[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Newtown 7-8-1975 by Ord. No. 326A; amended in its entirety 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 683 (Ch. 93 of the 1982 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The following words, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
ACT 90
The Pennsylvania Waste Transportation Safety Act of 2002, as amended.[1]
ACT 97
The Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act of 1980, as amended.[2]
ACT 101
The Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988, as amended.[3]
ASHES
The residue from the burning of wood, paper, coal, coke or other combustible material.
AUTHORIZED COLLECTOR, NONRESIDENTIAL
A person licensed and authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to collect and dispose of trash, recyclables, bagged leaves, waste and bulk items from nonresidential properties under the terms and conditions of this chapter.
AUTHORIZED COLLECTOR, RESIDENTIAL
A person licensed and authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to collect and dispose of trash, recyclables, bagged leaves, waste and bulk items from residential properties under the terms and conditions of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
BULK ITEMS
Normal household items of extraordinary size, such as appliances, furniture, bedding and rugs, as well as branches up to six inches in diameter; does not include large machinery or vehicles, automotive parts and equipment, such as batteries, hoods, truck caps or tires, steel, tree stumps, building or demolition material, fences, stones, earth, cement, bricks or branches in excess of six inches in diameter.
COLLECTOR (or WASTE HAULER)
Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or public agency who is engaged in the collection and/or transportation of municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment engaged in a nonmanufacturing or nonprocessing business, including, but not limited to, stores, markets, offices, restaurants, shopping centers and theaters.
COUNTY
The County of Bucks, Pennsylvania.
DEPARTMENT
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DISPOSAL
The deposition, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of solid waste into or on the land or water in a manner that the solid waste or a constituent of the solid waste enters the environment, is emitted into the air or is discharged to the waters of this commonwealth. Disposal facilities include, but are not limited to, municipal waste landfills and construction/demolition waste landfills as defined by Act 101, Act 97, and/or Department rules and regulations (25 Pa. Code Chapter 271, Municipal Waste Management - General Provisions, and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 277, Construction/Demolition of Waste Landfills).
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
DUMPSTER
An oversized container for the collection of municipal waste, trash, rubbish, refuse, garbage and other disposables, including construction waste, which cannot be lifted, emptied or transported except by truck. Different regulations may apply, as set forth in this chapter, to dumpsters used in connection with temporary construction projects and dumpsters used in connection with the collection of everyday municipal waste.
GARBAGE
All animal and vegetable waste solids resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of foods.
GLASS
Bottles and jars made of clear, green or brown glass; does not include noncontainer glass, plate glass, blue glass and porcelain or ceramic products.
GRASS CLIPPINGS
All grass residue, but not including leaf waste.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Solid or liquid waste which is especially harmful or potentially harmful to public health, including but not limited to explosives, toxic materials and medical waste.
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment engaged in manufacturing or production activities, including, but not limited to, factories, foundries, mills, processing plants, refineries, mines and slaughterhouses.
INFECTIOUS WASTE
Municipal waste which is or may be contaminated by disease-producing microorganisms or material or which may harm or threaten human health.
INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment or facility engaged in services, including, but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and universities.
LEAF WASTE
All leaves, garden residues, shrubbery and tree trimmings, and similar materials, but not including grass clippings.
LICENSED COLLECTOR (or LICENSED WASTE HAULER)
Any collector with written authorization from the Department under Act 90 to collect, haul, transport and dispose of municipal waste.
METAL CANS
Beverage and food containers consisting of aluminum, steel or tin or a combination of said materials.
MUNICIPAL WASTE
Any garbage, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste and other material, 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 under Act 97 from a municipal, commercial or institutional water supply treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, or air pollution control facility. The term does not include any source-separated recyclable materials.
MUNICIPALITY
Any of the 54 minor civil divisions in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
NEWSPRINT
Publications made of newsprint and sold or distributed at stated intervals, customarily containing and having as their primary purpose newsworthy items, advertisements or other matters of public interest; also includes magazines, periodicals and cardboard.
NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Properties used for industrial or commercial purposes in which no persons reside; also includes multifamily residential buildings and apartment houses containing more than four dwelling units.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution, cooperative enterprise, municipality, municipal authority, federal government or agency, state institution or agency, or any other legal entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties. In any provisions of this chapter 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.
PLASTICS
Soda, milk, juice, water or other liquid containers, including plastics Nos. 1 and 2, with a recycling symbol ("PETE" or "HDPE") on the underside, including all lids, tops, neck rings and labels.
PROCESSING
Any technology used for the purpose of reducing the volume or bulk of municipal or residual waste or any technology used to convert part or all of such materials for off-site reuse. Processing facilities include, but are not limited to, transfer facilities, recycling facilities, composting facilities, and resource recovery facilities.
RECYCLABLES
Metal cans, glass, newsprint and plastics.
RECYCLING
The collection, separation, recovery and sale or reuse of metals, glass, paper, leaf waste, plastics and other materials which would otherwise be disposed of or processed as municipal waste, or the mechanized separation and treatment of municipal waste (other than through combustion) and creation and recovery of reusable materials other than as a fuel for the generation of energy.
[Added 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 683]
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Properties used for dwelling purposes, including single-family residences as well as multifamily buildings and apartment houses containing up to four dwelling units, in which case each unit shall be considered a separate residential property for the purposes of this chapter.
REVISED COUNTY PLAN
The Bucks County Municipal Waste Management Plan Revision of 2004, as approved by the Department on January 17, 2006.
RUBBISH
Nonrecyclable glass, metal, paper and plastic, as well as wood and other nonputrescible solid waste.
SCAVENGING
The unauthorized and uncontrolled removal of any material stored or placed at a point for subsequent collection or from a processing or disposal facility.
SOURCE-SEPARATED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Any materials, including leaf waste, that are separated from municipal waste at the point of origin or generation for the purpose of recycling. The phrase includes, but is not limited to, all recyclables.
TRANSPORTATION
The off-site removal of any municipal waste at any time after generation.
TRASH
All solid waste materials, including but not limited to ashes, garbage, rubbish and grass clippings.
YARD WASTE
Garden residue; shrubbery and tree trimmings.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 27 Pa.C.S.A. § 6201 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.
[3]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
A. 
No person shall permit any municipal waste, garbage, trash, recyclables, rubbish, leaf waste, yard waste, grass clippings or bulk items to accumulate for a period of time in excess of 24 hours upon a residential property and for a period of time in excess of 48 hours upon a nonresidential property owned or occupied by the person, and all owners and occupiers of residential and nonresidential property are required to comply with the provisions of this chapter regarding the collection of municipal waste, garbage, trash, recyclables, rubbish, leaf waste, yard waste, grass clippings or bulk items.
B. 
All municipal waste, trash, recyclables, rubbish, leaf waste, yard waste, grass clippings and bulk items accumulated upon any property in Newtown Borough shall be collected, conveyed and disposed of by a licensed collector in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
To comply with the provisions of this chapter, all owners and occupiers of residential properties in Newtown Borough are required to secure the services of a licensed collector. The payment for the services of the licensed collector shall be a matter of private agreement between the owner/occupier and the licensed collector.
D. 
To comply with the provisions of this chapter, all owners and occupiers of nonresidential properties in Newtown Borough are required to secure the services of a licensed collector. The payment for the services of the licensed collector shall be a matter of private agreement between the owner/occupier and the licensed collector.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to collect and/or transport municipal waste from any residential, public, commercial, industrial or institutional establishment within Newtown Borough without first securing written authorization from the Department in accordance with the provisions of Act 90.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to store, collect and/or transport municipal waste or source-separated recyclable materials from any sources within Newtown Borough in a manner not in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or other applicable Newtown Borough ordinances, the Revised County Plan, Act 90, Act 101, the minimum standards and requirements established in Chapter 285 of the Department's Municipal Waste Management Regulations (in 25 Pa. Code), any applicable Bucks County Department of Health regulations, and/or any other federal, state or local regulations.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to scavenge any material from any municipal waste or source-separated recyclable materials that are stored or placed for subsequent collection within Newtown Borough without prior approval from the Borough.
