Borough of New Britain, PA Article III Standards and Requirements

§ 410-3.1 Location.

A. No UDCB shall be located within 1,000 feet of any other UDCB.

B. UDCBs are only permitted in the following zoning districts, as designed on the Borough's Zoning Map:

(1) C-1 Commercial District.

(2) C-2 Commercial District.

(3) SC Shopping Center District.

C. A UDCB is only permitted on a lot that also contains a principal building that contains at least one operating business, occupied residential unit, or other ongoing activity.

D. UDCBs are prohibited within any of the following locations:

(1) The public right-of-way and 20 feet of the public right-of-way;

(2) Five feet from any property line; or

(3) Within landscaping areas.

E. UDCBs cannot block or impede access to:

(1) Required parking or driveways;

(2) Pedestrian routes;

(3) Emergency vehicle routes;

(4) Building ingress and egress;

(5) Required handicapped accessibility routes;

(6) Required easements; or

(7) Trash enclosure areas or access to trash bins/trash enclosures.

F. UDCBs cannot impede the functioning of exhaust, ventilation, or fire-extinguishing systems.

G. No more than one UDCB is permitted per parcel.

H. The donation/collection area must be visible from the principal building and be no more than 10 feet from a continually operating light source of at least one footcandle.

§ 410-3.2 Physical attributes.

A. UDCBs shall:

(1) Be fabricated of durable and waterproof materials;

(2) Be placed on ground that is paved with durable cement;

(3) Have a collection opening that has a tamper-resistant locking mechanism;

(4) Be no more than 82 inches high, 60 inches wide and 50 inches deep;

(5) Not be electrically or hydraulically powered or otherwise mechanized;

(6) Not be a fixture of the site or considered an improvement to real property; and

(7) Have the following information conspicuously displayed in at least two-inch type visible from the front on the UDCB:

(a) The name, address, twenty-four-hour telephone number, and, if available, the internet web address, and email address of the owner and operator of the UDCB and the parcel owner/owner agent;

(b) Address and parcel number of the site;

(c) Instructions on the process to register a complaint regarding the UDCB to the Borough;

(d) The type of material that may be deposited;

(e) A notice stating that no material shall be left outside the UDCB;

(f) The pickup schedule for the UDCB;

(g) A Borough-approved identification system that identifies the box as being properly permitted by the Borough;

(h) If the UDCB is owned by a nonprofit organization:

[1] A statement describing the charitable cause that will benefit from the donations;

[2] The federal tax identification number of the nonprofit organization operating the UDCB; and

[3] The statement "This collection box is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization."

(i) If the UDCB is owned by a for-profit entity:

[1] "This donation is not tax deductible"; and

[2] "This collection box is owned and operated by a for-profit organization."

B. The parcel containing the UDCB shall display a sign with text in at least two-inch typeface stating that no material shall be left outside the UDCB. This sign shall be installed at a visually conspicuous location within a radius of 20 feet from the UDCB.

§ 410-3.3 Maintenance.

A. No blight or nuisance condition shall be permitted within 20 feet of the UDCB, including, but not limited to, donation/collection overflow, litter, debris, and dumped material.

B. UDCBs shall be maintained and in good working order. Items to be repaired, removed, and/or abated include, but are not limited to graffiti, removed or damaged signs and notifications, peeling paint, rust, and broken collection operating mechanisms.

C. UDCBs shall be serviced not less than weekly between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekends. This servicing includes the removal of donated/collected material and abatement of the blight described this section.

D. The operator shall maintain an active email address and a twenty-four-hour telephone service with recording capability for the public to register complaints.

E. UDCBs cannot be used for the collection of solid waste and/or any hazardous materials.

§ 410-3.4 Liability insurance required.

Applicants and/or owner/owner's agent shall maintain a minimum general liability insurance of $1,000,000 for the duration of the operation of a UDCB at each site, to cover any claims or losses due to the placement, operation, or maintenance of the UDCB and naming the Borough of New Britain as additional insured.