The Town hereby implements a mandatory recycling program beginning
June 5, 1989, in accordance with R.I.G.L. §§ 23-18.8,
23-18.9, 23-19-1 et seq., the Rhode Island Solid Waste Management
Corporation resource recovery plan, and the Department of Environmental
Management municipal recycling regulations, as amended.
A.
Mandatory recycling will be accomplished by separating sources into
two categories: recyclable material and trash.
(1)
Proper separation techniques will be outlined in a brochure provided
by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.
B.
Special recycling containers shall be provided to each property owner
or tenant free of charge. Containers shall be distributed in accordance
with Department of Public Works regulations. If the resident continually
has more recyclables than can be held in one container, and have demonstrated
the ability to place uncontaminated materials for collection, they
may request an additional container, free of charge, from the Director
of Public Works or his/her designee.
(1)
Residents must maintain the recycling container in clean, hygienic
and working order in accordance with § 204-42.
(2)
Residents must notify the Director/designee of damage sustained by
the container immediately.
(a)
Damage resulting directly from purposeful vandalism or abuse
by the resident, as determined by the Public Works Department, will
be subject to a fine of $300.
(b)
Damage resulting from vandalism or abuse by someone other than
the owner/resident should be reported to the Town Police Department,
and a copy of the report forwarded to the Director/designee.
[1]
Violators will be subject to a fine of $300, enforced by the
Department of Public Works Sanitation Department and the Coventry
Municipal Court. The Municipal Court may impose a fine for defendants
that fail to appear for arraignment. The Town may also file a judgement
lien against the defendant's real estate for any violation for failure
to appear in court.
C.
Collection of recyclable material in the special recycling container
will be at the curbside, on the same day as collection of nonrecyclable
material.
D.
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, and for which the Town accepts responsibility
for disposal.
(1)
The event holder is required to pay a deposit of $300 per pair (one
trash and one recycle) of receptacles issued by the Department of
Public Works for such event.
(a)
Such deposit will be returned to the event holder within five
business days of all receptacles being returned in the same condition
as they were issued. Such condition will be clean, dry, and unbroken.
(b)
In the event that one or more containers are returned in an
unclean, or broken (partially or in whole), the Department of Public
Works will retain the deposit, in part or whole, to repair/replace/clean
the container(s).
(2)
The event holder will ensure proper separation of recyclable materials
from solid waste/trash for appropriate disposal.
(a)
Any recyclable materials found to be contaminated with nonrecyclable
items will cause the event holder to be subject to a fine of up to
$200 per container.
(b)
Any trash receptacle found to be contaminated with recyclable
materials will cause the event holder to be subject to a fine of up
to $200 per container.
(c)
Fines are to be retained for use by the Town.
A.
Recyclable materials shall be placed in the special container provided
to residents by the Town.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a recycling container
not assigned to their residence, and such an act shall be considered
theft. Residents must notify the Director/designee and Police Department
of container theft immediately.
(1)
Theft of a recycling container is subject to a fine of $300 and enforceable
by the Town Police Department and the Coventry Municipal Court.
A.
In accordance with state law and Department of Environmental Management
and Solid Waste Management Corporation regulations, recyclable materials
must be placed at the curbside in the special recycling container
on the same day as nonrecyclable material collection.
B.
Materials must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the day of scheduled
collection. Any materials not curbside at 7:00 a.m. may not be eligible
for collection.
C.
All residential recycling containers must be placed at the curb not
more than 24 hours before collection. All reusable containers must
be removed from the curb 12 hours after collection, except when the
curb is more than 100 feet from the dwelling.
D.
Recycling containers will be placed away from obstructions.
(1)
Recycling containers will be placed at least three feet away from
other trash or recycling containers, and other obstructions, including,
but not limited to, telephone poles, fences, automobiles, mailboxes
and fire hydrants, etc.
(2)
Containers placed closer than three feet to any obstruction will
not be collected, at the discretion of the driver collector.
(3)
The Town will not be liable for any damage to personal property by
a refuse collection vehicle if such damage is the result of the trash
container being placed near any obstruction.
A.
On the first violation for failure to separate recyclable and nonrecyclable
materials, or for leaving recyclables prepared in a manner inconsistent
with the Town's rules for preparation or the established guidelines
for preparation, collectors shall pick up solid waste only and leave
a notice in or on refuse containers advising the resident of his duties
under the law. This will serve as first official notice to the resident.
The Director/designee shall keep a record of the street address of
those who receive the warning notices.
B.
Collectors will advise the Director/designee of those residents who
consistently refuse to separate their solid waste or consistently
refuse to prepare recyclable materials in a manner consistent with
the Town's rules or accepted guidelines for preparation. If compliance
is not observed within seven days of the initial notification, the
Director/designee will send a letter, via first-class mail, to the
resident explaining the recycling program and advising them of their
duty under the law.
(1)
The resident will have seven calendar days to adjust their materials
and comply with the regulations as outlined in the notification. If
compliance is not observed within these seven calendar days, a certified
letter will be sent to the resident explaining the program, advising
their duty under the law, and outlining the corrective actions that
will be taken in the event compliance is not made.
(2)
The resident will have 14 calendar days to comply with the certified
letter. Neglect to comply will result in loss of eligibility for municipal
curbside collection, a fine of up to $300, and/or imprisonment of
up to 30 days. The Municipal Court may impose a fine for defendants
that fail to appear for arraignment.
C.
Residents demonstrating willful disregard of publicly published recycling
guidelines, and/or causing damage to Town equipment, injury to a Town
employee, and/or rejection of materials by the Rhode Island Resource
Recovery Corporation, and/or contamination of materials will receive
immediate violation and fine of up to $500 for each subsequent violation.
The Municipal Court may impose a fine for defendants that fail to
appear for arraignment.
(1)
Investigation will be made by the Director/designee.
(2)
Enforcement will be provided by the Coventry Municipal Court.
(3)
Willful disregard is considered, but not limited to, placement of
hazardous or nonrecyclable materials, or materials not collected in
the municipal program, in the Town-issued container and/or placing
items for collection with the intent to deceive or injure. The Department
of Public Works may suspend collection services for a willful disregard
of the regulations.
