[Adopted 5-24-1988 by Ord. No. 12-88[1] (Ch. 117, Art. IV, of the 1985 Code)]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Art. IV, Recycling, adopted 2-10-1987 by Ord. No. 2-87.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALUMINUM CANS
Includes all disposable containers fabricated primarily of aluminum and commonly used for soda, beer or other beverages and usually having a capacity of between seven and 16 ounces.
BIMETAL CANS
Looks almost identical to an aluminum can but is composed of an aluminum top with steel sides and bottom.
CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
Structural material shaped in parallel furrows and ridges for rigidity, used to make packing and shipping containers.
DWELLING UNIT
Includes one-family homes, two-family homes, multifamily homes, condominiums, co-ops, flats and apartments.
GLASS
All products made from silica or sand, soda ash and limestone which are transparent or translucent and used for packaging or bottling of various matter and all other materials commonly known as "glass;" excluding, however, blue and flat glass commonly known as "window glass," all types of mirrors, auto glass and lightbulbs.
HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)
A plastic beverage container used for milk or spring water or an apple cider container.
MARKET
The disposition of designated recyclable materials, source-separated in the municipality, which entails a disposition cost less the cost of transporting the recyclable materials to a landfill facility.
OIL RETAILER
Any person or commercial business who sells to consumers lubricating or other oil in containers for use off the premises in excess of 500 gallons annually.
[Added 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90]
PERSON
Includes all individuals, partnerships, corporations, owners, tenants, lessees, firms, societies, schools, churches and associations, either profit or nonprofit, within the Village of Ridgefield Park.
PLASTIC BEVERAGE CONTAINER
A hermetically sealed container made airtight with either a metal or plastic cap, with a minimum wall thickness of not less than 0.010 inch and composed of a thermoplastic synthetic polymeric material.
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET)
A plastic beverage container used for soda.
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
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.
RECYCLING
Any process by which materials which would otherwise become solid waste are prepared, separated, collected or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products.
RECYCLING COORDINATOR
The person appointed by the Board of Commissioners, authorized to prepare and implement a comprehensive recycling program for the Village of Ridgefield Park designed to recover and recycle any recyclable materials; to arrange for the collection, transportation and sale of such materials to as to encourage the preservation of natural resources while minimizing the cost of such program to the Village; to be responsible for the implementation and supervision of all aspects of the program outlined herein, including curbside pickups; to be responsible for public awareness and education of the public; to maintain accounts of all grant moneys received through the various recycling programs; to institute a plan for monitoring compliance and executing penalties; to receive documents and rectify complaints regarding recycling services; to file reports of activities as shall be required; and to supervise and chair the Recycling Committee.
SOLID WASTE
Includes all garbage and trash normally placed at the curb by all residents and commercial establishments of the Village of Ridgefield Park for regular municipal and private collection.
SOURCE SEPARATION
Separating, preparing and setting out for collection, disposal and recycling by residents or commercial establishments of those items generated by them and designated as recyclables under this article.
TIN CAN (FERROUS)
An all-steel can with a light tin coating which is a popular container for various foods used for general packing, found both in the home and/or restaurants.
USED MOTOR OIL
A petroleum-based or synthetic oil which is used in an internal combustion engine as an engine lubricant or as a product used for lubricating transmissions, gears or axles which through use, storage or handling has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of chemical or physical impurities or loss of original properties.
[Added 1-23-1989 by Ord. No. 1-90]
USED-OIL COLLECTION SITE
Any Division of Motor Vehicles reinspection station, oil retailer or retail service station which has a used-oil collection tank(s) existing on the premises or the Department of Public Works dropoff center which accepts used oil for recycling.
[Added 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90]
USED-OIL COLLECTION TANK
Any tank, whether above or below ground, into which used oil is drained.
[Added 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90]
WHITE GOODS
All products made of metal, exclusive of aluminum, including but not limited to refrigerators, freezers, kitchen stoves and ovens, dishwashers and clothes washers, dryers and hot-water heaters.
