[Adopted by the Borough Council 3-6-1990 by Ord. No. 90-7]
This article shall be known as the "Borough
of Norristown Curbside Recycling Ordinance."
The reduction of the amount of solid waste and
conservation of recyclable materials is an important public concern
because of the growing problem of solid waste disposal and its impact
on the environment. The collection of used or old materials, for the
purpose of recycling, from residences in the Borough will serve the
general public interest and will result in a financial advantage to
the residents and taxpayers of the Borough by reason of the income
realized from the sale of these recyclable materials, as well as the
cost avoidance from not landfilling the materials. It is vital that
regulation of this collection be established to ensure that private
interests are not promoted to the disadvantage of the residents and
taxpayers of the Borough, as well as to encourage the fullest possible
citizen participation in the program.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the
following words and phrases shall be construed throughout this article
to have the following meanings:
Cans manufactured soley from a metal commonly known as aluminum
and commonly used to package beverages for human consumption.
The Borough of Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
All products made from silica or sand, soda ash and limestone;
the product (glass) may be clear or in color and may be used as a
container for packaging or bottling of various matter and all other
material commonly known as "glass" (clear or colored).
[Amended 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2]
Leaves and foliage of trees and shrubs, and foliar garden
residues, but not including grass clippings or tree or shrubbery branches.
Any garden, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste
and other material, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained
gaseous material resulting from operation of residential, municipal,
commercial or institutional establishments and from community activities
and any sludge not meeting the definition of residual or hazardous
waste under Act 97 of 1980, The Solid Waste Management Act;[1] from a municipal, commercial or institutional water supply
treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant or air pollution control
facility.
Paper of the type commonly referred to as "newsprint" and
distributed at stated intervals, usually daily or weekly, having printed
thereon news and opinions and containing advertisements and other
matters of public interest, but not including paper of the type commonly
referred to as "magazines."
Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution,
cooperative enterprise, municipality, municipal authority, federal
government or agency, state institution or agency (including, but
not limited to, the Department of General Services and the Pennsylvania
Public School Building Authority), or any other legal entity whatsoever
which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties. In
any provisions of this article prescribing a fine, imprisonment or
penalty, or any combination of the foregoing, the term "person" shall
include the officers and directors of any corporation or other legal
entity having officers and directors.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene
(HDPE), also commonly known as "Recyclable Plastics 1 through 7."
[Added 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2; amended 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
Such materials that may be recycled as permitted by existing
standards and includes: office and mixed paper; cardboard and flatboard;
newspapers, including colored inserts; junk mail; manila and brown
folders; glossy paper and magazines; telephone books; empty aerosol
cans; bi-metal, tin and aluminum cans; clear, green and brown glass
bottles and jars; and Plastics (numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7).
The following materials shall be excluded: hazardous waste, medical
waste, electronics, syringes, food waste, toner cartridges, glass
panes, Pyrex, food containers, all polystyrene (i.e. Styrofoam) products,
and metal goods.
[Amended 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
The collection, separation, recovery and sale or reuse of
metals, glass, paper, leaf waste, tree branches, plastics and other
materials which would otherwise be disposed of or processed as municipal
waste or the mechanized separation and treatment of municipal waste
(other than through combustion) and creation and recovery of reusable
materials other than fuel for the operation of energy.
The brown car with the blue lid issued by the Municipality
or designated hauler, to be used by persons occupying residences throughout
the Municipality for their recyclable materials, for collection by
the designated hauler at curbside.
[Amended 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
Any single-family attached or detached dwelling or multiple
dwellings having not more than four units from which the borough collects
municipal waste.
Single-stream recycling is a recycling process wherein Municipal-designated
recyclable materials are mixed together and placed in the recycling
container by each household, unit, or municipal facility as appropriate
before collection by the designated hauler at curbside.
[Amended 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
Materials that are separated from municipal waste at the
point of origin for the purpose of recycling.
Ferrous metal food or beverage containers, commonly known
as "tin cans." This also includes steel and bimetal cans.
[Added 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101
et seq.
There is hereby established a mandatory recycling
program for the curbside collection of those recyclable materials
designated herein from residences in the borough for collection.
[Amended 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2; 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
A.Â
All persons who occupy residences in the Municipality shall separate
from municipal waste generated by the use and occupancy the following
recyclables:
(1)Â
Newspaper. Such newspaper shall be placed loose directly in the recycling
cart.
(2)Â
Cardboard (corrugated paper). Such cardboard shall be free of food
or stains and placed loosely in the recycling cart. Boxes shall be
broken down so as to fit in the cart.
(3)Â
Glass, clear and colored. Such glass shall be free of food waste
and rinsed before being placed in the recycling cart.
(4)Â
Aluminum and tin cans. Such cans shall be free of food waste and
rinsed before being placed in the recycling cart.
(5)Â
Plastics. Such plastic bottles or jugs shall be free of food waste
and rinsed before being placed in the recycling cart.
(6)Â
Junk mail, magazines and loose paper. Such junk mail, magazines and
loose paper shall be placed loose in the recycling cart.
B.Â
All recyclable materials shall be placed loose in the recyclables
container. The lid should be closed when placed out for collection.
[Amended 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2; 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
Persons who occupy residences in the Municipality who are eligible for municipal collection shall place all recyclable materials loosely (not bagged) in the recycling container as supplied for collection as provided for in § 274-62.
A.Â
Collection schedule. The collection schedule for recyclable materials
will be the same as the trash collection schedule.
B.Â
Nonseparated municipal waste. Any municipal waste containing source-separated
recyclable materials shall not be collected by the Municipality as
required.
C.Â
Single-stream recyclable materials. Recyclable materials shall be
placed in the recycling cart at the curb or street side of the respective
residence or at its otherwise authorized usual municipal waste collection
point.
It shall be unlawful for any person, whether
acting individually or with others, or for a business entity, except
for employees of the Borough engaged in the performance of their duties
on behalf of the borough, to collect the source-separated recyclable
materials under this article, unless such person has first obtained
written permission from the borough.
Persons owning multifamily dwellings having
more than four units, commercial, institutional and municipal establishments
within the borough shall be exempt from this program, but shall provide
for their own collection and recycling of recyclable materials. Such
persons shall annually provide written documentation to the borough
of the total number of tons recycled. Such annual documentation shall
cover the calendar year and shall be provided within three months
after the end of the calendar year. Such persons shall provide suitable
containers for collection and sorting, easily accessible locations
for such activity, written instructions for occupants and/or otherwise
have a recycling program which is consistent with the requirements
of Act 101 of 1988, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste
Reduction Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101
et seq.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this article shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
of not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution for each and every
offense or, in default of payment of such fine and cost, to undergo
imprisonment for not more than 30 days for each violation.
The borough shall have the authority to adopt,
by resolution, such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary
in the operation of the within recycling program.
[Amended 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01]
The designated hauler shall be responsible to mark all recycling
containers and refuse storage containers issued by the designated
hauler to each unit with either the address or such other number or
device so as to be able to track and confirm each container to each
unit.
