[1997 Code § 300-33]
This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Recycling Regulations of the City of Absecon City."
[1997 Code § 300-34]
The words, terms and phrases used in this Article shall have the following meanings:
Empty all-aluminum beverage and food containers. Foil trays, plates and screening shall not be considered within the definition of "aluminum cans" and are not recyclable.
All branches and twigs, not to exceed five foot lengths or 50 pounds in weight, that can be handled by one person.
Clean, brown, heavy box materials commonly known as "cardboard boxes" consisting of three layers, two outer layers of heavy brown paper and a middle layer of wavy construction, that are free of painted or laminated finishes, plastic coating, foam materials, food contaminates and wax. Food packaging containers shall not be considered within the definition of "cardboard or corrugated paper" and are therefore not recyclable.
Those properties used primarily for business or commercial purposes.
Empty steel or tin food or beverage containers.
Watertight metal or plastic receptacles not more than 32 gallons in size with tight-fitting lids. The use of plastic bags as garbage containers is prohibited.
Clean bottles and jars, with lids or caps removed, made of clear, green or brown glass. Expressly excluded are noncontainer glass, plate glass, blue glass and porcelain ceramic products.
Batteries used for various personal uses, such as flashlights, cameras, toys, radios, watches and hearing aids, are considered "household batteries" and are therefore recyclable. Car, truck and marine batteries shall not be considered "household batteries" for the purpose of curbside recycling.
Those facilities that house or serve groups of people, including but not limited to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, libraries and governmental offices.
All residential living units containing four or more dwelling units that have commercial trash removal services.
Clean newspaper with no contaminants, commonly referred to as "newsprint," and similarly clean magazines, paperbacked books, catalogs, phone books, letters, envelopes (excluding those with cellophane windows), junk mail, brown craft paper grocery bags and notepapers, excluding any paper with foil, waxed finish or plastic lamination or containing carbon paper. Also excluded from the definition of "paper goods" shall be thermal papers such as fax paper.
All types of clean, white office stationery, letterhead, copy paper, business forms and note paper, used or unused, with print or without print. Computer paper (green bar paper) shall also be considered "office paper." All other colored paper, carbon paper and heat-treated facsimile paper shall not be considered recyclable.
Every owner, lessee and occupant of a residence, commercial or institutional establishment within the boundaries of the City of Absecon City.
Clean, empty clear and white plastic bags, such as drycleaning and super market bags and bread bags. These bags are sometimes labeled with the recycling symbol 2 or 4. Both printed and unprinted plastic bags shall be acceptable. Colored plastic bags (i.e., brown, orange, etc.) shall not be considered "plastic bags" for the purpose of recycling.
Plastic bottles or containers with the recycling symbol 1 or 2 on the bottom or side (PET or HDPE), such as milk, water, juice, soda, dish, laundry or shampoo bottles. Margarine tubs, motor oil and antifreeze bottles shall also be considered "plastic bottles and containers" for the purpose of recycling. Plastic toys, polystyrene (styrofoam), plastic plates and utensils shall not be considered "plastic bottles and containers" and are therefore not recyclable.
Any privately owned enterprise licensed by the State of New Jersey to collect and haul solid waste.
Those materials which would otherwise become municipal solid waste and which may be collected, separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products.
Any occupied single- or multifamily dwelling having up to four dwelling units per structure from which a municipal or private hauler collects solid waste.
Garbage, refuse and other discarded solid material normally collected by a municipal or private hauler.
[1997 Code § 300-35]
There is hereby established a mandatory program for the separation and collection of the following recyclable materials from the municipal solid waste stream by all persons within the City of Absecon City (hereinafter "municipality") through the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) as follows:
A.
Residences and multifamily residences shall recycle aluminum cans, glass containers, newspapers and paper goods, plastic bottles and containers, plastic bags, household batteries, cardboard and corrugated paper and leaves.
B.
Commercial and institutional establishments shall recycle office paper, computer paper (green bar paper), aluminum cans, glass containers, newspapers and paper goods, cardboard and corrugated paper, plastic bottles and containers, plastic bags, ferrous containers (metal cans), household batteries and leaves.
[1997 Code § 300-36; Ord. No. 13-2006]
A.
The recyclable materials designated in Section 300-35 of this Article, other than leaves, shall be placed at the curb as follows: Glass, metal cans and aluminum cans may be placed in a reusable container. Plastic bottles shall be flattened and plastic bags shall be placed together in a separate container. Flattened cardboard shall be tied and placed beside the containers. Household batteries may be placed in a small plastic bag and put in or near the container for plastics. Collection shall be at such time and dates as may be established in the City's recycling regulations. The containers for recyclable materials shall be labeled and placed at the curb or such other designated area for such collection.
B.
Newspapers and paper goods shall be bundled and tied with twine or placed in a kraft paper (brown paper) bag and placed at the curb or other designated area for collection at such times and dates as are established in the municipality's recycling regulations. The maximum weight of each bundle or bag shall not exceed 30 pounds (approximately 12 inches high).
C.
If recyclable collection and regular trash collection are on the same day, the recyclable containers and newspapers shall be at least six feet from the regular containers.