A. 
It will be mandatory for all persons within the Village of Ridgefield Park to separate and prepare glass, aluminum cans, tin cans, bimetal cans, plastic beverage containers, corrugated cardboard, white goods and any other recyclables that may be designated in the future from all other solid waste generated in or at any premises and place them at the curb for collection.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
It is mandatory that all private contractors or haulers with contracts within the Village of Ridgefield Park for the removal of garbage, trash or recyclables supply documentation to the Municipal Recycling Coordinator at the end of each year, showing the total tonnage of all recyclables that were separated from the waste stream and the market to which they were delivered.
[Added 1-22-1991 by Ord. No. 3-91]
The following recyclable materials shall be separated as follows:
A. 
Glass (all colors), aluminum cans, tin cans, bimetal cans and all types of plastic beverage containers shall be emptied of all contents and rinsed.
B. 
All glass jars and bottles shall have caps and lids removed. All plastic beverage containers and plastic detergent bottles must have labels and caps removed. All tin cans and bimetal cans must have labels removed.
C. 
Glass bottles and jars should not be broken.
D. 
Corrugated cardboard shall be flattened into bundles and tied. A bundle shall be limited to 35 pounds in weight.
E. 
White goods can be placed at the curb with little preparation, with the exception of freezers and refrigerators, which will have the doors completely removed and the units laid flat to prevent injury.
F. 
Used motor oil.
[Added 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1-1990]
(1) 
Used motor oil shall be disposed of only at a used-oil collection site into a used-oil collection tank. No person shall contaminate used oil or a used-oil collection tank by the introduction of water, antifreeze, gasoline, heating fuel oil, solvents, industrial waste or any other contaminant.
(2) 
All oil retailers shall post and maintain, at or near the point of sale, a durable sign, not less than 11 inches by 15 inches in size so that it is easily visible to the public, informing them of the importance of the proper collection and disposal of used motor oil and how and where used oil may be properly disposed of.
(3) 
All operators of used-oil collection sites shall post and maintain a durable and legible sign not less than 11 inches by 15 inches in size so that it is easily visible to the public, informing the public that it is a collection site for the disposal of used oil.
(4) 
All used-oil collection sites shall accept without charge up to five gallons of used oil per day from any person.
(5) 
The operator of a used-oil collection site shall collect used oil in a manner which is safe for users of the site.
(6) 
The Department of Public Works will accept used motor oil from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Saturday, at the recycling dropoff center located at 24 Industrial Avenue in front of the Public Works garage, in accordance with the above requirements.
A. 
All colors of glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, tin cans, bimetal cans and plastic beverage containers shall be placed at the curb in a reusable container with a maximum size of 20 gallons. They shall be co-mingled or mixed in the same container.
B. 
Corrugated cardboard shall be placed at curbside in tied bundles for pickup.
C. 
All white goods shall require a telephone call to the Department of Public Works garage requesting pickup when placed at curb. If a call is not made, the item will not be picked up.
D. 
At no time will plastic bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes or any other type of container, except that listed in Subsection A above, be used to hold recyclables at the curb.
E. 
Promulgation of rules, regulations and other procedures.
(1) 
The Board of Commissioners may, by resolution, have the Recycling Coordinator issue rules and regulations consistent with this article in order to implement the terms of this article. The Recycling Coordinator, on his own, may issue rules and regulations in addition to those promulgated by the Board of Commissioners. Such regulations, to be effective, however, must be approved by the Board of Commissioners.
(2) 
The Board of Commissioners may also, from time to time, designate other procedures for the separation, preparation and collection of recyclable items by appropriate resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90; 1-22-1991 by Ord. No. 3-91]
A. 
All streets north of Mt. Vernon Street will be picked up in accordance with the resolution issued by the Board of Commissioners.
B. 
All streets Mt. Vernon Street and south will be picked up in accordance with the resolution issued by the Board of Commissioners.
