrative sanctions and civil penalties.
(1) 
Violation letter. Upon any violation of the provisions of this chapter or any regulation of the Department of Health or the Authority promulgated hereunder, the Commissioner of Health or his designee may serve notice of the violation on the person, landscaper, or hauler to be charged in accordance with applicable law.
(2) 
Formal hearing on violation. The Commissioner of Health, or his designee, shall hold a hearing on the alleged violation in accordance with the provisions of Article I of the Rockland County Sanitary Code governing hearings.
(3) 
Civil penalties.
(a) 
Any person, landscaper, or hauler who violates, disobeys or disregards the terms of any lawful notice, order or regulation of the Commissioner of Health or the Authority shall be subject to the imposition of a civil penalty by the Commissioner, not exceeding $1,000 for each single violation or failure or omission to act.
(b) 
In determining the administrative penalty to be imposed, the Commissioner of Health shall take into account the severity of the violation, the impact upon the public health and welfare of the County, the environment, or the designated facility, and any past violations.
(c) 
The penalty provided for by this section may be sued for and recovered by the Commissioner in the name of the County in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) 
Each day or a part of a day on which violation(s) or failure continues shall constitute a separate violation.
(e) 
For serious, repeated or persistent violations of any of the provisions of this chapter or any regulations promulgated hereunder, the Commissioner of Health may maintain an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain by injunction violators of the provisions of this chapter or any of the Commissioner of Health's orders, rules and regulations, or of the Authority, promulgated in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter.
(f) 
In addition to, or in lieu of, any administrative monetary penalty, the Commissioner of Health may suspend or revoke the right of any permittee covered by this chapter to transport solid waste, construction and demolition debris, scrap metals, yard waste, or designated recyclables within the County or to dispose of such materials at a designated facility.
(4) 
Enforcement other than by prosecution.
(a) 
In lieu of enforcement of this chapter by way of recovery of civil penalties, revocation of permits, seizure, embargo and condemnation or other means, the Commissioner of Health, or his duly authorized representative, may seek to obtain the voluntary compliance with this chapter by way of notice, warning or educational means, as deemed appropriate in the discretion of the Commissioner of Health taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding such violation.
(b) 
This section shall not be construed to require that such noncompulsory methods must be employed or attempted before proceeding by way of compulsory or other legally proscribed procedures.
The Authority shall cause to be drawn up an implementation schedule or schedules which shall list all portions of this chapter which remain to be implemented. Such schedule or schedules shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Clerk of the County Legislature, the County Clerk, and to each municipality, addressed to the clerk of each such municipality. Said schedule or schedules shall be effective upon the date of such mailing.
If any part of this chapter is found to be illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining sections shall remain in full force and effect.