D. 
It shall be unlawful for any licensed collector of source-separated recyclable materials operating within Newtown Borough to collect municipal waste within Newtown Borough except in accordance with the pickup hours identified in this chapter, unless otherwise granted an exemption and authorized by the Newtown Borough Council.
E. 
It shall be unlawful for any licensed collector to not complete its collections in Newtown Borough on the licensed collector's regularly scheduled pickup day(s) as permitted in this chapter, unless otherwise authorized by the Newtown Borough Council.
F. 
Unless specifically provided in this chapter or upon prior authorization from the Department, it shall be unlawful for any licensed collector to dispose of any municipal waste, trash, recyclables, rubbish, leaf waste, yard waste, grass clippings and/or bulk items within the jurisdictional limits of Newtown Borough.
A. 
All collectors operating within Newtown Borough must comply with the minimum standards and regulations set forth in this section and elsewhere in this chapter.
B. 
All trucks or other vehicles used for collection and transportation of municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials must comply with the applicable requirements of Act 90, Act 97, Act 101, and Department regulations adopted pursuant to Act 97 and Act 101, including Title 25 Pa. Code Chapter 285, Subchapter B, regulations for the collection and transportation of municipal waste.
C. 
All collection vehicles conveying municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials shall be operated and maintained in a manner that will prevent creation of a nuisance or a hazard to public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
All collection vehicles conveying putrescible municipal waste shall be watertight and suitably enclosed to prevent leakage, roadside littering, attraction of vectors and the creation of odors and other nuisances.
E. 
All collection vehicles conveying nonputrescible municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials shall be capable of being enclosed or covered to prevent litter and other nuisances.
F. 
All collection vehicles conveying municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials shall bear signs identifying the name and business address of the person or municipality which owns the vehicle and the specific type of material transported by the vehicle. All such signs shall have lettering which is at least six inches in height as required by Act 101.
G. 
All collection vehicles and equipment used by collectors shall be subject to inspection by Newtown Borough or its authorized agents at any reasonable hour without prior notification.
H. 
All municipal waste, trash, recyclables, rubbish, leaf waste, yard waste, grass clippings and bulk items must be disposed of in a manner approved by the rules and regulations of the Department, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the county at approved disposal sites.
I. 
Each collector shall comply with the disposal regulations at its respective disposal sites.
A. 
Preparation.
(1) 
All trash and recyclables shall be drained free of liquids before being made available for disposal.
(2) 
Materials for disposal shall be placed in approved containers.
(3) 
Any bulk item which is too large to be placed in an approved container must be disassembled, broken or cut up as much as is practicable. Any materials for disposal not placed in an approved container must be baled, tied, bundled or packaged in a size and weight that can be handled by one man.
(4) 
Containers shall be placed for collection at ground level on the property at the curbline or within five feet of the street at one collection point and shall be set out no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day before a collection is scheduled.
(5) 
After collection, empty containers and lids shall be removed from the curbline within the same day that collection is made.
(6) 
Dumpster.
(a) 
Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the use of a dumpster is permitted within Newtown Borough. Use of the dumpster shall not violate any other applicable codes or regulations, including without limitation all applicable Newtown Borough zoning regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 550, Zoning.
(b) 
Subject to the provisions of Subsection A(6)(c) below, the dumpster must be located at all times within the boundaries of the property owner's lot and shall not obstruct or encroach upon any public or private street, alley, sidewalk or road.