A. 
At the option and expense of persons required to separate recyclables, they may be brought to the recycling area at the Department of Public Works garage between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, Monday through Saturday, to be placed in the proper containers by the person.
[Amended 1-23-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90; 1-22-1991 by Ord. No. 3-91]
B. 
At no time will any recyclable be deposited at or around the Department of Public Works garage outside the times and days listed above. Anything deposited outside these days and times will be considered a violation of the Dumping Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. II of this chapter.
A. 
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or prevent volunteer, charitable or other civic or fraternal organizations from conducting their own ongoing recycling drives. The date, time, place and nature of the collection shall be presented in advance and in writing to the Recycling Coordinator, who shall approve or disapprove the date, time, place and nature of the collection so as not to confuse or distract from regular scheduled pickups.
B. 
Also, at the option and expense of persons required to separate recyclables, other methods of lawful disposal, such as sale to scrap yards or other recycling centers, may be utilized, provided that in no event shall any recyclables be disposed of as part of solid waste.
All persons already in recycling programs or who wish to dispose of required recyclables through any other means than the Municipal Recycling Program shall be required to submit an exemption application available through the Recycling Coordinator.
From the time of placement at the curb by any person of all recyclables for collection by the Village of Ridgefield Park in accordance with this article and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Recycling Coordinator, such recyclables shall be under the control of the Department of Public Works of the Village of Ridgefield Park. It shall be a violation of this article for any person unauthorized by the Recycling Coordinator or Superintendent of Public Works to collect or pick up or cause to be collected or picked up any such recyclables for any purpose whatsoever, except persons having been granted exemptions in advance by the Recycling Coordinator and/or Superintendent of Public Works. Any and each such collection in violation hereof, from one or more premises, shall constitute a separate and distinct offense punishable as hereinafter provided.
A. 
The owner, manager, superintendent or custodian shall ensure that a special place within the building or any area outside the building be designated for the storage of recyclables in preparation for placement at curbside. The storage area must conform to all Fire and Building Department codes. The owner, manager, superintendent or custodian of said multifamily dwellings shall not permit or suffer unwanted accumulations of these recyclables in the storage area which might create a hazard but shall be responsible for placing prepared recyclables at curbside on the designated day of collection aforesaid. All tenants or occupants of the dwelling units within these apartments shall be required to separate and prepare these recyclables and place them in the areas designated by the owner, manager, superintendent or custodian of said apartment units.
B. 
If the owner, manager, superintendent or custodian of said apartments is cited for a violation under this article and a tenant has created the violation complained of, the owner; manager, superintendent or custodian of the apartments may appear in court and testify as to the name of the tenant who has created the violation so that the tenant can be cited for the violation, and the owner, manager, superintendent or custodian may then be relieved of the penalties provided by this article.
In the event that, after recyclables are placed at the curb, a violation is found, such as but not limited to items not cleaned, wrong size or type of container, set-out area not cleared, unrecyclables mixed in container, or wrong day, then a warning may be issued. A green sticker will be attached to the container instructing the person to remove the items from the curb, correct the violation and return them to the curb on the next scheduled pickup day. If a second violation is found, then a summons may be issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the person issuing the warning shall also have the authority to issue a summons without the prior issuance of a warning, and it shall not be necessary in order to find a person guilty of a violation of this article for a warning first to have issued under this section.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall be punishable, upon conviction, as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty. The Judge, in imposing the penalty, shall have the discretion of imposing a fine of not more than $25 for the first offense and $50 for the second or additional offense if the offenses are not of a serious nature. In addition to the fines and the amendments provided above, the Judge shall have the authority to provide an appropriate penalty in the nature of community service for a violation of this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
In order to promote good community fellowship between the Village of Ridgefield Park and its residents and to allow its residents to become familiar with this article, a grace period will be granted of three months from the date of its adoption, during which time no summons shall be issued for violations.