[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Steelton 6-17-1991 by Ord. No. 91-7, approved 6-17-1991. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The title of this chapter shall be "Recycling," and the same may be cited in that manner.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, Act of July 28, 1988 (P.L. 556, No. 101), 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
The purposes and goals of this chapter are to:
A. 
Require waste reduction and recycling as a means of managing solid waste, conserving resources and supplying energy.
B. 
Protect the public health, safety and welfare from the short- and long-term dangers of collection, transportation, processing and storage of solid waste.
C. 
Utilize, wherever feasible, the capabilities of private enterprise in accomplishing the desired objectives of an effective, comprehensive solid waste management program.
D. 
Establish and implement with the Borough a recycling program to return valuable materials to productive use to conserve energy and to protect capacity at waste processing and disposal facilities.
E. 
Recycle at least 25% of all solid waste and source-separated recyclable materials generated in this Borough on and after January 1, 1997.
F. 
Reduce the weight or volume of solid waste generated per capita in this Borough on January 1, 1997, to a weight or volume less than that generated per capita on the effective date of this chapter.
G. 
Teach each person living or working in the Borough the economic, environmental and energy value of recycling and waste reduction, and encourage, through a variety of means, participation in such activities.
H. 
Promote the procurement and use of products and materials with recycled content and materials that are recyclable by the Borough to the greatest extent practicable.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALUMINUM CANS
Empty, all-aluminum beverage and food containers.
AUTHORIZED COLLECTOR
Person, persons, firm, firms, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity certified by the Borough of Steelton to collect municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
BIMETALLIC CANS
Empty food or beverage containers consisting of steel cylinder and aluminum top or bottom. Also included in this definition are traditional steel or tin cans which consist predominantly of steel and coated with tin.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Steelton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Those properties used primarily for commercial or industrial purposes and those multiple-dwelling residential buildings containing four or more dwelling units.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Church, school, civic, service group, municipal functions and all other such functions within a mandated municipality to which more than 200 persons per day attend.
CORRUGATED PAPER
Structural paper material with an inner core shaped in rigid parallel furrows and ridges.
CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION
The scheduled collection and transport of recyclable materials placed at the curbline or other similar location by residential establishments or approved small businesses.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms located within a building and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating by one family. This definition includes a mobile home. Any multifamily establishment of two or three dwellings units is included in this definition. For purposes of this chapter and any related contract, the term "dwelling unit" or "residential unit" may also include any small commercial establishment or institutional establishment that, due to its volume of solid waste, may be treated by the Borough as a dwelling unit for the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste and the collection, processing and marketing of recyclables.
GLASS CONTAINERS
Bottles and jars made of clear, green or brown glass. Excluded are plate glass, automotive glass, blue glass, light bulbs, porcelain and ceramic products.
HIGH-GRADE OFFICE PAPER
All white paper, bond paper and computer paper used in commercial, institutional, industrial and municipal establishments.
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment engaging in manufacturing or processing, including but not limited to factories, foundries, mills, processing plants and refineries.
INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT
Those facilities that house or serve groups of people, such as hospitals, schools, day-care centers and nursing homes.
LEAD ACID BATTERIES
Includes but is not limited to automotive, truck and industrial batteries that contain lead.
LEAF WASTE
Leaves from trees, brushes and other plants, garden residue, chipped shrubbery and tree trimmings, but not including grass clippings.
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROPERTIES
Any properties having four or more dwelling units per structure.
MUNICIPAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Any facility or building owned or operated by a local government or county government, local government or county government authority, state government or agency or federal government or agency.
MUNICIPALITY
The Borough of Steelton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
MUNICIPAL WASTE
Any garbage, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste and any other material, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous materials resulting from the operation of residential, municipal, commercial, institutional or industrial establishments and from community activities; and sludge not meeting the definitions of residual or hazardous waste in the Solid Waste Management Act[1] from a municipal, commercial or institutional waste water supply treatment plant, public waste water treatment plant or air pollution control facility.
NEWSPAPER
Paper of the type commonly referred to as "newsprint" and distributed at fixed intervals, having printed thereon news and opinions, containing advertisements and other matters of public interest. Expressly excluded are glossy advertising inserts often included with newspapers.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution, cooperative enterprise, municipal authority, federal government or agency, state institution or agency or any other legal entity whatsoever which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.
