[Adopted 2-7-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-01]
A. 
A solid waste and recycling utility is hereby created for the collection of fees from residents for payment for the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling materials.
B. 
Said utility shall be self-liquidating with a dedicated budget as provided by N.J.S.A. 40A:4-34 through 40A:4-36.
C. 
Unless as stated herein, residential properties in the Township are required to pay the utility for solid waste and recycling services imposed by the utility for such services. No property owner shall have the right to opt out of using the solid waste and recycling services contracted by the Township.
[Amended 9-5-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-24]
[Added 9-5-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-24[1]]
This article shall not apply to the following properties:
A. 
A residentially zoned lot that does not have on it a residential dwelling for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued.
B. 
A residential lot with a residential dwelling on it for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued but the driveway access for the dwelling is located in an another municipality and not in Chester Township.
C. 
A residential dwelling located with a classification of 4A located in a commercial zone unless the owners of the residential dwelling complete a Township application seeking to have trash/recycling pickup be made pursuant to the article. The Township application form is to be submitted to the Township Clerk, who shall have the authority to approve or deny the application.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 149-37 through 149-40 as §§ 149-38 through 149-41, respectively.
There is hereby established a service charge to be billed annually upon the owners of residential properties in the Township. The funds so collected shall be paid into the utility fund of the Township.
[Amended 5-2-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-16]
The service charge for residential properties shall be computed by dividing the approved annual budget of the utility by the number of residential properties to which the service is provided. The service charge shall be established by the Township Council by resolution.
The utility will prepare bills setting forth the annual charges and mail the bills in March of each year to all property owners via the U.S. Postal Service. Bills that are not delivered by the U.S. Postal Service shall, nevertheless, remain due and owing. The payment of utility bills is the responsibility of the property owner and shall constitute a lien against the property serviced.
A. 
The semiannual payments shall be due on April 1 of each year and October 1 of each year. All payments of charges are due by the due dates. In the event that any bill is not paid within 10 days of its due date ("grace period"), the account shall be subject to an 8% late charge, for each bill, which shall be added to the amount of the bill and collected as other charges.
B. 
Payments shall be made payable to the Township of Chester Solid Waste and Recycling Utility. The Township shall have the same remedies for the collection of charges with interest pursuant to the collection of taxes upon real estate.
C. 
Owners of residential properties who are age 65 and older and who qualify for a New Jersey senior citizen property tax credit may apply for an annual $25 credit against the annual solid waste utility billing. Said applications must be in writing and must be updated as per New Jersey property tax requirements.
D. 
Owners of residential properties who are honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Services, or their surviving spouse, and who qualify for a New Jersey Veteran Property Tax credit, deduction, or exemption may apply for an annual $25 credit against the annual utility billing. The application must be in writing and must be updated as per New Jersey property Tax requirements.