[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Board of Trustees of the
Charter Township of Pittsfield as indicated in article histories.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-25-2015 by Ord. No. 317 as Ch. 26, Art. II, of the 2015 Pittsfield
Charter Township Code]
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:
Tree trimmings, hedge clippings, cardboard containers and
other bulk refuse, which must be securely tied in bundles not exceeding
the dimensions agreed upon by the Department and the service provider.
Leaves, brush, tree limbs, vegetative prunings, Christmas
trees, and other garden or yard waste, and other organic material
as may be designated by the Department and the service provider.
The Utility Department of the Township.
The Director of the Department.
Putrescible animal and vegetable waste resulting from the
handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food, including
cans, containers and wrappings discarded with such items.
The weekly collection of refuse containers and bulk rubbish
provided by the service provider.
All containers, paper, cardboard, and other materials specifically
designated as recyclable by agreement between the Department and the
service provider.
All putrescible and nonputrescible solid waste (except body
waste and sewage waste), which is composed wholly or partly of garbage,
rubbish, ashes, sweepings, recyclables, solid market and industrial
wastes, and other such substances that may become a nuisance.
The collection of refuse from premises in the Township having
a structure designed for one- or two-family dwelling occupancy.
Nonputrescible solid waste consisting of both combustible
and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, cardboard, glass, crockery
and similar materials, but excluding items such as broken concrete,
stones, tree trunks, and also excluding such items that cannot effectively
be handled by two men, such as pianos, refrigerators, etc.
The waste collection service provider contracted by the Township.
For special purposes such as seasonal compostables collection.
A.
The Township Board of Trustees shall contract with the service provider,
and by resolution shall establish the rate to be charged to premises
to which such service is furnished. The rate so established shall
be in an amount to reasonably defray the cost to be incurred by the
Township in the furnishing and administering of such service. The
rate shall be subject to change by further resolution of the Township
Board of Trustees, but such change shall become effective only at
the commencement of the billing period following the adoption of such
resolution. The Director shall make such reasonable rules and regulations
concerning the collection of refuse as he or she shall deem proper
and may change and modify the rules and regulations, provided that
such rules and regulations and any modifications to them are not contrary
to the provisions of this article and provided further that they are
subject to the approval of the Township Supervisor.
B.
The Director shall prepare and make available to the public in the
Township a suitable form of application for residential rubbish collection.
The applicant shall furnish the following information:
(1)
The street address and the tax code (real estate index number) of
the affected premises.
(2)
The name and the post office address of the record owner of the premises.
(3)
The applicant's signature, post office address, and telephone
number, if any.
(4)
In all cases when a tenant is responsible for the payment of any
such charge, the application shall so state and shall have annexed
thereto a true copy of the lease of the affected premises if there
is one, and a deposit equal to two months of collection at the then
current rate shall accompany the application when filed.
C.
Bills for such rates shall be rendered by the Director for the billing
period immediately following the rendering of the bill. The bills
shall be due and payable within 15 days from their date, and all bills
not paid when due shall be deemed delinquent and a penalty of 10%
of the amount of such billing shall be added and become due and owing
as a part of the bill.
D.
The service to the premises shall commence on the first week of the
month immediately following the filing of the application and shall
continue thereafter until the applicant, or a person authorized by
the applicant, shall request in writing, mailed or delivered to the
Director, that the service be terminated. Any such service may be
terminated by the Director at any time when the bill is delinquent,
and any such service may be terminated by amendment or repeal of this
article.
E.
Charges for services furnished to any premises shall be a lien on
the premises; and any such charges delinquent for two months or more
shall be certified annually to the Township Supervisor, who shall
enter the delinquency upon the next tax roll against the premises
to which such services shall have been rendered, and such charges
shall be collected and lien shall be enforced in the same manner as
provided for the collection of taxes assessed upon such roll and the
enforcement of the lien. In all cases when a tenant is responsible
for the payment of any such charge and the Director is so notified
in writing, such notice to include a true copy of the lease of the
affected premises, if there is one, no such charge shall become a
lien against the premises from and after the date of such notice.
In event of filing of such notice, the Director shall render no further
service to such premises until a cash deposit in the sum of the then
current billing shall have been made as security for the payment of
such charges.
A.
Residential collection shall be furnished weekly by the Township
to all premises for which application is properly filed and shall
include special collections.
B.
The Director shall establish residential collection districts throughout
the Township and shall designate the day of the week on which the
collection shall be made in each district, and shall cause notice
to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township
at least one week prior to the day for collection in the event of
a change of the day of the week on which collection shall be made
in a given district.
C.
The collection service under this article shall include the normal
residential collection consisting of the refuse within containers
and bulk rubbish placed together at one point of collection on the
premises to be served, and at a point not more than three feet from
a public or private roadway abutting the premises. Containers shall
be provided by the service provider. The cost of replacement in the
event of damage to or loss of a container shall be borne by the applicant,
except in case of normal wear and tear.
D.
Dead animals, liquids, hot ashes, dangerous chemicals or explosives
shall not be placed in refuse containers for Township collection but
must be disposed of otherwise by the owner.
E.
It shall be unlawful for any occupant or person having control of
the premises to cause or permit rubbish or any container to be placed
at the collection point more than 24 hours before normal residential
collection or to remain at the collection point more than 24 hours
following collection.
Any person may dispose of his own refuse under the following
conditions:
A.
By an approved incinerator or garbage grinder located within a building.
B.
By out-of-doors incineration in containers approved by the Township
Fire Department or in a manner consistent with the Township Fire Prevention
Code, provided such refuse consists wholly of material readily burnable
that is not garbage and does not emit an objectionable odor when burned.
C.
By transporting refuse to a sanitary landfill in such a manner that
no part of such refuse can escape or be spilled on any street or highway.
Violation of this article shall be a municipal civil infraction subject to the penalties established by Chapter 2, Article V, Municipal Civil Infractions; Civil Fines and Penalties, of this Code. Each day a violation exists shall be deemed a separate offense. The imposition of any penalty shall not exempt the offender from compliance with the requirements herein.