PLASTIC CONTAINERS
Empty plastic food and beverage containers. Due to the large variety of types of plastic, only HDPE and PET type containers will be accepted. These containers must have a recycling logo with a No. 1 or No. 2 printed on it. Plastic milk jugs and detergent bottles are typically made of HDPE; one-, two- and three-liter plastic soda bottles are made of PET.
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Those materials separated at the point of origin for the purpose of being recycled, including those materials listed in Act 101[2] and by the municipality to be recycled.
RECYCLING
The separation, collection, recovery and sale or reuse of metals, glass, paper, leaf waste, plastics and other materials which could otherwise be disposed of or processed as solid waste or the mechanized separation and treatment of solid waste (other than through combustion) and creation and recovery of reusable materials other than a fuel for the generation of energy.
RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS
Any occupied single-family or multifamily dwelling having three or fewer dwelling units per structure.
SOLID WASTE
All materials or substances that, as of the effective date of this chapter or any subsequent date, were generally discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless or in excess to the owners at the time of such discard or rejection, including garbage, refuse, industrial and commercial waste, sludges from air or water pollution control facilities or water supply treatment facilities, rubbish, ashes, contained gaseous materials, incinerator residue, demolition and construction debris and offal; excluding sewage and other highly diluted water-carried materials or substances, material and substances in gaseous form and hazardous waste.
SOURCE-SEPARATED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Recyclable materials that are separated from solid waste at the point of origin for the purpose of recycling.
STEEL CANS
Empty, all-steel (ferrous material) or bimetal beverage and food containers.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
A. 
There is hereby established a program for the mandatory separation of recyclable materials from solid waste by persons residing in residential dwellings, including apartments with three or fewer units.
B. 
Powers. In carrying out its duties under this section, the Borough Council of the Borough of Steelton may adopt resolutions establishing procedures, regulations and standards for the recycling, transportation, storage and collection of source-separated recyclable materials which shall not be less stringent than and not in violation or inconsistent with the provisions and purposes of the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act[1] and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
C. 
Duties. Steelton Borough shall implement the provisions of this chapter by collecting, transporting, processing or marketing source-separated materials or contracting, subject to competitive bidding, with any person to carry out its duties for the recycling, transportation, collection and storage of source-separated recyclable materials. Any such person shall be jointly and severally responsible with Steelton Borough in carrying out its duties for transportation, collection or storage activity.
Recyclable materials from residential dwellings shall be placed at a designated location separate from solid waste for collection at specific times and dates, as established and advertised by Steelton Borough. Materials to be recycled are clear glass, colored glass, steel and bimetallic cans, newsprint and HDPE and PET plastic containers (recycling logo Nos. 1 and 2).
All commercial, municipal, institutional and industrial establishments shall separate and store, until collection, high-grade office paper, corrugated paper and aluminum cans.
A. 
For establishments participating in the Borough's solid waste/recycling program, all commercial, institutional and industrial establishments will be required to recycle the three materials listed above. The exclusive contractor hauling waste for the Borough will provide for the collection of the recyclables as well as collection of solid waste.
B. 
For establishments not participating in the Borough's solid waste/recycling program, all commercial, institutional and industrial establishments are required to provide for recycling of the three materials listed above. If an establishment contracts on its own for waste hauling, it must make arrangements for recycling services also. Establishments which make their own arrangements for recycling must report annually (by January 30) the amount (by weight) of each material recycled the previous calendar year to the Steelton Borough Secretary.
C. 
The following recyclable materials must be separated until collection at community activities (attended by 200 or more people): metal cans and plastic (HDPE and PET) bottles. Sponsoring organizations must arrange for the transfer or collection of these recyclables so that they are indeed recycled.
The owner, landlord or an agent of an owner or landlord of multifamily housing properties of four or more units shall establish a collection system for recyclables at each property. Materials to be separated are clear glass, colored glass, aluminum cans, steel and bimetallic cans, newsprint and HDPE and PET plastic containers. The collection system must contain suitable containers for collecting materials, easily accessible locations for the containers and written instructions to all occupants, concerning the use and availability of the collection system. Owners, landlords and agents of owners or landlords shall not be liable for noncompliance of the occupants of their buildings.
