City of Hillsboro, TX Collection Regulations

It shall be required of every person in possession, charge or control of any place in or from which building materials, business trash, garbage, industrial waste and yard trash is accumulated or produced to provide and at all times to keep in a suitable place adequate and suitable receptacles and containers capable of holding all of such waste materials which would ordinarily accumulate between the times of successive collections. The department of public works is designated to determine the quantity and location of such receptacles and to determine whether such receptacles and containers are serviceable. Except for scheduled collection days, no refuse receptacles or containers shall be stored in front of a home or in front of the building line closest to the street. No structures shall be constructed or maintained which are used for the storing or placing garbage containers therein in front of a home (or on the side of a home which is on a corner lot) or in front of the building line closest to the street.

Because a landlord is deemed to be in control of a place from which garbage is accumulated, the landlord is responsible for all garbage and other waste materials which are not properly left for collection in accordance with this article as well as all garbage and materials which are left behind when a tenant vacates the property.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.213 Receptacles and Containers to be Safe.

All receptacles and containers required under this article shall be of safe construction and design and shall be maintained in good and serviceable condition at all times. Any receptacles or containers which do not conform to the provisions of this article, or which have ragged or sharp edges or any other defects likely to hamper or injure the person collecting the contents thereof or the public generally, shall be promptly replaced by the owner upon notice from the city or private collector. If such container, after proper notice has not been replaced, the department of public works shall have the authority to remove such container for the safety and welfare of the community.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.214 Precollection Practices.

Refuse.

All refuse shall be placed and maintained in either plastic or metal containers, which shall be kept covered at all times with tight-fitting covers, or in securely tied or closed plastic or two-ply kraft paper bags. Paper grocery sacks are not permitted. Refuse bags shall be placed out for collection no sooner than 5:00 a.m. on the day of collection. However, refuse may be placed out for collection no sooner than 5:00 p.m. the night before the day of collection if all refuse is enclosed in a city-approved, animal-proof container.

Garbage.

All garbage being placed in refuse bags for collection shall have drained from it all free liquid.

(c)

Household Trash.

All household trash shall be drained of all liquids prior to its deposit in a refuse bag. Household trash may be combined with garbage, but not combined with yard trash. Any items of household trash which are too large for a refuse bag and cannot be reduced to a size which can be placed in a bag, may be placed out along with yard trash which is picked up on the individual's designated trash day. Items of this nature should be covered or secured in a manner so as to avoid unsightly litter conditions.

(d)

Cardboard Boxes and Cartons.

Prior to depositing refuse for collection in authorized containers or receptacles or in commercial containers, the person disposing of any such boxes or cartons or the person in charge of the premises shall collapse all cardboard boxes and cartons and crates.

(e)

Yard Trash.

Yard trash may be stored for collection in suitable receptacles and containers as described in this article. Grass clippings, leaves and other such yard debris must be bagged in heavy-duty plastic or refuse bags. Small sticks or other material not suitable for placement in a refuse bag may be placed in a ten to thirty gallon garbage can. At no time should a garbage can be overloaded with materials which would not allow for safe lifting by one (1) worker. This material shall be collected on trash days which are designated by the city. All trash is to be placed at the curbside. Note that the city discourages the bagging of grass clippings.

(f)

Tree and Shrubbery Trimmings.

Tree and shrubbery trimmings shall be neatly stacked and placed in an orderly manner at curbside for collection. Thorny vegetation shall be placed in trash containers. Unless branches or limbs are of a size not to be blown about and scattered by the elements, they shall be effectively tied so as to avoid wind-driven debris and unsightly litter conditions. Collection under this section is limited to property within the city limits that has a water tap and is currently receiving a bill from the city's water department.

Collection by Contractor.

Tree trunks, branches, limbs or shrubbery which are individually no larger than four (4) inches in diameter, no longer than four (4) feet and are tied together in a bundle shall be collected by the contractor.

Collection by City.

Pieces which do not satisfy the requirements in (1) above will be collected by the city if the protruding branches are trimmed so that the diameter of the leafy portion of the branches is under 36 inches, the diameter of the individual trunks and branches is under 6 inches, and the load is manageable by one person. Tree and shrubbery branches, limbs and trimmings cut by landscape or tree service contractors or other commercial workmen or resulting from land being cleared shall be similarly collected.

