[Adopted 12-22-1999 by Ord. No. 3-1999]
The title of this article shall be the "Borough of Summit Hill Recycling Ordinance."
The following words and phrases, when appearing in the text of this article, shall have the meaning given to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
ALUMINUM CANS
Empty nonaerosol containers consisting entirely of aluminum.
AUTHORIZED COLLECTOR
A person licensed, contracted or authorized by the Borough to collect and transport recyclables as part of the recycling program.
BIMETALLIC CONTAINERS
Empty nonaerosol containers consisting of either steel only or steel and aluminum, which were used to contain either food or beverage or both.
COATED PAPER
Includes any paper which has a shiny or glossy finish or appearance resulting from treatment of the surface or application of a coating of kaolin, clay or other chemicals. The term includes the advertising inserts which are often intermingled or distributed with newspapers.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
Includes all business, commercial, education, industrial, institutional, or municipal establishments and community activities. If any commercial activity occurs in a residential establishment, the entire establishment shall be deemed a commercial activity.
COMMERCIAL HAULER
Any person who is licensed or contracted to collect municipal solid waste for remuneration in the Borough of Summit Hill.
CORRUGATED PAPER
The fabricated or manufactured structural unbleached paper material with an inner core shaped in rigid parallel furrows and ridges, with one or more outer liners, often consisting of a material known as "kraft paper," but shall not include liner board or paperboard normally used as cereal boxes and similar containers, nor shall it include corrugated cardboard that is soiled or coated with wax, plastic or foam.
CURBSIDE
The following location on the adjoining public street or road, and where authorized collectors usually pick up garbage:
A. 
On or just in back of the curb or curbline at the edge of the cartway, for streets or roads which have curbs.
B. 
For streets or roads which do not have curbs, within reasonable safe proximity of the paved cartway.
C. 
As otherwise established by regulation by the Borough of Summit Hill or as recycling coordinator, where the above locations are not clear or satisfactory.
CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM
The program established by the Borough through its licensed commercial haulers to collect recyclable materials from the curbside of designated residential establishments within the Borough.
DESIGNATED RECYCLABLES FOR CURBSIDE COLLECTION
Those recyclable materials which must be separated from other municipal waste and placed at the curbside for collection according to the recycling regulations established and from time to time revised by the Borough.
GLASS CONTAINERS
Bottles and jars made of clear, green or brown glass. Excluded are plate glass, mirror glass, automotive glass, blue glass and porcelain and ceramic products.
HOUSEHOLD STORAGE OR RECYCLING CONTAINERS
The standardized containers issued or approved for use by the Borough residents for the purpose of collecting, storing and placing recyclables at the curbside for collection by an authorized collector. These containers are the property of the Borough of Summit Hill and are to remain with the dwelling.
MUNICIPAL WASTE
Any garbage, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste and other materials, 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 in the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act[1] from a municipal, commercial or institutional water supply treatment plant, waste treatment plant or air pollution control facility. The term does not include source-separated recyclable materials.
NEWSPAPERS
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 magazines, periodicals and advertising inserts printed on coated paper which are often distributed intermingled with newspapers.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution, cooperative enterprise, municipality, municipal authority or any other legal entity whatsoever which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties. In any provisions of this act 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.
PLASTIC CONTAINER
Empty polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic food and beverage containers as defined by the recycling regulations.
RECYCLING MATERIALS
Materials identified by the Borough from time to time to be recycled, including but not limited to the materials listed in Section 1501 of Act 101.[2]
REGULATIONS
The rules, regulations, standards, specifications, orders, licenses, permits, interpretations, schedules, zones, routes, and waivers established from time to time by the Borough pursuant to the authority of this article. Such regulations shall be deemed to be a part of this article and included by references as if written herein, upon approval by the Council of the Borough of Summit Hill.
RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENT
A. 
A single-family dwelling; or multifamily dwellings in any one structure.
B. 
These definitions shall apply regardless of either the form of ownership or tenancy, or the physical arrangement of the structure. If any commercial activity occurs in a residential establishment, the entire establishment shall be deemed to be a commercial activity.
SCAVENGING
The act or practice of removing, taking, scattering or disturbing recyclable materials which have been collected and assembled in containers, whether or stored on private or public property or placed by a roadway or curb for collection.
SOLID WASTE
Solid waste, as defined in the Act of July 7, 1980, P.L. 380, No. 97, known as the "Solid Waste Management Act."[3]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.1501.
[3]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.
A. 
