This article establishes requirements for the proper handling of yard waste in the Township, so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for the failure to comply. All persons owning, occupying, leasing, managing or having responsibility for any lands in the Township shall dispose of leaves and yard waste as described herein.
[Adopted 9-13-2005 by Ord. No. 05-35; amended in its entirety 4-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-08]
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
A paper bag, which is designed and manufactured to decompose by a natural biological process. Plastic bags, regardless of whether the manufacturer has designated them as biodegradable, are not permitted.
Shrubs, bushes, small trees of less than six inches caliper and branches. Brush shall not include whole trees, tree trunks or branches exceeding six inches in diameter.
The placement of yard waste in a trash can, bucket, biodegradable bag or other vessel, such as to prevent the yard waste from spilling or blowing out into the street and coming into contact with stormwater.
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, parkway, viaduct, drive or other way, which is an existing state, county or municipal roadway, and includes the land between the street lines, whether improved or unimproved, and may comprise pavement, shoulders, gutters, curbs, sidewalks, parking areas, and other areas within the street lines.
Leaves and grass clippings.
[Amended 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. 24-19]
The Township will collect and dispose of leaves in accordance with a schedule to be decided upon by the Administration and shared with the public. All Township leaf collection shall be in accordance with this section. The owner or occupant of any property, or any employee or contractor of such owner or occupant engaged to provide lawn care or landscaping services, shall not be permitted at any time to sweep, rake, blow or otherwise place yard waste, as defined herein, at the curb or along the street, except as provided for below.
A.
Leaves.
(1)
The Township will be divided into two leaf collection zones. Leaves will be collected from each zone in accordance with a schedule which will be decided upon and advertised by the Township. The schedule may be updated from time to time, taking into consideration climate, precipitation conditions, and other relevant factors. The public will be given reasonable notice of any scheduled leaf collection.
(2)
During a leaf collection period, the Township will utilize a truck-mounted leaf vacuum or other system as designated by the Township Administration to pick-up fallen leaves. During any leaf collection period, leaves shall be placed in the street along the curb in front of the property from which the leaves originated. Leaves shall not be bagged up or placed in any container but shall be neatly piled at the curb.
(a)
No leaf pile may be placed within 10 feet of a storm drain nor shall any leaf pile be higher than four feet.
(b)
No grass, brush, tree cuttings, or trash shall be placed in leaf piles. Leaf piles shall consist only of leaves.
(c)
During the leaf collection period in November and December, no yard waste, brush or tree cuttings may be placed at the curb.
(3)
The owner or occupant of any property, or any employee or contractor of such owner or occupant engaged to provide lawn care or landscaping services, may not place leaves in front of another property without permission from the property owner.
(4)
No leaves originating outside of the Township may be disposed of or placed along a street within the Township.
(5)
Leaves may be placed at the curb for collection during announced periods of collection for that leaf collection zone, but no sooner than seven days' prior to the scheduled leaf pick-up date for that zone.
(6)
During all other times of the year, outside the leaf collection period, the Township shall permit that leaves be containerized, as defined herein, prior to placement at the curb. Containerized collection shall only be allowed for leaves during non-leaf collection period.
B.
Grass.
(1)
The Township strongly recommends that the owner or occupant of any property, or any employee or contractor of such owner or occupant engaged to provide lawn care or landscaping services, mulch any grass clippings created during grass mowing.
(2)
Grass clippings shall be treated as solid waste and may be placed at the curb with solid waste in accordance with the solid waste pick-up schedule. Grass clippings must be placed in a plastic bag. No loose grass clippings or open containers containing grass will be collected by the Township. Grass clippings may be placed in a garbage bag along with other solid waste for disposal.
(3)
No brush or tree trunks, or tree branches shall be disposed of with grass and/or solid waste.
[Amended 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. 24-19]
A.
Brush may be placed at the curb for collection during announced periods of collection. Brush placed at the curb for collection shall be cut into no larger than four-foot lengths and may be no more than six inches in diameter. Brush may be loose or containerized. No trees, tree trunks or branches exceeding six inches in diameter and four feet in length may be placed at the curb for collection. No brush may be placed at the curb during a leaf collection period in November and December.
B.
No owner or occupant of any property, or any employee or contractor of such owner or occupant engaged to provide lawn care or landscaping services shall allow brush originating outside of the Township to be placed at the curb for disposal. Nor shall any brush originating outside of the Township be disposed of at a designated Township brush drop-off facility.
C.
No tree trunks or branches larger than four feet in length and more than six inches in diameter shall be placed at the curb by the property owner or occupant, or by any contractor or commercial entity.
In addition to placement of yard waste and brush in the street for collection, Ewing residents may transport their own yard waste and brush to a designated Township facility, when open and operating.
No commercial or residential lawn care contractor shall operate in violation of this article. Commercial and residential lawn care contractors must make provision for the containerizing of any lawn waste cleared or removed from any residential or commercial property. It shall be a violation of this article for any commercial or residential lawn care contractor to blow, rake or otherwise place loose lawn waste in the street. Both the lawn care contractor and the resident hiring such contractor shall be subject to penalty under this article for the placement of non-containerized lawn waste in the street.
[Added 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. 24-19; amended 9-24-2024 by Ord. No. 24-20]
A.
Violation of any provision of this Article shall be cause for a Municipal Court summons to be issued by the Police Department, Code Enforcement Official, Health Officer, or Construction Official.
B.
Any person who violates any provision of this Article shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 for the first offense; not less than $300 nor more than $500 for a second offense; and not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
C.
Except as otherwise provided, every day in which a violation of any provision of this Article exists shall constitute a separate violation.