[Adopted 9-2-1981]
There is established in the City of Rensselaer a municipal trash collection system.
Trash collection shall be curbside and available only to residential family dwellings within the City of Rensselaer. Business, industry, commercial establishments and housing complexes are excluded from the municipal trash collection system.
All trash must be placed in containers, either by use of heavy-duty plastic bags or containers made of metal or plastic, said containers to have tight-fitting lids. The maximum capacity of containers to be used is 32 gallons. Garbage may be disposed of with household trash and may be contained separately or included with trash. Plastic bags must be tied securely. Dilapidated, oversized and nonconforming containers will be considered trash. Broken glass must be wrapped before placing in plastic bags to prevent injury to collectors or tearing when the bag is filled and lifted. Hazardous waste must be identified to prevent injuries.
A. 
Collection of other trash and rubbish is to be made at curbside. Small rubbish must be bagged, canned or bundled. Grass, leaves and garden debris must be placed in sturdy plastic bags. Sweeping into streets is not allowed.
B. 
Tree trimmings, limbs and wood must be tied in bundles not to exceed four feet in length. Maximum trash weight must not exceed 40 pounds.
[Amended 2-4-1998 by L.L. No. 4-1998; 9-5-2018 by L.L. No. 2-2020]
A. 
Special arrangements must be made with the Department of Public Works for the removal of bulk items, which are defined as white goods, to include exclusive to household goods (i.e., stoves, freezers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers), household furnishings (i.e., couches, chairs, tables, rugs, mattresses, and box springs) and tires.
B. 
Charges.
(1) 
Charges are based on individual items as follows:
(a) 
Small single item, chair or small end table: $5.
(b) 
Propane tanks: $5.
(c) 
Tires: $5.
(d) 
Baby crib: $5.
(e) 
Toilet: $10.
(f) 
Five-foot by seven-foot rugs: $10.
(g) 
Door: $10.
(h) 
Large single item, sofa, mattress or box spring: $15.
(i) 
Large rugs, refrigerators or stoves: $15.
(j) 
Kitchen table and chairs: $20.
(k) 
TVs/computer monitors will have a standard charge of $30.
(l) 
Multiple items within a measurable size of two feet deep, two feet wide, two feet high: $40; four-foot length: $100.
(m) 
Bulk within a measurable size of four feet deep, four feet wide, four feet high, eight-foot length: $250.
(n) 
Clean outs: $500.
(2) 
Charges are based on size and subject to change.
(3) 
Construction debris is charged based on size.
C. 
All bulk (and including household items) must be broken down to four feet, bagged or bundled.
D. 
Anything not listed above will not be picked up and a fee of $1,000 will be charged for unsightly littering.
E. 
It is the property owner's responsibility to notify residents of these rules of solid waste. The fines/fees are the responsibility of the property owner.
Demolition material, bricks, concrete, waste materials, plumbing pipes and fixtures and felled trees are not considered household trash and are not to be placed for municipal pickup.
[Amended 3-4-1998 by L.L. No. 7-1998]
Residents are required to place trash out not earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the evening prior to collection day and not later than 2:00 a.m. on the collection day. Residents are required to keep the trash and recyclable containers secure from animals and rodents. The placement area of trash and recyclable containers are to be clean and free of loose trash, garbage, debris and any other solid or liquid waste for disposal not secured in suitable trash or recyclable containers. Loose trash, debris; recyclable waste and containers are to be removed from the disposal pickup area and that area left clean from loose trash, debris, recyclable waste and containers. All trash and recyclable containers are to be retrieved from the disposable area and properly secured at the residents or property owners designated area for said containers within 12 hours after collection.
[Amended 3-4-1998 by L.L. No. 9-1998]
A. 
Days of collection shall be Monday through Thursday in those areas designated by the Department of Public Works. Collection shall commence at 3:00 a.m. In the event of a holiday on a scheduled collection day, all collections for that week will be on the next day or one day later than regularly scheduled. The Public Works Commissioner reserves the right to discontinue or reschedule collection when circumstances dictate, i.e., weather, equipment, labor, public or employee safety, etc.
B. 
The Commissioner of Public Works will provide a notice of scheduled collection days to the public and will notify the public of any changes of scheduled collections that would affect the regular collection of solid waste, recyclable or bulk pickup. The Commissioner of Public Works will provide a collection schedule with the area to be serviced to the public as follows:
(1) 
With each quarterly billing.
(2) 
Post in City buildings.
(3) 
Post in City newspaper quarterly.
[Added 5-2-1984; amended 8-15-1990 by L.L. No. 4-1990; 10-20-1993; 2-4-1998 by L.L. No. 4-1998]
A. 
Any person, individual or firm violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to:
[Amended 12-19-2007]
(1) 
A mandatory fine of $250 for the first offense, plus any and all fees incurred by the City of Rensselaer in the cost of service and removal;
(2) 
A mandatory fine of $500 for the second offense, plus any and all fees incurred by the City of Rensselaer in the cost of service and removal;
(3) 
A mandatory fine of $1,000 for the third offense, plus any and all fees incurred by the City of Rensselaer in the cost of service and removal; with
(4) 
A mandatory minimum fine of $500 up to a maximum fine of $1,000, plus any and all fees incurred by the City of Rensselaer in the cost of service and removal.
B. 
The Commissioner of Public Works, Deputy Commissioner, Building and Zoning Department and the Police Department (or their designees) shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this chapter and are empowered to issue appearance tickets for violations thereof requiring attendance in City Court of those persons or firms alleged to be in violation of this chapter.