The following materials are hereby designated as recycling materials within the Borough of Summit Hill.
(1) 
Clear glass.
(2) 
Brown and green glass.
(3) 
Aluminum cans.
(4) 
Bimetallic and steel cans.
(5) 
Newspaper.
(6) 
Corrugated cardboard.
(7) 
Plastic containers of the varieties, types, and chemical compositions as specified by the Borough of Summit Hill.
B. 
The Council of the Borough of Summit Hill shall, by resolution, determine which of the above materials are to be collected.
A. 
Recyclable materials. Every person in a residential establishment in the Borough shall be required to separate the recyclable materials listed in § 415-3, Recyclable materials, of this article, to the extent determined by the Council of the Borough of Summit Hill by resolution, for the purpose of recycling, from all of the other municipal solid waste and other waste generated by that person. No person may dispose of such recyclable materials with any other municipal solid waste or other waste.
B. 
Other waste. All other municipal solid waste and other waste materials, whether residual, hazardous, or otherwise, shall be generated, stored, separated, placed, collected, and disposed in accordance with all other applicable federal, commonwealth, county and Borough laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, specification, standards, orders, permits and licenses.
All persons owning, occupying or operating residential establishments within the Borough of Summit Hill shall comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Separation. Separate the recyclable materials designated for collection and maintain the materials in the separated condition until collection by a licensed or contracted commercial hauler. The separation shall be performed by the time those materials are placed at curbside for collection.
B. 
Preparation. Prepare for recycling all of the recyclable materials generated by that person, in accordance with the regulations for each respective material as established by the Borough, by the time that those recyclable materials are placed for collection, and maintain those materials in that condition.
C. 
Recycling containers. Place recyclable materials in the separate official Borough recycling containers or other containers authorized by the Borough, in accordance with regulations established by the Borough. Each residential establishment shall acquire and use the official Borough recycling container for this purpose.
D. 
Placement and time. The approved recycling container(s) shall be placed or set out at curbside, and the empty recycling container(s) shall be removed from curbside on the scheduled day of collection, in accordance with the times and schedules established by the hauler providing waste collection service to such resident.
One initial recycling container shall be provided to each residential establishment. The Borough shall have the power to require that each recycling container be identified with the residential establishment to which it is assigned.
A. 
Replacement fee for additional containers. A reasonable replacement fee for each recycling container shall be established to provide for the replacement of each of the Borough's official recycling containers. The amount of the purchase fee may be established or changed from time to time by resolution of the Council of the Borough of Summit Hill and shall be adequate in the amount to reimburse the Borough for the cost of purchasing a replacement for any such container.
B. 
Time of purchaser and payment. The replacement fee shall be paid to the Borough for all official Borough recycling containers which are supplied to residential establishments after the payment of the fee shall be that which is established from time to time by resolution.
C. 
Loss, theft, or damage.
(1) 
The owner, occupant, and operator of each residential establishment is responsible for and shall bear the risk of loss, theft, or damage to the official recycling container supplied for the use of that establishment.
(2) 
If any official recycling container for a residential establishment is either lost, stolen, or damaged, the owner, occupant, or operator shall pay a new purchase fee to the Borough for replacement in kind of the official recycling container, as otherwise specified in this section.
(3) 
No person shall damage, take, remove, deface, destroy or use a recycling container issued or approved by Borough of Summit Hill or the County of Carbon for any purpose other than for approved storage and collection of recyclable materials. All recycling containers issued by the Borough of Summit Hill as part of the recycling program are the property of the Borough of Summit Hill.
A. 
Curbside recycling program. Each commercial hauler shall collect all recyclable materials which are placed at curbside by each residential establishment on at least two occasions per month.
B. 
Duty to collect. Each commercial haulers shall collect and transport any designated recyclable materials which have been properly prepared, separated and placed at curbside in time for collection on the scheduled collection day. Commercial haulers shall have no obligation to collect any materials which do not conform to this article or any supplemental regulations to be adopted.
C. 
Leaf waste.
(1) 
The Borough may collect leaf waste during the fall of each calendar year.
(2) 
During those times of the year specified for collection in the supplemental recycling regulations, all persons who gather leaf waste shall source separate such waste and place it for collection at the times and in the manner specified in the regulations.
D. 
Sale and marketing.
(1) 
Recyclable materials that are collected shall be recycled by each hauler.
(2) 
Each hauler shall transport, process, sell, market, and dispose of all recyclable materials collected by it in any manner that such hauler sees fit, provided that such activities comply with federal and state law and with the provisions of this article.
