[HISTORY: Adopted by Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam 9-28-2016 by L.L. No. 10-2016.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Solid waste, garbage, recycling, brush, grass and leaves — See Ch. 244.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 99, Cats, adopted 11-14-2001 by L.L. No. 12-2001, was repealed 6-12-2013 by L.L. No. 6-2013.
It is the intent of the Town of Rotterdam to support and encourage, in a responsible manner, the placement and use of attended and unattended clothing bins, donation bins and recycling bins. These bins are most commonly used to collect for recycling, resale or reuse general household goods such as clothing, shoes, books and small appliances. This chapter is intended to protect the public health, safety and welfare and protect the environment by establishing rules and regulations for clothing bins, donation bins and recycling bins.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CLOTHING BINS, DONATION BINS and RECYCLING BINS
An attended or unattended receptacle, trailer or container made of metal, wood, steel or similar material for permanent or temporary use, designed or intended for the collection of unwanted clothing, shoes, textiles, books and other similar household items. Recycling bins for residential and/or commercial property shall be exempted for this chapter.
PERMITTEE
Any organization, firm or other entity that owns and receives a permit to operate a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin pursuant to this chapter.
SITE HOST
The owner or lessee of the site of a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin within the Town of Rotterdam.
A. 
It shall be unlawful to erect, place, maintain or operate any clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin without first obtaining a permit issued by the Town of Rotterdam.
B. 
A permit issued under this chapter shall be valid for one year and renewable for one-year periods thereafter.
C. 
Where a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin is owned and/or operated by one entity for the benefit of another entity, the contact information for both. entities must be included on the permit application.
D. 
The initial application fee, renewal application fee and sticker fee shall be valid for a one-year period and shall be established by resolution of the Town Board.
E. 
In order to qualify as a permittee under this chapter, an applicant must either be:
(1) 
A public charity exempt from taxes under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, and in good standing with the State of New York; or
(2) 
A business in good standing with the State of New York.
The application for a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin permit shall be made to the Department of Public Works and shall require the following information from the applicant:
A. 
If the applicant claims to be a qualified public charity:
(1) 
A copy of the determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service stating that the applicant is a public charity exempt under Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3); and
(2) 
A certificate of good standing issued by the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York. A certificate of good standing must not be older than three months at the time of application for a permit.
B. 
Name, address and telephone number of a contact person or entity of the applicant who is responsible for the management and maintenance requirements of this chapter. The contact person or entity must reside or have a place of business in the County of Schenectady.
C. 
Written consent from the site host (or, if the site host is a lessee, from the owner) to place a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin on the property, including name, address and telephone number of the site host.
D. 
The permittee must provide to the Town of Rotterdam at the time of application a certificate of liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 covering the permittee's clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin. The certificate of liability insurance must name the Town of Rotterdam as an additional insured.
The Town of Rotterdam shall provide the permittee with one permit sticker for each approved permit. The permittee must place the permit sticker in a conspicuous place on the front of the permitted clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin. The Town of Rotterdam will provide replacement stickers for an amount to be established by resolution of the Town Board should the original sticker become damaged, fall off, or disappear.
A. 
The permittee must maintain the aesthetic presentation of each clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin, including fresh paint, readable signage and general upkeep.
B. 
The permittee must provide to the site host a telephone number to respond to clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin maintenance complaints.
C. 
The permittee must respond to clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin maintenance complaints within 24 hours of receiving notification during regular business hours.
D. 
The permittee must remove graffiti within 72 hours following receipt of notice of its existence.
E. 
If a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin becomes damaged or vandalized, it shall be repaired, replaced or removed within five days of receipt of notice of such condition.
F. 
Each clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin must be regularly emptied of its contents.
A. 
A clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin shall be placed on the site in a manner that does not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow.
B. 
A clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin shall not be placed within the municipal right-of-way and shall adhere to the setback standards for the site where it is placed.
C. 
A clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin shall not be placed in a required parking space or reduce the number of parking spaces below the minimum number required by the Town of Rotterdam Zoning Law and related approvals.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 270, Zoning.
D. 
A clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin shall not be placed on a sidewalk and must allow for a minimum of five feet of pedestrian walkway in front of the clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin.
E. 
A clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin shall not be placed within the sight triangle of any intersection, within 40 feet of said intersection.
F. 
No more than three clothing bins, donation bins or recycling bins shall be placed on any parcel with a principal structure in an B-1, B-2, I-1 and/or I-2 Zoning District.
The front of every clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin shall conspicuously display the following:
A. 
The name, address, telephone number and the Internet web address of the owner and operator of the clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin.
B. 
A statement, in at least two-inch typeface, that either reads: "This collection bin is owned and operated by a not-for-profit organization," or "This collection bin is owned and operated by a for-profit organization."
C. 
If the clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin is owned by a not-for-profit organization, the front of the collection bin shall also conspicuously display a statement describing the charitable causes that will benefit from the donations.
D. 
If the clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin is owned by a for-profit company, the front of the collection bin shall conspicuously display a statement that reads "[Name of company] is a for-profit company; deposits are not tax deductible."
E. 
A clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin operated by a for-profit entity on behalf of or in conjunction with a not-for-profit organization shall have the name, address, telephone number and Internet web address of both entities on the front of the bin.
A. 
The site host, permittee or other person or entity in control of the property where a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin is found to be in violation of this chapter shall be jointly and severally liable therefor. The site host, permittee or other person or entity in control of the property where a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin is found will have six months for the date of passage of this chapter to comply with the law.
B. 
Code Enforcement Officers and Building Inspectors of the Department of Public Works and officers of the Rotterdam Police Department are hereby authorized to issue notices of violation, summonses or appearance tickets, returnable in the Town Court of the Town of Rotterdam, for any violation of this chapter.
C. 
In addition to any other penalty that may be imposed for an offense against the Penal Law, any violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $250 for the first such offense.
D. 
For each subsequent offense, a violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $750 per week thereafter. Each week such offense is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder without further need for the Town to issue additional notices of violation, summonses or appearance tickets. The Town may also bring an action or proceeding to enjoin the offense and to recover any costs incurred by the Town for removing and/or storing the bin or otherwise remedying conditions brought about by the offense of this chapter. If a site holder and/or permittee is found to have violated the provisions of this chapter on more than three occasions in a calendar year, the site holder and/or permittee shall, in addition, be deemed ineligible to place, use or employ a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin within the Town of Rotterdam pursuant to this chapter for a period of five years, and the Town of Rotterdam may remove any or all of such site host and/or permittee's clothing bins, donation bins or recycling bins upon 10 days' advance notice.
E. 
A violation of this chapter shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) 
Unpermitted placement of a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin.
(2) 
Failure to adequately or timely respond to a maintenance request pursuant to this chapter.
(3) 
Failure to maintain a clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin pursuant to this chapter.
(4) 
Failure to adhere to clothing bin, donation bin or recycling bin placement and removal provisions pursuant to this chapter.
(5) 
Failure to adhere to all permitting requirements pursuant to this chapter.