[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Secaucus 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-23.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 91, Recycling, adopted 7-25-85 by Ord. No. 85-40 and amended in its entirety 3-22-88 by Ord. No. 88-8, as amended.
As used in this chapter, the following words, phrases, and terms shall have the meanings indicated as follows:
ALUMINUM CANS
All disposable cans made of aluminum used for food and beverages. Specifically excluded are aluminum foils, pie tins, trays, cookware and other such aluminum products.
ANTIFREEZE
All automotive engine coolant consisting of a mixture of ethylene glycol and water or propylene glycol and water.
BATTERIES
Includes lead-acid batteries (batteries from automobiles, trucks, other vehicles and machinery and equipment); rechargeable batteries (nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium ion (Li-ion) and small sealed lead (Pb); and alkaline batteries.
CARDBOARD AND PAPER RECYCLING
A combining of source-separated recyclable materials, including corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, and mixed office paper, for the purpose of recycling. Cardboard and paper recycling shall be kept contained and dry.
CARTONS
Food and beverage cartons made with paper and wax (for milk, soup, juice, and broth).
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
All public or private establishments, including, but not limited to, manufacturing, retailing and/or service establishments, food establishments in business for the purposes of consumption (on or off premises) as well as food distribution and/or processing and professional and/or nonprofit or for-profit corporate entities.
COMMINGLED RECYCLING
A combining of source-separated recyclable materials, including aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars, cartons and plastics (Nos. 1, 2 and 5) for the purpose of recycling. Commingled recycling shall be empty, clean and dry.
COMPOSTING
A process by which organic materials are turned into "humus" (similar to topsoil).
CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
Cardboard containers used primarily for the packaging, boxing, and/or transportation of products of any type.
DESIGNATED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
All materials designated by the Town of Secaucus and/or designated in the Hudson County District Solid Waste Management Plan to be source separated from the solid waste stream for the purpose of recycling.
DUAL-STREAM RECYCLING
A separating of commingled recycling from carboard and paper recycling for the purpose of curbside recycling collection.
DWELLING UNIT
Any one-family, two-family or multifamily home; apartments and high-rises; condominiums and/or cooperatives.
ELECTRONIC WASTE
Equipment utilizing electricity as defined at N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.94 et seq., which currently includes televisions, facsimile machines, personal computers, computer monitors and printers.
FERROUS METAL
Includes all discarded products made of steel, or ferrous metal, cast-iron components.
GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS
Transparent or translucent containers made from silica or sand, soda ash and limestone, used for the packaging or bottling of various products. Specifically excluded are dishware, broken glass, glass shards, light bulbs, window glass, ceramics and other such glass products.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Includes all waste as defined in N.J.S.A 12:1E-38, N.J.S.A. 12:1E-51 and N.J.A.C. 7:26-8.1 et seq.
LEAVES
Foliage from plants and trees only.
METAL
All cans, other than aluminum, consisting entirely of steel, tin, or bimetal and used in the storage of food and beverages.
MIXED OFFICE PAPER
White office paper, white copy paper, white computer printout paper, white bond paper and white typing paper.
MIXED PAPER
Any combination of newspaper, high-grade paper, "junk mail" and advertisements and nonwhite paper.
NEWSPAPERS
Paper of any type commonly referred to as "newsprint" and distributed at stated intervals, usually daily or weekly, having printed thereon news and opinions and containing advertisements and other matters of public interest.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association of persons.
PLASTIC CONTAINERS
Plastic bottles and food containers limited to plastic resin type No. 1 PET, plastic resin type No. 2 HDPE and plastic resin type No. 5, PP. Specifically excluded are other resin types (Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 7) and other consumer items and packages, such as film plastics, blister packaging, boxes, baskets, toys and other such products.
RECYCLING
The process by which designated materials, which would otherwise become solid waste, are separated, collected, processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products.
SCRAP METAL
All discarded products made of steel, aluminum or other materials used for any purpose, excluding food and/or beverage packing.