Fee for City Collection.

A maximum of 30 minutes per month will be spent by the city crews collecting and chipping branches and other trimmings at each home or business, after which time a fee for each additional 15 minutes of city labor will be charged to the property owner or tenant of the property in accordance with city policy regarding charges for manpower and equipment. Bills for such charges will be sent by the city and are due within 15 days of mailing.

(g)

Placement for Collection.

All accumulations of refuse and trash shall be stored or placed for collection in accordance with the following provisions:

Public Streets and Private Property.

No person shall place any accumulations of refuse and trash on any street, median strip, alley, sidewalk or other public place of travel, nor upon any private property, including his own except as stated herein.

Access to Refuse.

No refuse shall be collected where refuse containers cannot be reached by sanitation personnel without unlocking or opening a door, gate or any similar obstacle (except for backdoor pickups), encountering a dog or otherwise being denied reasonable access by parked vehicles, yard tools and equipment or other similar objects.

Blockage of Storm Drains and Ditches.

No person shall place any refuse, trash, refuse receptacles or containers on, upon or over any storm drain or ditch, or so close thereto as to be drawn by the elements into same.

(4)

Unauthorized Accumulations.

Any unauthorized accumulation of refuse or trash items on any lot, property, premises, public street, alley or other public or private place is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and is prohibited.

(5)

Junk.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place or leave outside any building or dwelling except as specified under Section 6.220(d) any dilapidated furniture, appliance, machinery, equipment, building material or other item which is either in a wholly or partially rusted, wrecked, junked, dismantled or inoperative condition, and which is not completely enclosed within a building or dwelling. Any such item or items which remain on the property of the occupant for a period of ten (10) days after notice of violation of this section shall be presumed to be abandoned and subject to being removed from the property by the city without further notice. This shall not apply to authorized junk dealers or establishments engaged in the repair, rebuilding, reconditioning or salvaging of equipment.

(h)

Hazardous Material and Refuse.

Refuse.

No hazardous refuse shall be placed in any receptacle used for collection by the city or private collector nor shall the same be collected by the city or private collector.

Dangerous Trash Items.

All dangerous trash items and all waste material of an injurious nature such as broken glass, light bulbs, sharp pieces of metal, fluorescent tubes and television tubes shall be securely wrapped to prevent injury to the collection crews.

Hypodermic Instruments.

No person shall dispose of or discard any hypodermic syringe, hypodermic needle or any instrument or device for making hypodermic injections before first breaking, disassembling, destroying or otherwise rendering inoperable and incapable of reuse, such hypodermic syringe, needle, instrument or device, and without safeguarding the disposal thereof, by wrapping or securing same in a suitable manner so as to avoid the possibility of causing injury to the collection personnel.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95; Ordinance 95-11-7 adopted 11/7/95; Ordinance 96-05-08 adopted 5/8/96)

§ 6.215 Collection; Compliance With Regulations Prerequisite.

No garbage or refuse shall be collected from any premises if the owner, occupant, tenant or lessee shall fail to comply with the terms and provisions of this article.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.216 Postcollection Practices.

The owner or resident shall be responsible for cleaning up around refuse receptacles by 12:00 midnight of the day of collection.

When garbage cans or dollies are used for trash pickup, such cans and dollies must be removed from the curbside by 12:00 midnight of the day of collection.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.217 Collection by City or Private Collector.

The city shall collect and dispose of all garbage and refuse within the city with its own equipment and facilities, or the city may contract with any person to provide for the collection and disposal of garbage and refuse. However, commercial refuse may be collected by any person, provided the city manager has approved same and provided the service does not compete, duplicate or interfere with any collection or disposal activity of the city or anyone contracting with the city.

Any proposed contract or approval to operate may be refused at any time without a reason being assigned. Any contract or approval to operate may be revoked by the city at any time.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.218 Fees.

The city council is hereby authorized to fix and establish by resolution the fees to be assessed and collected from all premises and establishments in the City of Hillsboro for collection of garbage, refuse, trash and brush.

The fees to be charged by the city for collection of garbage and refuse shall be as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary.

