[Adopted 8-26-2019]
A.
The purpose of this regulation is to protect and preserve the environment,
conserve natural resources, and reduce the volume of solid waste in
the waste stream of Townsend.
B.
All residents and businesses are hereby subject to this regulation.
For the purpose of this regulation, the word "person" shall include
any individual, business, or governmental department in the Town of
Townsend, and any commercial trash hauling business serving clients
in the Town of Townsend and disposing in Townsend.
For the purpose of this regulation, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section.
Books and magazines excluding telephone books and catalogs.
Plastic items such as outdoor furniture, children toys and
laundry baskets are not allowed for the curbside pickup. These items
should be brought to the Townsend Recycling Center or another appropriate
recycling center. See www.RecycleSmartMA.org for a more detailed list.
Any material other than the material being recycled which
could cause rejection of the material by users of the recycled material.
Including, but not limited to, asphalt pavement, brick and
concrete, clean gypsum wallboard, treated wood, toilets and sinks.
The business that is contracted to service the curbside trash
and recycling program with the Town of Townsend.
A curbside service provided for single-family, two-family
and three-family households in Townsend (excluding all profitable
businesses) of removing household waste and recycling. This service
is contracted by the Townsend Board of Health to pick up food and
solid waste, garbage, trash and recyclables in containers acceptable
by the Town of Townsend.
Food waste or food loss is refrigerated or pantry type food
material that is discarded or unable to be used. Animal bones intended
for food consumption are considered food waste in Townsend.
Organic waste, including vegetable and animal waste scheduled
for curbside pickup. Residents are encouraged to compost vegetable
matter.
Food and beverage containers for curbside recycling. Excluded
are blue glass, flat glass, plate glass, and glass. Broken glass is
considered trash. Please see RecycleSmartMA.org for a more detailed
list.
Included, but not limited to: mothballs, artist and hobby
supplies (glue), photo chemicals, rubber cement, floor and furniture
polishes, florescent bulbs, nail polish remover, disinfectants (household,
toilet, window and drain cleaners), upholstery rug and floor cleaners,
plant chemicals, spot removers, lighter fluid, silver/metal polishes,
oven cleaners, rodent killers, antifreeze, waxes and polishes, motor
oil and fluids, oil-based paint, solvents, lead-based paints and stains,
paint removers and thinners, weed killers, pool chemicals, driveway
sealers, flea collars and control products and poisons. See www.DevensHHW.com
for a more detailed list.
Household containers made of aluminum, tin, steel or mixed
metals.
All recyclable commodities collected together in one container,
including but not limited to, plastic, food and beverage containers,
cardboard, mixed paper including newspaper, metal containers, glass
bottles and jars.
Corrugated cardboard boxes, newspaper, kraft (brown paper
bags and food boxes), magazines, paper envelopes, catalogs, etc. Shredded
paper is not recyclable.
Plastic bottles and containers. Acceptable materials include,
but are not limited to, empty and clean soda bottles, milk jugs, shampoo
bottles, yogurt cups, and other food and beverage containers with
their lids back on. Non-bottle containers may consist of items such
as rinsed clear cups, clamshells, and tubs.
Property owners and occupants of single-, two-family and
three-family homes that are serviced with curbside trash and recycling
in the Town of Townsend. ·
Material altered during the processing process. Material
not captured during sorting process after the hauler has taken from
the curb.
Collection and treatment of a leftover/unwanted product for
use as a raw material that can be recycled. See www.RecycleSmart MA.org
for a more detailed list.
Useless, unwanted or discarded non-recyclable solid and liquid
wastes, excluding items restricted from disposal in Massachusetts,
as defined by Table 310 CMR 19.017(3) of the Massachusetts solid waste
regulations (310 CMR 19.017).
A person who goes through another person's curbside trash
and recycling containers which is not permitted in the Town or Townsend
or at the Recycling Center.
A plastic commonly used in packaging of foods and beverage
cups that is not recyclable and must be placed in the curbside trash
or brought to a specific Styrofoam disposal facility.
Kitchen refuse and scraps of waste food mixed with water.
Included, but not limited to: a cloth, shoe, towel, blanket,
bedding, stuffed animals and pillows, etc., that has been woven, knitted,
tufted, knotted, or bonded together using natural or synthetic threads,
yarns, and other materials. Popular fabrics include cotton and leather,
animals, plants, and minerals, as well as man-made synthetic materials.
All non-organic, non-hazardous household waste suitable for
curbside pickup and landfilling.
Leaves, pine needles, lawn clippings, garden wastes, weeds
and hedge clippings less than six inches' diameter. Townsend now has
a composting area to receive this material which must be free of anything
that is not organic, rocks, rubbish, trash, food waste, animal waste
and any material that could jeopardize the Town's application for
a state composting permit. Yard waste is not permitted with the curbside
program and can be disposed of at the Recycling Center.
A.
There is hereby established a mandatory recycling program for the
purpose of recycling materials, in accordance with Massachusetts Waste
Bans (310 CMR 19.017).
(1)
The following shall not be in the curbside trash: hazardous
waste, rechargeable batteries, lead acid batteries, oil, mercury-containing
items including fluorescent bulbs, button batteries, and old thermometers,
tires, and construction and demolition debris, sewage, manure, building
rubbish, industrial waste, paper and clean recyclable containers,
furniture of any kind and yard waste.
(2)
Animal carcasses, including, but not limited to, domestic pets,
wild animals, or domestic farm animals, but excluding those animals
or parts thereof that were intended for human consumption. It shall
be first deposited in a sealed plastic bag prior to being deposited
in the curbside trash.
(3)
It is required of all those who participate in the curbside
trash and recycling program to separate materials intended for recycling
into appropriate toters of person's choice, rinsed and free of all
contamination, residue, and adhere to the barrel/bag regulations set
forth for trash limitations. Recycling does not require any sorting
and is limitless. Trash is regulated at one sixty-four-gallon tote,
or two thirty-two-gallon toters of your choice. Shredded paper and
Styrofoam are not recyclable items.
(4)
The Board of Health has the authority to add materials to or
remove materials from the list of acceptable trash and recycling after
giving public notice or public hearing of such changes.
(5)
The Board of Health has the authority to direct the contracted
curbside hauler to leave any trash at the curbside that contains visible
recyclable material into the trash receptacles or is over the limitations
of the current trash contract. The curbside hauler has the authority
to leave recycling containers if they contain contamination of any
kind.
(6)
There shall be no scavenging of recycling or trash inside curbside
trash barrels and recycling totes.
(7)
The Townsend Board of Health as an enforcement procedure for
repeat offenders that carry fines for noncompliance.
(8)
This program will become effective upon passage.
B.
Enforcement.
(1)
The first time a person is found in violation of § 160-141 of the Townsend Code and/or these regulations through direct observation by the Health Administrator, a written warning will be mailed via first-class mail to the noncompliant person. If the property is not owner-occupied, a copy of the letter will also be mailed to the property owner. This address will be recorded with a picture of the noncompliance.
(2)
The second time a person is found not recycling in compliance with § 160-141 through direct observation by the Health Administrator, the Health Administrator will leave a written notice taped to the mailbox or door of the non-recycling-compliant person. This notice shall include the mandatory recycling information and a warning the next offense will result in a fine. The notice may include pictures to be included to show the previous and current offenses.
(3)
The third time and any subsequent time a person is found to
be noncompliant, the Health Administrator or the Board's agent may
impose a $100 fine for each noncompliant bag.
This bylaw and the various parts, sentences and clauses thereof
are hereby declared to be severable. If any part, sentence or clause
is adjusted to be invalid, the remainder of the section shall not
be affected thereby.