SOLID WASTE
All garbage and rubbish that is collected for disposal, as defined in N.J.S.A. 13:1E-38, N.J.S.A. 13:1E-51 and N.J.A.C. 7:26-8.1 et seq., and amendments thereto.
SOURCE SEPARATION
The process by which recyclable materials are separated at the point of generation by the generator thereof from solid waste for the purposes of recycling.
TIRES
Rubber wheels used on motorized transport or equipment whether bias-ply, cross ply or radial.
USED MOTOR OIL
All waste crank case oils used with internal combustion engines, generators, turbines, etc.
WHITE GOODS
Includes household or commercial appliances made of steel or any other form of metal, including refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, furnaces, stoves, ranges, hot water heaters, air conditioners, trash compactors, dishwashers, and other household or commercial appliances.
YARD WASTE
Grass clippings, hedge trimmings, Christmas trees, twigs, sticks, branches and/or shrubbery.
A. 
It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a mandatory program for the source separation of the following designated recyclable materials to be source separated from the solid waste generated within the Town of Secaucus for the purpose of recycling.
B. 
The following are designated recyclable materials to be source separated from solid waste: aluminum cans, antifreeze, batteries, brush/tree parts, cartons, concrete/asphalt and masonry/paving materials, corrugated cardboard, electronic waste, glass bottles and jars, leaves, metal, mixed paper and mixed office paper, plastic containers, used motor oil and used motor oil filters, whites goods, yard waste, and untreated wood.
(1) 
This above list reflects the most recent list of designated recyclable materials, which may be amended as markets develop for other materials or as required by the State of New Jersey or the County of Hudson.
C. 
All owners, lessees, or occupants of dwelling units, and all owners, lessees, and occupants of business, commercial and/or industrial establishments, and all owners, lessees, and occupants of private, public and governmental institutions and facilities, shall comply with all the provisions and obligations set forth in this chapter.
D. 
The owner of any property shall be responsible to inform all occupants of their property of the provisions of this chapter and the designated collection regulations.
E. 
For multifamily dwelling units, the owner or management is responsible for maintaining the recycling system, including collection of commingled recycling and cardboard and paper recycling. Violations and penalties will be directed to property owners or management in instances where the violator is not easily identifiable. The owner or management shall issue notification and collection rules to new tenants when they arrive and every six months thereafter.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for all persons who are owners, lessees, or occupants of dwelling units, and all owners, lessees, and occupants of business, commercial and/or industrial establishments, and all owners, lessees, and occupants of private, public and governmental institutions and facilities within the Town of Secaucus, to fail to separate designated recyclable materials listed in § 91-2 from solid waste and to recycle said materials in the following manner:
(1) 
Regular curbside collection of designated recyclable materials by the Town of Secaucus includes commingled recycling and cardboard and paper recycling.
(a) 
Commingled recycling shall be separated from cardboard and paper recycling as dual-stream recycling.
(b) 
Under no circumstances shall commingled recycling and/or cardboard and paper recycling be placed in plastic bags of any type.
(c) 
Containers or receptacles shall be placed at designated collection or pickup site(s) on day(s) to be determined by the Town of Secaucus or its authorized agent, in accordance with all applicable regulations.
(2) 
All other designated recyclable materials shall be recycled in accordance with recycling instructions published by the Town of Secaucus, the County of Hudson, or in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations, including, but not limited to, antifreeze, batteries, brush/tree parts, concrete/asphalt and masonry/paving materials, electronic waste, leaves, metal, used motor oil and used motor oil filters, whites goods, yard waste, and untreated wood.
B. 
Cardboard and paper recycling.
(1) 
Cardboard shall be flattened and have any other attached materials such as Styrofoam or plastic removed. Cardboard and paper recycling shall be tied securely in bundles with twine, rope, cord or other such binding to facilitate handling or kept in an enclosed bin or container to ensure that it will not be windblown or distributed onto the public thoroughfare.