D.
Commercial and institutional establishments may take their recyclables to the City drop-off center or contract with a private hauler to collect all recyclable materials or make arrangements with the Atlantic County Utilities Authority for regular pickup. Documentation for each year's recyclables must be submitted to the Recycling Coordinator by the private hauler no later than February 1 of the following calendar year for the prior year's annual reporting.
E.
The owner or manager of a condominium or homeowners' association, multifamily residence or commercial or institutional establishment within the City shall provide and maintain, in a neat and sanitary condition, a recycling dropoff area, displaying permanent instructional signage, to receive all designated recyclables generated by the occupants of the facility. All such dropoff areas and signage shall be reviewed and approved by the Recycling Committee.
F.
Each owner or occupier of premises in the City of Absecon placing recyclable materials in or on any public area for collection is prohibited from placing such materials in or on any public area more than 12 hours prior to the day(s) designated for collection as designated by the Committee or as designated by the appropriate authority and/or agency. Each owner or occupier of premises in the City of Absecon placing any materials in any public area for collection shall remove all such materials and any containers from the public area(s) not later than 12 hours subsequent to the date designated for collection by the Committee or as designated by the appropriate authority and/or agency. Any person, firm, or corporation which violates any of the provisions of this section or any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000, with each day for which any such violation shall persist to be considered an additional violation.
[1997 Code § 300-37]
A.
All persons within the municipality shall, for the period from October 15 through December 1 and March 15 through April 30 of each year, separate leaves from other solid waste generated at their premises and, unless the leaves are stored or recycled for composting or mulching on the premises, place the leaves at the curb or other designated area for collection at such times and dates and in the manner established by the municipality's recycling regulations. Biodegradable leaf bags may be used in the manner established by the municipality's recycling regulations as an alternative to loose leaves placed at the curb.
B.
Commercial lawn services shall not use the City composting facility for the disposal of leaves or grass.
[1997 Code § 300-38]
Any person may donate or sell recyclable materials to individuals or organizations organized by the City in its recycling regulations. These materials may either be delivered to the individual's or organization's site or they may be placed at the curb for collection by the individual or organization on days set forth in the City's recycling regulations. The individuals or organizations shall not collect recycling materials on or within the 24 hours immediately preceding a regularly scheduled curbside collection day and shall, prior to February 1 of each year, provide written documentation to the City of the total amount of material recycled during the preceding year.
[1997 Code § 300-39]
It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person or organization to collect, pick up or cause to be collected or picked up within the boundaries of the municipality any of the recyclable materials designated in Section 300-35 of this Article. Each such collection in violation of this Article shall constitute a separate and distinct offense punishable as hereinafter provided.
[1997 Code § 300-40]
The Municipal Council is hereby authorized to establish and promulgate reasonable regulations to be adopted by resolution of the Municipal Council detailing the manner, days and times for the collection of the recyclable materials designated in Section 300-35 of this Article. Such regulations shall take effect only upon the approval of the Municipal Council by adoption of a resolution implementing the same. The municipality is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this Article and any implementing regulations adopted hereunder. The position of the Municipal Recycling Coordinator, as per N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99, is hereby established and will be held by the person who shall be appointed by resolution of the Municipal Council.
[1997 Code § 300-41]
The duties and responsibilities of the Recycling Enforcement Official shall be:
A.
To inspect trash containers throughout the City to monitor compliance with this Article.
B.
To issue first and second warnings to violators and thereafter issue summonses to appear in court if first and second warnings have been ignored.
C.
To periodically visit businesses to advise them with regard to this Article and their options for compliance.
D.
To attend meetings of the Recycling Committee.
E.
To prepare all necessary solid waste reports for submission to the City Clerk/Administrator.
F.
Such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time by the City Clerk/Administrator.
G.
To serve as the Municipal Recycling Coordinator.
[1997 Code § 300-42]
Private haulers of solid waste within the City must report to the Recycling Coordinator the tonnage figures for all recyclable materials collected in the City of Absecon City not less frequently than monthly. The reports must contain the point of origin for all recyclable materials and must be accompanied by copies of all weight tickets provided by the recipient of the recyclable materials, whether that recipient shall be a private recycling firm or the Atlantic County Utilities Authority Recycling Center.
[1997 Code § 300-43]
B.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this Article other than Section 300-38, 300-39 or 300-43D or any regulation adopted hereunder shall receive written warning for any first and second violations and shall thereafter be subject to a fine of $25 and shall have the right to waive a court appearance. Any subsequent violations by the same person, firm or corporation shall require a mandatory court appearance and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500 for each offense.
C.
Each and every day in which a violation of any of the provisions of this Article exists shall constitute a separate offense.
D.
Any person, firm or corporation placing nonrecyclable materials at the recycling dropoff facility within the City of Absecon City shall be subject to a mandatory fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.
[1997 Code § 300-44]
The owners or managers of all multifamily residences who contract with private haulers for the collection of recyclables designated in Section 300-35 of this Article shall submit written documentation to the City by February 1 of each calendar year reporting for the prior calendar year the amounts of recyclables collected.