(3) 
Each commercial hauler shall establish and keep records and report at least annually to the Borough the quantity, price and total amount of recyclable materials collected, processed, marketed and sold.
(4) 
Each hauler must provide written documentation that either all recyclable materials are recycled or that markets for those materials do not exist.
A. 
Except as set forth in this section, collection of recyclable materials by person(s) not licensed or contracted by the Borough of Summit Hill is strictly prohibited.
B. 
Nothing in this article shall prohibit any resident from donating or selling any such resident's own recyclables to any other person, whether operating for a profit or not for profit.
C. 
No person other than an authorized collector shall scavenge, remove, take scatter or disturb recyclable materials which have been collected or assembled in recycling containers, whether stored on public or private property; or been placed at the curbside for collection pursuant to the curbside collection program.
D. 
Unlawful scavenging shall not include the collection or assemblage of scattered trash and debris, whether or not recyclable, from roadsides or public property with the intent of properly disposing of or recycling such trash and debris.
Any commercial hauler contracted, engaged, or hired for the collection of municipal solid waste in the Borough shall comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Licensing. Every commercial hauler shall be licensed or contracted with the Borough of Summit Hill and shall not collect municipal solid waste in the Borough unless and until a hauler's license or contract is secured. Such license shall be summarily revocable by the Borough for failure by the commercial hauler to comply with the terms of this article.
B. 
Compliance with laws. Every commercial hauler shall comply with this article, Act 101,[1] and all other applicable laws and regulations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
C. 
Separation. Every commercial hauler shall keep the several types of recyclable materials which are designated for the collection separate from each other, unless the hauler can demonstrate, in writing, that a market exists for the commingled recyclable materials.
D. 
Recycling. Every commercial hauler shall either:
(1) 
Process and recycle all of the recyclable materials;
(2) 
Transport, process, market, sell or deliver all of the recyclable materials to dealers in those materials and document such delivery in writing; or
(3) 
Provide written proof that markets for those materials do not exist.
E. 
Recycling program. Effective January 1, 2000, each commercial hauler collecting municipal solid waste in the Borough shall commence the collection of recyclable materials in strict accordance with the provisions of this article and any accompanying regulations. Collection shall be pursuant to such rules and regulations as the commercial hauler shall reasonably prescribe. Each commercial hauler shall provide copies of any such rules and regulations, together with its pickup schedules, to the Borough for approval by the Borough prior to implementation.
F. 
Annual reports. Every commercial hauler shall submit annual reports to the Borough. Reports shall be submitted within one month of the end of each calendar year. Each report shall state for that reporting period:
(1) 
The quantity in tons of each recyclable material collected by that hauler in the Borough;
(2) 
The total quantity in tons of all garbage, trash, and refuse collected by that hauler in the Borough; and
(3) 
To whom or where and how each recyclable material was sold or delivered for processing or recycling.
G. 
Reporting noncompliance. Every commercial hauler shall report to the Borough all instances of apparent noncompliance, with either this article or Borough's regulations, within 72 hours of becoming aware of such noncompliance.
A. 
Regulations. The Council of the Borough of Summit Hill may, from time to time, establish regulations for the following parts of the Borough's Recycling Program, as the Borough shall deem appropriate, which regulations shall become effective five days after adoption:
(1) 
Plastic containers: varieties, types and chemical compositions to be collected by recycling, or otherwise disposed in municipal solid waste.
(2) 
Preparation of recyclable materials for recycling.
(3) 
Exact locations for curbside pickup, where those locations are not established or are otherwise unsatisfactory.
B. 
Enforcement. Upon adoption, such regulations shall be enforced pursuant to § 415-11 hereunder, and violations of such regulations shall be deemed a violation of this article.
The Council of the Borough of Summit Hill or its designee shall be responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with this article and regulations.
A. 
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon being found liable therefor, pay a fine of not more than $600, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. If the penalty is not paid, the Borough shall initiate a civil action for collection in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this article in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Carbon County.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Incentives.
(1) 
The Council of the Borough of Summit Hill or its designee shall have the power to establish incentives to promote compliance with this article as may be appropriate from time to time.
(2) 
Procurement options. The Borough may utilize the provisions of Act 101, Section 1507, Procurement procedures for local public agencies; and Section 1508, Procurement options for local public agencies and certain Commonwealth agencies,[1] if the Borough elects to do so.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. §§ 4000.1507 and 4000.1408, respectively.