(2) 
Bundles or open collection containers containing cardboard, newspapers, mixed paper or mixed office paper should not be exposed to moisture or rainfall and kept contained in covered storage if such is likely to occur.
(3) 
If bundled, bundles should not exceed a weight of 30 pounds each or a height of more than 12 inches each.
C. 
Commingled recycling.
(1) 
Glass containers, aluminum cans, plastics, and cartons used for the storage of food and/or beverages shall be clean, empty, and dry.
(2) 
Occupants of dwelling units shall place all commingled recyclables in containers or receptacles provided by the Town of Secaucus, building or complex management or self-supplied.
(3) 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any owners, lessees, or occupants of a dwelling unit may utilize glass food and beverage containers and/or aluminum cans for the disposal of nonhazardous liquid wastes and place same with other regular solid waste.
D. 
Liquid and hazardous waste exclusions.
(1) 
No liquids of any type shall be placed with collected recyclable materials.
(2) 
No chemicals, liquid paints, pesticides, herbicides, reactive polishes or cleansers, cleaning or automotive products, propane tanks or other hazardous wastes shall be placed with collected recyclable materials or with designated collected solid waste for collection.
E. 
Nonresidential establishment compliance requirements.
(1) 
The arrangement for collection of designated recyclables hereunder shall be the responsibility of the commercial, institutional or industrial property owner or their designee. All commercial, institutional or industrial properties which provide outdoor litter receptacles and disposal service for their contents shall also provide receptacles for commingled recycling and cardboard and paper recycling, for those materials commonly deposited, in the location of the litter receptacle, and shall provide for separate recycling service for their contents. The property owner or their designee is responsible for setting up and maintaining the recycling system, including collection of commingled recycling and cardboard and paper recycling, and placement at curbside for collection on the designated collection day(s) and time(s) only. Violations and penalty notices may be directed to the property owner, representative or management.
(2) 
Every business, institution or industrial facility shall report on an annual basis to the Town's Recycling Coordinator, on such forms as may be prescribed, on recycling activities at its premises, including the amount of recycled material collected and recycled, by material type, and the vendor(s) providing recycling service.
(3) 
All food service establishments shall, in addition to compliance with all other recycling requirements, be required to recycle grease created in the processing of food or food products and maintain such records as may be prescribed for inspection by any code enforcement officer.
A. 
The Town of Secaucus may use municipal personnel to collect the recyclable materials set forth herein at designated curbside and/or collection or pickup site(s) and shall dispose of or sell said recyclable materials, if a market exists therefor, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq. and amendments thereto.
B. 
The Town of Secaucus may elect to enter into agreements with qualified persons, partnerships, or corporations for the purpose of authorizing them to collect all said recyclable materials, or any portion thereof, at curbside or collection or pickup site(s).
C. 
The Recycling Coordinator(s) shall, upon receipt of a completed and approved application, issue approvals to any person, civic, fraternal, nonprofit, or for-profit organization, authorizing a dropoff collection point for the aggregation of certain specific recyclable materials. Issuance of an approval shall not, however, authorize said person, civic, fraternal, nonprofit, or for-profit organization to pick up or collect said specific recyclable materials from any curbside or from any designated municipal collection or pickup site(s) in the Town of Secaucus.
D. 
Nothing herein shall prohibit the Town from using its own personnel to collect leaves and yard waste, commingled recycling, cardboard and paper recycling, or such other designated recyclable materials, or contract out the cost of said collection, as may be determined to be in the best interests of the municipality.
A. 
Designated recyclable materials, as defined herein, shall be the property of the Town of Secaucus once placed at the designated collection or pickup site(s) authorized by the Town of Secaucus or its designated agent.
B. 