Residential.

The charge shall be as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary. Each family unit in multiple dwellings, apartments, mobile homes or tenements shall be considered a separate family dwelling unit, unless the owner or authorized agent of the owner of the multiple dwelling, apartment, mobile home or tenement house shall assume responsibility for paying such fees for all of the family dwelling units contained therein, and if such units are on one water meter, in which case the fee shall be as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary. If the owner of agent thereof elects to pay on the latter basis, the number of family dwelling units available for rent shall determine the total fee and the extent of occupancy or vacancy thereof shall not be considered. In the case of a mobile home park the number of mobile homes shall be counted when reading the water meter(s) and charged accordingly.

Business and Commercial Fees.

The charge for business and commercial collections shall be variable depending upon the circumstances of each such collection but the minimum charge shall be as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary. The factors which are to be considered in determining the charge shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: the actual cost of making the collection, the frequency of the collection and the equipment utilized in connection with the collection, i.e. size and type of commercial container and equipment required to collect from same, if applicable. The charge for each such business and commercial collection, which shall be reasonable in an amount considering all the above and any other applicable factors, shall be determined by the city manager.

Brush Pickup Surcharge.

A monthly brush pickup surcharge as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary shall be charged to each residential, commercial and business account, including each family unit in a multiple family dwelling.

(4)

Landfill Surcharge.

A monthly landfill surcharge as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary shall be charged to each residential, commercial and business account, including each family unit in a multiple family dwelling.

(5)

Special Rates.

Whenever the collection of garbage, refuse and other waste materials from any residence establishment or place shall exceed the normal amount for such place so that the fee prescribed for such collection is not fair and reasonable as applied to that particular place, the sanitation department shall recommend to the city manager the establishment of a special rate for such place; based upon cost determination as compiled by the sanitation department and the city manager which will be the prescribed rate for such place.

(c)

For the purpose of convenience, the service fees levied by this article shall appear on the same bills showing charges for water and sewer service by the city, and such fees shall be payable at the city utility billing collection office unless payment is authorized by city to be collected directly by a private garbage collector.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95; Ordinance 96-02-06 adopted 2/6/96; Ordinance 2000-02-05 adopted 2/15/00; Ordinance O2001-06-01 adopted 6/5/01)

§ 6.219 Transportation of Refuse.

All collectors of refuse who desire to haul over the streets of the city shall use a watertight vehicle provided with a tight cover and so operated as to prevent offensive odors escaping therefrom and refuse from being dropped, blown or spilled.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.220 Special Refuse Disposal.

Contagious Disease Refuse.

The removal of clothing, bedding or other refuse from homes or other places where highly infectious diseases have prevailed shall be performed under the supervision and direction of the county health department. Such refuse shall not be placed in containers for city collection.

Dead Animals.

Contractor shall be responsible for collection of dead animals weighing less than 10 pounds. The person owning or in possession of dead animals weighing over 10 pounds shall be responsible for their prompt disposal in such manner as directed by the appropriate officials.

(c)

Ashes.

Ashes that are to be hauled by the city or private garbage collector must have been wetted and cool to the touch prior to collection. Ashes shall be placed in suitable containers of such size and weight that they can be handled by one (1) worker.

(d)

Collection of Household Furniture and Appliances.

The city or private garbage collector shall collect normal household discarded furniture and appliances, including sofas, chairs, beds, refrigerators (with doors removed or chained shut), washers, dryers, hot water heaters and similar items. (Items must be without freon.) The citizen must contact the appropriate collector (city or private collector) to make arrangements for the removal of such items. Items for collection shall then be placed at curbside for collection on the day the customer is instructed to put the items out.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95; Ordinance 95-11-7 adopted 11/7/95)

§ 6.221 Residential Points of Collection.

The department of public works shall have the authority to determine the proper receptacle or container location on private property.

(Ordinance 95-10-03 adopted 10/3/95)

§ 6.222 Residential Collection Practices.

Garbage and household trash accumulated by residences shall be collected one (1) time each week at the curbs of such residences unless backdoor pickup is arranged. Garbage and household trash shall not be placed out any sooner than 5:00 a.m. the day of collection.