[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 1]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ARRANGEMENTS
The process by which the Town plans for and carries out the separating, weighing, collecting, hauling and disposing of solid waste generated within the Town.
BULK ITEM
An item of solid waste larger than two feet by two feet by four feet or heavier than 50 pounds.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Any waste as defined in the state Hazardous Waste Management Act, G.L. 1956, § 23-19.1-4 et seq., in regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and as they may be amended.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
Hazardous Town solid waste.
LOCAL RECYCLING PROGRAM
A recycling program for municipal solid waste as set forth in a local recycling plan approved by the state pursuant to the municipal recycling regulations as amended.
MIXED RECYCLABLES
Recyclable materials which are required to be removed from municipal solid waste at the source and placed in or on top of the set-out container provided by the state for transport to the nearest materials recovery facility for recycling.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Solid waste generated by the residents of the Town in the course of their daily living, the disposal of which the Town Council has undertaken in the discharge of its duties to protect the health of the Town. Municipal solid waste does not include solid waste generated by residents of the Town in the course of their employment or that generated by any manufacturing or commercial enterprise.
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Materials separated from municipal solid waste for reuse as specified by the director of the state department of environmental management and listed in § 4 of municipal recycling regulations and within this article. The materials to be included may change from time to time depending upon new technologies, economic conditions, waste stream characteristics, environmental effects or mutual agreement between the state and Town.
RESIDENT
Anyone residing in the Town for any period of time who generates solid waste for which the Town accepts responsibility for disposal.
SLUDGE
Any matter obtained from a cesspool or septic tank.
SOLID WASTE
Garbage, refuse and other discarded solid materials generated by residential, institutional, commercial, industrial and agricultural sources, but not including solids or dissolved material in domestic sewage sludge or hazardous waste as defined in the Hazardous Waste Management Act.
SOURCE SEPARATION
The removal by the generator of recyclable materials including mixed recyclables from all other solid waste generated by the household and conveyance of the recyclables to the curbside or other designated location by the Town or its agents.
TRANSFER STATION
A facility operated by or for the Town whose purpose is the temporary storage and accumulation of municipal solid waste prior to its transport to and disposal at a corporation landfill or resource recovery facility.
WHITE GOODS
Major kitchen or laundry appliances, including but not limited to stoves, washers, refrigerators and dryers. Nothing in this definition shall waive compliance with the rules and regulations for generation, transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 3]
(a) 
The director of public works at the direction of the Mayor shall have the responsibility and shall oversee the implementation of this article.
(b) 
The director of public works shall receive the assistance of the department of public works, the recycling coordinator and the school department.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 32-33, which contained provisions regarding the Recycling Coordinator, derived from an ordinance adopted 5-17-1989, was removed from the Code pursuant to Ord. No. 97-9, adopted 4-2-1997, which ordinance abolished the position of Recycling Coordinator.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 2]
There is established a program for the mandatory separation of certain recyclable materials from municipal solid waste by the residents of the Town and the collection of segregated municipal solid waste at the resident's curbside or at other specified locations. The collection of separate recyclables shall be made periodically under the supervision of the director of public works and recycling coordinator.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 13]
Every resident shall separate recyclables from the nonrecyclable portion of his solid waste and prepare them for recycling according to directions published by the Town. The Town's trash haulers shall pick up the two different portions so that the recyclable materials are taken to proper drop sites for sale, processing or composting according to the requirements of specific materials and so that nonrecyclable materials are disposed of properly.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 15]
Violation of this article shall be punished by the following means:
(1) 
First offense, a verbal notification from the department of public works to the resident of record.
(2) 
Second offense, a written warning that subsequent violation can result in fines from the department of public works.
(3) 
Third offense, a written warning that a subsequent violation will result in fines from the department of public works.
(4) 
Fourth offense, any person who violates any of the provisions of this article after verbal and two written warnings shall be subject to a fine of not more than $100.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 5; Ord. No. 98-30, § 1, 10-21-1998]
(a) 
The Town shall provide for the collection of mixed recyclables as required by the state mandated expanded program. A pickup schedule shall be determined and implemented by the director of public works and the recycling coordinator that will accommodate residents in dwellings with one to four units inclusive. The material shall be placed at the curbside in designated containers. For the purposes of this section, the mixed recyclables to be collected shall be determined by the director of public works and the recycling coordinator upon recommendation from the Rhode Island Resources Recovery Corporation, pursuant to the state expanded recycling program list and shall include, but not be limited to:
Blue-bin recyclable materials defined and categorized into two distinct streams as follows:
A. 