No unauthorized person shall pick up or cause to be picked up said recyclable materials. Each such unauthorized collection will be illegal and in violation of this chapter and shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, punishable as hereinafter provided.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, any owner, lessee, or occupant of a dwelling unit, public or private institution, or commercial or industrial establishment may donate or sell recyclable materials as defined herein to any person, partnership, or corporation, whether or not operating for profit. However, said person, partnership, or corporation shall not pick up said recyclable materials at curbside or at any collection or pickup site(s) designated by the Town or its designated agent.
A. 
The Recycling Coordinator(s) of the Town of Secaucus shall establish the collection or pickup site(s) and the day(s) of collection for the designated recyclable materials defined herein. Said information shall be kept on file with the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.
B. 
Labeling of containers. Owners, lessees, or occupants of dwelling units, and all owners, lessees, and occupants of business, commercial and/or industrial establishments, and all owners, lessees and occupants of private, public and governmental institutions and facilities shall provide separate and clearly marked containers for solid waste and the various types of recyclables, as appropriate.
A. 
Any owner, lessee or occupant of any dwelling unit, public or private institution and commercial or industrial establishment actively participating in a recycling program within the Town of Secaucus which is not operated by the Town of Secaucus or its authorized agent shall submit biannual documentation in accordance with the requirements of the State of New Jersey which verifies the tonnage of materials recycled.
B. 
Such biannual documentation of tonnage shall be submitted to the Recycling Coordinator(s) no later than 20 days following July 31 and December 31 of each year. Failure to provide this information may cause the program to be terminated at the option of the Town Recycling Coordinator(s).
A. 
Solid waste collectors shall not collect solid waste that is mixed with, or contains visible signs of, designated recyclable materials. It is also not permitted for solid waste collectors to remove for disposal those bags or containers of solid waste which visibly display a warning notice sticker or some other device indicating that the load of solid waste contains designated recyclable materials.
B. 
It shall be the responsibility of the owner, lessee or occupant to properly segregate the uncollected solid waste for proper disposal or recycling. Allowing such unseparated solid waste and recyclables to accumulate will be considered a violation of this chapter and the local sanitary code.
C. 
Once placed in the designated collection or pickup site(s) authorized by the Town of Secaucus or its designated agent, no person, other than those authorized by the municipality, shall tamper with, collect, remove, or otherwise handle designated recyclable materials.
Members of the Secaucus Police Department, the Secaucus Health Department, the Secaucus Environmental Department, the Recycling Coordinator(s), the Property Maintenance Officer(s), and the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works are hereby designated to enforce this chapter and amendments thereto. The respective enforcing official may, in their discretion, post warning notice tags, mail notices of violation, or issue summons for any offense after sight or sound inspection. An inspection may consist of sorting through containers and opening of solid waste bags to detect, by sound or sight, the presence of any recyclable material.
A. 
Unless another penalty is expressly provided in this chapter, any person violating or failing to comply with any provision of this chapter, or any regulations promulgated hereto, shall upon conviction thereof be punishable by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 at the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. The continuation of such violation, and each violation or the continuation of such violation, shall constitute a separate and distinct offense punishable as provided for herein.
B. 
The following fines for various sections of Chapter 91 of the Code of the Town of Secaucus entitled "Recycling" shall be as follows:
Section
Description
Penalty
§ 91-3A
Mandated recyclable items observed with solid waste
$54
Failure to separate cardboard and paper recycling from commingled recycling
$54
Use of prohibited plastic bags for placement of recyclables
$54
Violation of recycling schedule or designated location
$54
Cardboard recyclables violation: contaminated; not contained in containers or receptacles; exposed to moisture
$54
§ 91-3C
Commingled recyclables violation: contaminated; not contained in containers or receptacles
$54
C. 
Fines levied and collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be immediately deposited into the Municipal Recycling Fund. Monies in the Municipal Recycling Trust Fund shall be used for the expenses of the municipal recycling program.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are repealed as to such inconsistencies.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
This chapter shall take effect upon passage and publication as provided by law and shall be applicable to any new applications or renewal applications.