(c) 
Under special circumstances, including, without limitation, space limitations or those situations involving temporary construction projects, a dumpster may be placed partially or entirely in or on a public or private sidewalk or roadway, if also authorized by the Newtown Borough Police Department. The Police Department shall attach whatever conditions are deemed necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
(d) 
Use of an oversized dumpster for temporary construction projects is temporary. In these situations, a dumpster shall not be located on a property or elsewhere with a permit longer than the project's duration, but in no event shall use of a dumpster exceed 90 days, unless extended by the Newtown Borough Code Enforcement Officer.
(e) 
No dumpster for construction or other projects other than ordinary municipal trash collection shall be placed in Newtown Borough without the property owner or occupant, or his/her agent, first obtaining a permit. The permit shall be issued by the Newtown Borough Code Enforcement Officer. The permittee shall submit a completed application on a form provided by Newtown Borough, along with the required application fee and all required information. The Code Enforcement Officer shall issue the permit within 15 days of receipt of the completed application; provided, however, that if the dumpster's proposed location is, in whole or in part, on a public or private street, alley, sidewalk or road, the Newtown Borough Police Department shall first review and approve the permit application.
(f) 
A per diem fee, separate from the application, shall be charged for each day that the construction dumpster is in place or use. This per diem fee is payable at the time the permit is issued. Both the application fee and the per diem fee shall be established by resolution of Borough Council as set forth in the Newtown Borough Fee Schedule.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: The Fee Schedule is on file in the Borough offices.
B. 
Approved containers.
(1) 
Containers for the disposal of trash, recyclables and bulk items shall be made of metal or vinyl plastic and must be watertight. Cans must have tight-fitting lids.
(2) 
Containers for bagged leaves and yard waste shall be made of biodegradable paper only.
(3) 
All containers must be rust-resistant and watertight and shall be kept in as sanitary a condition as possible in view of their use.
A. 
Vehicles, equipment and personnel.
(1) 
All vehicles used for the collection of trash, recyclables, bagged leaves, yard waste and bulk items shall meet the minimum requirements of the Department for municipal waste transportation vehicles.
(2) 
Each collector shall furnish proof from the Department to Newtown Borough that he is authorized to conduct municipal waste transportation activities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(3) 
Any trash or fluids spilled by a collector must be immediately cleaned up and placed in the truck.
(4) 
Each collector must file with Newtown Borough all authorizations issued by the Department for the collector to conduct municipal waste transportation activities in Newtown Borough.
B. 
Frequency of collections; routes.
(1) 
Authorized collectors shall collect trash, recyclables, bagged leaves, yard waste and bulk items throughout the Borough on Tuesdays and/or Fridays only.
(2) 
If a scheduled collection falls on any one of the following holidays, no collection shall occur; rather, collection shall be made the following day, provided that day is not a Sunday: Independence Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
(3) 
Collections shall begin no earlier than 6:00 a.m. and must be concluded by 4:00 p.m. on the scheduled days.
(4) 
Each truck shall follow the same route so that services to residents will be at reasonably uniform times.
A. 
No person shall collect or remove any municipal waste from within Newtown Borough without first obtaining written authorization from the Department in accordance with the provisions of Act 90 and providing a copy of such written authorization to Newtown Borough. This section shall not apply to private individuals (e.g., homeowners) who wish to transport their own household waste to DEP-approved facilities or transport recyclables to appropriate recycling centers, nor to farmers, landscapers or nurserymen who collect, remove, haul or otherwise transport agricultural or other organic waste associated with their respective business activities.
B. 
Every collector conducting municipal waste collection and/or transportation activities or services in Newtown Borough shall register with Newtown Borough on forms provided by Newtown Borough. Every collector shall furnish to the Newtown Borough Code Enforcement Officer at the Newtown Borough Municipal Building the following minimum documents:
(1) 
A copy of the collector's Department-issued written authorization and a copy of its municipal and residual waste transporter authorization application (DEP Form 2500-PM-B WM0015);
(2) 
A list of collection vehicles covered under the written authorization, including, as a minimum, the following information for each vehicle:
(a) 
Identification information for each vehicle (such as vehicle license number, vehicle registration number, or company identification number);
(b) 
Date and location of the most recent vehicle inspection; and
(c) 
Hauling capacity of the vehicle.