Container stream recyclables: Aluminum and steel/tin cans; aluminum foil and scrap (e.g., pie plates); metal lids; glass bottles and jars; #1 PET plastic soft drink bottles; and #2 HDPE plastic milk jug type containers.
B. 
Paper stream recyclables: Newspaper; brown (kraft) paper bags; and telephone directories.
Maximum recyclable materials defined and categorized into two distinct streams as follows:
A.
Blue stream recyclables: Aluminum and steel/tin cans; aluminum foil and scrap (e.g., pie plates); metal lids; empty aerosol and paint cans; scrap metal; scrap wood; glass bottles and jars; #1 PET plastic containers; #2 HDPE plastic bottles and jugs; paper milk cartons and juice boxes.
B.
Green stream recyclables: Mail, magazines and catalogs; writing paper; corrugated cardboard; paperboard (e.g., cereal boxes); newspaper; brown (kraft) paper bags; telephone directories; and textiles.
(b) 
The mixed recyclables shall be pretreated prior to placing in the containers in the following manner:
(1) 
Glass food and beverage containers shall be rinsed and lids removed.
(2) 
No broken glass shall be placed in the containers.
(3) 
Aluminum and tin cans shall be rinsed and paper labels removed.
(4) 
Aluminum furniture shall have webbing removed and glass shall be removed from aluminum windows.
(5) 
Plastic containers shall be rinsed and caps removed.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 6]
The department of public works shall set up and prominently publish its schedule for the collection of other recyclable materials that are not picked up under weekly curbside collection.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 7]
Bulk items shall be collected by the department of public works at least once a year. The collection shall be prominently advertised.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 9]
The Town will provide recycling service to any multifamily housing unit complex of four residential units or less, unless the Town has otherwise specifically agreed to service a specific multifamily housing complex of more than four units.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 10]
The Town shall require the separation of recyclables as a condition of licensing or authorizing public events at which significant solid waste will be generated for which the Town accepts responsibility for disposal. With the license the Town shall require sufficient collection bags or boxes for expected recyclables or shall provide specially marked containers to be used for recyclables at certain Town facilities where such events normally occur.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 11]
The director of public works, in cooperation with the department of environmental management and with other state and federal regulatory authorities, will implement a plan to encourage and effectuate the periodic collection of hazardous substances, recyclable or not, and prominently publish information on the procedures for safe and ecologically sound disposal of these substances. Certain substances such as toxic chemicals, dead animals, demolition debris, excrement, surgical medical waste, explosives and other similar dangerous wastes that are liable to do injury to persons or property are not acceptable for Town collection, and such items shall be disposed of in accordance with the terms of G.L. 1956, § 23-19.1-4 et seq.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 12]
Business firms shall be subject to state and federal recycling regulations.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 14]
Residents may separate recyclables and place the recyclables in containers at the street line for collection by private nonprofit organizations that have been duly licensed and whose collections are reported in a manner specified by the director to be in compliance with department of environmental management reporting requirements.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 18]
No person engaged in the business of separation, recovery, collection, removal, storage or disposition of garbage, rubbish or other refuse within the Town shall pick up or procure any recyclable materials except as specifically authorized by the director of public works. The restriction shall include any independent citizen, resident, taxpayer or person who might engage in such practice for personal gain.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 19]
The director of public works may issue permits to private parties or charitable organizations to collect recyclable materials. The report may be issued on the condition that a report is filed by the party or organization detailing the amount of materials collected so that the director may comply with reporting requirements and provided that the director determines that the collection does not defeat the purpose or cost effectiveness of the Town's recycling program or conflict with the Town's local implementation program.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 20]
The Mayor is empowered and directed to supervise, facilitate and contract with either the state recycling facilities as mandated by state law or with commercial firms for the receipt and processing of recyclable materials in a manner consistent with the Town's local implementation program that yields the best rate of recycling and the most cost effective result to the Town.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 21]
Once municipal solid waste has been deposited in the designated place, whether at curbside or at a transfer station, the solid waste becomes the property of the Town. No person engaged in the business of separation, recovery, collection, removal, storage or disposal of solid waste shall pick up or procure any recyclable materials within the Town except as specifically authorized by the director of public works. This section shall also include any resident, taxpayer or other person who might engage in such practice for personal gain.
[Ord. of 5-17-1989, § 22]
The recycling coordinator shall implement a public education and information program consisting of speaking engagements, school presentations, preparation of press releases, direct mailings, special events and other such efforts to inform the public of the benefits of recycling and the mechanics of its implementation in the Town in accordance with 5-4.a. and 8.3f.8 of state municipal recycling regulations as amended.