No person may place a used lead acid battery in mixed municipal solid waste, discard or otherwise dispose of a lead acid battery except by delivery to an automotive battery retailer or wholesaler, to a secondary lead smelter permitted by the Environmental Protection Agency or to a collection or recycling facility authorized under the laws of the commonwealth to accept such batteries.
All persons who reside in residential dwellings and all persons who are responsible for administration of multifamily housing properties, commercial, municipal, institutional and industrial establishments who gather leaves shall source separate all leaf waste from other waste and place it for collection at the times and in the manner hereafter prescribed by Steelton Borough. Nothing herein shall require any person to gather leaves or prevent any person from utilizing leaves for compost, mulch or other agricultural, horticultural, silvicultural, gardening or landscape purposes.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person(s), unauthorized by the Steelton Borough, to collect or pick up or cause to be collected or picked up any recyclable material which is included in the Steelton Borough recycling program. Each such collection in violation hereof shall constitute a separate and distinct offense punishable as hereinafter provided.
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit persons in Steelton Borough from donating or selling recyclable materials generated from their residence. These materials must be delivered to the individuals' or organizations' site.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for the authorized collector of recyclable materials to deliver such materials to a landfill or incinerator for the purpose of disposal unless the markets for such materials no longer exists. The authorized collector will provide to the Borough of Steelton the weight receipts of the recyclable materials disposed of at a landfill or incinerator under this section.
A. 
The Borough of Steelton may enter into agreement(s) with public or private agencies or firms to authorize them to collect all or part of the recyclable material from curbside or from dropoff collection points.
B. 
Only a person licensed by the Borough of Steelton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, may collect, transport and dispose recyclables or recyclable materials generated within the territorial limits of Steelton Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
C. 
An authorized collector is one who has been granted a license by Steelton Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, for the specific purpose of collecting, transporting and disposing of recyclable materials.
D. 
A licensed collector shall not in any manner be construed as an agent, servant or employee of Steelton Borough, but shall, at all times, be considered and remain an independent contractor.
An annual report on the weight of materials recycled during the previous calendar year must be sent to the Borough Secretary by January 30 of each year from commercial, institutional, industrial and municipal establishments that are not participating in the Borough's recycling program.
The Borough shall establish a comprehensive and sustained public information and education program concerning recycling program features and requirements as required by the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
A. 
It shall be the duty and responsibility of every owner of property and every person occupying a dwelling unit, premise or place of business in the Borough who are part of the Borough recycling program to pay a service fee for collection and recycling, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, to the authorized collector. The recycling fee may also include an additional amount to cover the Borough's administrative costs involved in this portion of the program. The owner and/or occupant of any dwelling unit, including multifamily establishments or other participants in the recycling program, shall pay a base quarterly fee regardless of the amount or type of recyclables put out for collection. An exclusive contractor may discontinue service for nonpayment of quarterly fees by a resident, commercial, institutional or industrial establishment covered by the program.
B. 
All quarterly fees established under an exclusive contract for the collection of recyclables by the exclusive collector shall be established by resolution of the Council of Steelton Borough. Any charges so established shall be reviewed at least annually and adjusted as necessary to ensure that all costs involved in the collection and disposal of municipal waste under the exclusive contract, including administrative costs of the Borough, are covered by the charge.
A. 
The Borough Code Enforcement Officer and the Borough Secretary, or their designee, are authorized and directed to enforce this chapter. The Borough Secretary is also hereby authorized and directed to establish and promulgate reasonable regulations as to manner, materials, days and time for the collection of recyclable materials and any other matters required to implement this chapter in accordance herewith. The Borough Secretary or his or her designee may change, modify, repeal or amend any portion of said regulations at any time.
B. 
Any person, other than a municipal official exercising his or her official duties, who shall violate any provision of this chapter, any regulation promulgated hereunder or any order issued hereunder shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 and costs and, in default of the payment of such fine and cost, to undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days. Each day's continuation of violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
C. 
In addition to any other remedies or penalties hereinbefore provided, the Solicitor of the Borough is authorized to institute proceedings in courts of law or equity to control the recycling, transportation, collection and storage of source-separated recyclable materials or to enforce the provisions of this chapter, including the securing of injunctive relief to prohibit any unlicensed or unauthorized person, or any licensed or authorized collector in violation of the provisions of this chapter, from continuing the collection, transportation or disposal of recyclable items hereunder, or to enforce compliance by any person with the terms of this chapter.