(3) 
The type of municipal waste to be collected and transported;
(4) 
Certificate(s) of insurance evidencing that the waste hauler or collector has valid liability, automobile and workmen's compensation insurance in the minimum amounts established and required by separate resolution of Newtown Borough Council;
(5) 
If the collector is hauling or collecting source-separated recyclable materials in Newtown Borough, identify the materials being hauled or collected and provide the following information for each vehicle: identification information for each vehicle (such as vehicle license number, vehicle registration number, or company identification number); date and location of the most recent vehicle inspection; and hauling capacity of the vehicle, along with any of the following information that may be deemed appropriate by Newtown Borough; and
(6) 
All other documents and other authorizations issued by any governmental agency with jurisdiction authorizing the collector to conduct municipal waste and/or source-separated recyclable materials collection and/or transportation activities or services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
C. 
Every collector or other person supplying a dumpster to any property owner and/or occupant in Newtown Borough shall register with Newtown Borough on forms provided by Newtown Borough.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 93-6D, which regarded a fee for the registration of collectors and dumpster suppliers, of the 1982 Code, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
D. 
Any person who fails to satisfy the minimum standards and requirements of this chapter or who is in violation of the provisions of this chapter may not lawfully collect municipal waste or source-separated material in Newtown Borough.
E. 
All licensed collectors and licensed waste haulers shall meet the requirements of Act 90, Act 97, Act 101, the Bucks County Municipal Waste Management Plan, and all Department rules and regulations (25 Pa. Code Chapter 285).
A. 
All licensed collectors and licensed waste haulers and collectors and haulers of source-separated recyclable materials operating within Newtown Borough shall participate in the Bucks County Municipal Recycling Documentation Program. The program will provide a system for documenting the origin of municipal waste and source-separated recyclable material by municipality and the ultimate disposal point of said waste and recyclables. Each licensed collector and licensed waste hauler and collectors and haulers of source-separated recyclable materials operating in Newtown Borough shall prepare and submit an annual report to Newtown Borough on the official collectors and haulers recyclables documentation reporting form. The report shall be submitted by the Department-licensed collector or licensed waste hauler and collectors and haulers of source-separated recyclable materials to Newtown Borough by January 31 of each year and shall include all of the required information pertaining to the preceding calendar year.
B. 
All annual reports submitted to the municipality from licensed collectors and licensed waste haulers and collectors and haulers of source-separated recyclable materials shall be combined into a single report and submitted by Newtown Borough on the official municipal recyclables documentation reporting form to the county by February 28 of the year following the reporting period.
A. 
This chapter is to be administered and enforced by the Newtown Borough Code Enforcement Officer. The Newtown Borough Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to propose rules, regulations and forms as are necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. Such rules, regulations and forms shall become effective only upon approval of the Newtown Borough Council.
B. 
Any person or entity that violates any provision of this chapter or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. Upon judgment against any person by summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the Borough correctional facility for a period not exceeding 10 days or to the county correctional facility for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter 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 chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
C. 
The Newtown Borough Code Enforcement Officer shall have the power to initiate any proceedings at law or in equity necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.
D. 
For purposes of this chapter, the doing of any act or thing prohibited by any provision of this chapter or the failure to do any act or thing as to which any provision of this chapter creates any affirmative duty shall constitute a violation of this chapter punishable as herein stated.
E. 
Licensed collectors and licensed waste haulers who violate any provision of this chapter may be reported to the Department by Newtown Borough and may be subject to the revocation of the Department authorization to transport municipal waste, as described in Act 90.
F. 
Newtown Borough may petition the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas or any other applicable court or governmental agency having jurisdiction for an injunction, either mandatory or prohibitive, in order to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter.