Editor's Note: Ordinance 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992, repeals Ordinances 6 S+FA, 6-3-1987 and 6 S+FA, 12-6-1989, which established the mandatory separation, at the source, of recyclables.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-1]
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Newark Mandatory Recycling Regulations."
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-2; Ord. 6PSF-F, 6-15-2016]
The Director of the Department of Public Works is hereby authorized and directed to continue efforts to establish regulations as to the manner, days and times of such collections and the bundling, handling, location and placement of recyclable materials in residential and commercial areas for collection by the City and/or its agents.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-3; Ord. 6 PSF-F, 6-17-2009 § 1; Ord. 6PSF-F, 6-15-2016]
The following terms as used in this chapter shall mean and include:
ALUMINUM BEVERAGE CAN
Shall mean any beverage container constructed entirely of aluminum.
BI-METAL
Shall mean any food or beverage container constructed of two or more distinctly separate metals.
BRUSH AND HERBACEOUS WASTE
Shall mean tree and shrub branches which have been removed from properties. Branches shall be free from roots, stumps and other contaminants.
COMMERCIAL SOURCE
Shall mean any wholesale, retail or service establishment including, but not limited to restaurants, markets, offices, retail and wholesale outlets, theaters, hotels and warehouses.
COMMINGLED
Shall mean recyclable materials which may be combined with other recyclable materials. Examples of materials which may be commingled are: glass bottles and jars and aluminum and/or bi-metal cans.
COMPOST AREA
Shall mean that area designated by the City of Newark as the place for composting and decomposition of leaves and woodchips.
CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION MATERIALS
Shall mean components resulting from the construction and/or demolition of a building or structure, both residential and commercial, including wood, brick, concrete, asphalt roofing, asphalt, scrap metals, window glass, tree stumps, logs, branches and other such materials.
CONSUMER CELL BATTERIES
Known also as drycell batteries, shall mean those batteries commonly used in hearing aids, cameras, calculators, and watches, which contain hazardous components such as mercury, silver, cadmium and lithium.
CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
Shall mean the material commonly used for boxes, shipping containers and packing materials.
FERROUS SCRAP
Shall mean all structural steel or ferrous metal, cast iron and steel components.
GENERATOR
Shall mean any individual, public or private corporation or firm owning, operating or in charge of any residential, nonresidential, commercial, industrial structure or institutional source who produces or has charge of producing solid waste and/or recyclable materials in the City of Newark.
GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS
Shall mean any food or beverage container constructed entirely of glass (exclusive of the cap or covering device).
INDUSTRIAL SOURCE
Shall mean any business who is engaged in industrial production or service and who produces or has charge of producing solid waste and/or recyclable materials in the City of Newark.
INSTITUTIONAL SOURCE
Shall mean any entity which is not a commercial or industrial source including but not limited to public or private schools, hospitals and medical care facilities.
LEAD ACID BATTERIES
Shall mean those batteries which are used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, etc. and are composed primarily of lead plates in a casing containing sulfuric or other acids.
MAGAZINES
Shall include all periodicals containing miscellaneous material.
MIXED HIGH GRADE WHITE PAPER
Shall mean white office paper, computer paper, and duplicator paper, but shall exclude paper products coated with nondegradable material or contaminated by carbon materials.
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING
Shall mean those structures such as apartments, cooperatives and condominiums which are used or are intended, arranged or designed for use by three or more separate groups or families for living, where solid waste and/or recyclable materials are generated.
NEWSPAPERS
Shall mean any paper of the type commonly referred to as newsprint distributed weekly or daily which contains news, articles of opinion, features and advertising.
RECYCLING CENTER
Shall mean a facility privately owned and operated and designed solely for receiving, storing, processing and transferring source separated, nonputrescible recyclable materials.
RECYCLING DEPOT
Shall mean a public or private facility that is designated by the City of Newark as the area to drop-off recyclable glass bottles and jars, newspaper, magazines, aluminum and bi-metal cans, used motor oil, corrugated cardboard, lead acid batteries, consumer cell batteries and automobile tires or other materials as designated by the Director of the Department of Public Works.
SOURCE SEPARATION
Shall mean the detaching, sorting and setting apart of solid waste for the purpose of recycling, from residential, non-residential, commercial, industrial or institutional source by the generator at the point of generation.
USED WASTE OIL
Shall mean any waste crank case oil resulting from the periodic maintenance of internal combustion engines.
WHITE GOODS AND SCRAP METALS
Shall mean all small and large metal appliances such as, but not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, water heaters, ranges, furnaces, metal lawn furniture, bicycles, etc.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-4; Ord. 6 PSF-F, 6-17-2009 § 2; Ord. 6PSF-F, 6-15-2016]
a. 
Every generator in the City of Newark shall source separate the following items: used corrugated cardboard, newspapers, magazines, glass bottles and jars, plastic with #1 PETE and #2 HDPE containers such as milk, juice jugs, water bottles and soda bottles, food and beverage cans (aluminum and bi-metal), leaves, used motor oil, mixed high grade white paper, white goods, ferrous and other scrap metals, lead acid batteries, consumer cell batteries and automobile tires from municipal solid waste. Generators in the City shall provide sufficient containers for the temporary storage of recyclable materials pending collection. The location of the containers shall be in an area that is easily accessible and which will not create a nuisance to other adjacent properties or create conflict with pedestrians or vehicles.
b. 
Recyclable materials shall be packaged for curbside collection or deposited at the City recycling depot in the following manner:
1. 
Newspapers and magazines shall be securely bundled to facilitate handling. Each bundle shall not exceed 35 pounds in weight. Acceptable materials may either be tied with string or cord, or placed into sturdy paper bags for collection. Generators shall ensure that the materials are either placed at the curbside or dropped off at the Recycling Depot for collection. Commercial establishments shall bring the materials to the Recycling Depot or make arrangements with a private contractor for collection.
2. 
Mixed high grade white paper shall be stacked in securely tied bundles and shall be brought by residents to the Recycling Depot. All commercial establishments shall provide for the recycling of the recyclables by making arrangements with a private contractor for collection or dropping off of the materials at the Recycling Depot.
3. 
Aluminum beverage cans, bi-metal cans (such as those which contain vegetables and juices) and glass bottles and jars, shall be drained of all food or liquid, and placed in a reusable sturdy receptacle or container not less in size than five gallons or more than 32 gallons in size.
4. 
Leaves must be bagged and brought to the curb by City residents for pick up by the City or brought to a City Compost Area, as designated by the Director of Public Works. Bagged leaves shall be collected at curbside only if placed in degradable bags. Non-degradable bags (such as non-degradable plastic) shall be considered unacceptable when used for this purpose.
5. 
Corrugated cardboard shall be collected at the curbside of City streets as selected and determined by the Director of Public Works. Other City residents and business owners shall bring corrugated cardboard to the Recycling Depot. Corrugated cardboard shall be tied in bundles in a size up to three feet in length and each bundle shall not exceed 50 pounds in weight. If residents have over one 150 pounds of corrugated cardboard, they must call the City of Newark Office of Recycling to arrange for a pick-up.
6. 
Used motor oil from vehicles and lawn mowers shall be placed in containers and delivered to an authorized and designated used oil recycling center, gasoline stations or the Recycling Depot. Used motor oil will not be collected or picked up from premises by the City of Newark.
7. 
No recyclable materials other than corrugated cardboard, newspapers, magazines, glass bottles and jars, food and beverage cans (aluminum and bi-metal), used motor oil, lead acid batteries, consumer cell batteries and automobile tires, shall be permitted to be deposited at the Recycling Depot by any City Generator. In no event shall recyclable materials be placed in the street or right-of-way nor shall they be placed in plastic bags for collection.
8. 
Consumer cell batteries shall be deposited for collection at the City Recycling Depot and/or other locations in the City designated by the Department of Public Works.
9. 
White goods and scrap metals shall be deposited for collection as stipulated in Section 15:4-11.
c. 
Every generator shall ensure that the aforementioned recyclable materials are clean, uncontaminated and not exposed to substances or conditions which would render them unusable for recycling, before collections are made from the curb by the City, deposited at the City Recycling Depot or delivered to a recycling center.
d. 
Any contractor permitted by the City of Newark to conduct any construction or demolition operations with the City shall sort and separate materials such as wood, brick, concrete, asphalt pavement, asphalt roofing, scrap metals, window glass, tree stumps, logs, branches and other like materials for the purpose of recycling.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-5; Ord. 6PSF-F, 6-15-2016]
Every generator shall annually advise and inform their tenants and other affected parties concerning the requirements of this chapter as well as the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Public Works. Additionally, every generator is to advise their tenants in writing as a condition of their lease of the requirements of this section and maintain written proof of the notice.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-6; Ord. 6 PSF-D, 9-15-2010 § 5]
a. 
Generators from multi-family dwellings, commercial or industrial establishments and public/private institutions who have private collectors for solid waste collection shall be required annually to report the tonnage of recyclable materials by type to the City of Newark's Office of Recycling.
b. 
Contractors who are conducting any construction or demolition operations in the City shall file reports, in the City's Central Permit Office. The contractor shall report the quantity of material recycled by type and weight as well as the receiving market on forms located in the City's Central Permit Office.
c. 
Generators from the following list shall be required to report the tonnage of recyclable materials by type, annually to the City of Newark's Office of Recycling.
1. 
Multi-family Dwellings.
2. 
Commercial and Industrial Establishments.
3. 
Institutions.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-7]
Recyclable materials to be collected by the City of Newark, or agents thereof, shall be placed at the curb on those days specifically specified by the City of Newark. In no event shall recyclable materials be placed in the street or the sidewalks, nor shall they be placed in plastic bags for collection. Recyclable materials shall be placed at the curb in durable reusable containers not earlier then 7:00 p.m. on the day before regular municipal collection and not later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of regular municipal collection.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-8; Ord. 6 PSF-D, 9-15-2010]
Commercial establishments located along commercial streets designated by the City for corrugated recycling, shall utilize a private collector. Any commercial location presently utilizing public collection will no longer receive City pick-up. All commercial sources, henceforth, must utilize private collection.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-9]
Any generator, resident or corporation may donate or sell recyclable materials to any person, partnership or corporation whether operating for profit or not for profit. The person, partnership or corporation may not, however, under any circumstances pick up the recyclable materials from the curb in the City of Newark.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-10; Ord. 6 PSF-C, 4-15-2015]
From the time of placement at the curb, stored dumpster or City Recycling Depot by and generator, all recyclable materials shall become and be the property of the City of Newark, and it shall be a violation of this chapter for any person, firm, or corporation, including an owner of multi-family (4 or more units), other than authorized personnel of the City of Newark, or its designee to collect, pick up, or cause to be collected or picked up, such materials. Each such collection in violation hereof from one or more location during the period shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-11; Ord. 6 PSF-C, 4-15-2015; ; Ord. 6PSF-F, 6-15-2016]
The Department of Public Works, along with all other Departments of the City of Newark who are empowered to enforce the Ordinances of the City, shall have the authority to inspect and enforce Newark's mandatory recycling ordinance at any residential, commercial, industrial or institutional facility located within the City.
[Ord. 6 S+FK, 9-2-1992 § 13A:5-12; Ord. 6 PSF-D, 2-17-2010 § 4; Ord. 6 PSF-C, 4-15-2015]
a. 
Any person, firm, or corporation who violates or fails or neglects to comply with any provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, shall be punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine or penalty as provided below:
1. 
First Offense. A fine of $350.
2. 
Second Offense. A fine of $600.
3. 
Third Offense. A fine of $1000 and/or up to 90 days of community service.
4. 
Fourth and Each Subsequent Offense. A fine of $2,500, and/or up to 90 days of community service and discontinuance of solid waste collection service until compliance is met. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall be deemed a separate offense and be punishable as such. Fines which are levied and recovered for noncompliance with any and all provisions of this section shall be transmitted monthly by the Court Clerk to the Collector of Taxes and deposited in the Recycling Grant Fund to be utilized for the purpose of the City's recycling program to include, but not limited to, the purchase of materials, education, awareness and improvement in services, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:4-39.
5. 
A mandatory court appearance is required for the second and subsequent violations of this chapter provided that the second offense must be within one year of the first offense.
6. 
The City waives the application of the additional penalty for a subsequent violation within one year of a previous violation pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.
b. 
Any owner of a multi-family dwelling (four or more units) who violates or fails or neglects to comply with any provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, shall be punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine or penalty per unit as provided below:
1. 
First Offense. A fine of $350.
2. 
Second Offense. A fine of $600.
3. 
Third Offense. A fine of $1000 and/or up to 90 days of community service.
4. 
Fourth and Each Subsequent Offense. A fine of $2,500, and/or up to 90 days of community service and discontinuance of solid waste collection service until compliance is met. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall be deemed a separate offense and be punishable as such. Fines which are levied and recovered for noncompliance with any and all provisions of this section shall be transmitted monthly by the Court Clerk to the Collector of Taxes and deposited in the Recycling Grant Fund to be utilized for the purpose of the City's recycling program to include, but not limited to the purchase of materials, education, awareness and improvement in services, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:4-39.