A. 
All qualified persons or firms engaged in the business of collection and hauling of solid waste within the boundaries of the city shall be licensed by the city council in compliance with state of Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and the provisions of this chapter.
Each such license when issued shall be for the period beginning July 1st and terminating the following June 30th.
Licensee shall apply for license renewal no later than fifteen (15) days prior to expiration of license.
Said license shall be subject to suspension or revocation by the city council at its discretion for any violation of the provisions of this chapter.
The fee charged for each license shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
Type
Fee
2 vehicles or less
$100.00 per year
3—5 vehicles
$250.00 per year
6—10 vehicles
$500.00 per year
Above 10 vehicles
$1,000.00 per year
Fees will be payable upon origination or renewal of license.
B. 
All qualified persons engaged in the business of collection and hauling of solid waste and the operation of transfer stations within the boundaries of the city shall be licensed in compliance with state of Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and the provisions of this section.
Licensee shall:
1. 
Maintain the segregation of municipal solid waste which they collect or haul;
2. 
Maintain any separated recyclables which are brought to state-owned recycling facilities to be delivered in processable condition; and
3. 
Deliver to state owned recycling facilities all separated recyclables which are designated by the city to go to such facility.
C. 
License to Operate a Transfer Station. All qualified persons or firms engaged in the business of operation of transfer stations shall be licensed in compliance with state of Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and the provisions of this chapter.
Each such license when issued shall be for the period beginning July 1st and terminating the following June 30th. Licensee shall apply for license renewal no later than fifteen (15) days prior to expiration of current license.
Said license shall be subject to suspension or revocation by the city council, at its discretion for any violations of the provisions of this chapter.
The fee charged for each license shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per year payable upon origination or renewal of license.
(Prior code § 11-9)
A. 
No person shall pick up or remove, nor shall any person cause or allow to be picked up or removed, any refuse, rubbish or trash from any commercial or industrial establishment between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
B. 
Any person, partnership, or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each such offense, and each day such violation shall exist shall be deemed a separate offense.
(Prior code § 11-9.1; Ord. 2013-16, § 1, 5/28/2013; Ord. 2016-40, § 1, 12/19/2016)
The chief of the fire department shall cause to be examined all dumping places or grounds within the limits of the city, where dead leaves, grass, weeds, branches or limbs of trees, old clothing, refuse, rubbish or waste materials of any kind have been or may hereafter be placed or deposited, and when such chief of the fire department deems that such articles, rubbish or waste materials are so placed or deposited as to cause appreciable danger of fire to surrounding property, he or she shall order the owner, lessee, occupant or person having general charge of such premises to remove such articles, rubbish or waste materials, and if such owner neglects or refuses to remove such articles, rubbish or waste materials within three days after receipt of such order, the chief of the fire department may cause the same to be removed at the expense of the owner, lessee, occupant or person in charge of such premises.
(Prior code § 11-10)
The owner or occupant of any premises where swill or garbage shall accumulate shall provide a covered, watertight receptacle on such premises for such swill or garbage and shall deposit or cause to be deposited, all such swill or garbage in such receptacle. Such owner or occupant shall not locate such receptacle in any place which is not satisfactory to the director of public works. No person shall deposit any garbage in any place other than such garbage receptacle as prescribed in this chapter, and no person shall deposit any dishwater or liquid refuse, or any ashes, bottles, broken glass or crockery, house sweepings or any refuse other than garbage, in any garbage receptacle.
(Prior code § 11-11)
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or deposit any household rubbish or garbage in any public litter receptacles or any private litter receptacles unless the consent is obtained from public authority or private individual, association or corporation.
Any person convicted of violating this section of the code shall be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each violation and said person shall be responsible for the safe removal and legal disposal of said waste material or debris at his or her own expense within ten (10) days from said conviction.
Failure to remove said waste material or debris within the ten (10) day period shall be subject to an additional fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(Prior code § 11-11.1)
No person other than the owner thereof or a duly authorized agent of the city shall examine, disturb, interfere with or remove any of the contents of any can, box or receptacle containing rubbish, and placed by such owner upon the sidewalks or highways of the city for collection and removal by the department of public works of the city.
(Prior code § 11-13)
All swill and house offal shall be removed in or from the city in watertight covered vehicles. No vehicles shall be used for the removal of swill or offal in or from the city, unless first examined and approved by the director of public works, and the covers of such vehicles shall be kept tightly closed when they are driven through the streets of the city.
Vehicles shall have upon them such marks as may be required by the director of public works.
(Prior code § 11-14)
[1]
Editor's note: Former § 8.12.090, which pertained to covering matter on dumping ground required and derived from prior code § 11-15, was repealed 2/24/2014 by Ord. 2014-6.
[1]
Editor's note: Former § 8.12.110, Matter taken from catch basins to be covered, which derived from prior code § 11-17, was repealed 2/24/2014 by Ord. 2014-6.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place upon a public sidewalk or highway any can, box or receptacle containing rubbish, garbage, trash and weeds, for collection and removal by the department of public works of the city before 12:00 noon on the day preceding the day the city has designated as its day for collection and removal.
Every person shall place said rubbish, trash, weeds and garbage at curbside no later than 6:15 a.m. on the day the city has designated for its day of removal.
For the purposes of this section, hours of residential rubbish collection are 6:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and for the school district buildings 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday unless a legal holiday is celebrated during the week which necessitates rubbish collection on a Saturday. Saturday residential collection hours are 6:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and for the school district buildings 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
In the event a person fails to place rubbish at curbside for collection and removal by the department of public works by 6:15 a.m. on their regularly scheduled collection day, said rubbish must be returned by the person to its normal storage place within private property limits for collection on the next regularly scheduled collection day.
(Prior code § 11-20)
The department of public works provides collection of municipal refuse and recycling for properties of four or fewer dwelling units. All other properties must make provisions for proper, legal disposal of their wastes.
The department of public works provides one refuse and one recycling roll out cart to each residential unit, which remains the property of the city of Cranston. Disposal of bulky waste (defined as any object that will not fit into a roll out cart) is the responsibility of the property owner. The department of public works shall provide a means for the property owner to coordinate and pay for disposal of bulky waste and mattresses with the contractor that performs refuse and recycling collection with the city.
Municipal refuse and recycling does not include waste generated by residents of a municipality in the course of their employment or that generated by any manufacturing or commercial enterprise. Enforcement will be in accordance with Section 8.16.030 of this title.
The department of public works shall pick up bulky waste during the months of March and September, free of charge, subject to the following guidelines:
•
Each residential property shall be eligible for one pick up in the month of March and one pick up in the month of September.
•
Pick ups will be limited to three items per event.
•
Bulky waste does not include mattresses, construction debris, TV's or electronic goods, white goods or any household trash/garbage that would fit into the city provided sixty-five (65) gallon cart.
•
Bulky waste pick up during this time period will require the property owner to call and make an appointment with the disposal contractor employed by the city.
Subject to appropriation by administration and city council.
(Ord. 05-27 § 1; Ord. 2014-6, §§ 1, 3, 2/24/2014; Ord. 2015-8, § 1, 3/23/2015)
All commercial garbage and/or trash containers or dumpsters so-called which have as their purpose the collection and accumulation of trash, garbage, and other discarded materials located in the city must contain the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of said container or dumpster located in a conspicuous place thereon and said container shall be located at least ten (10) feet from the side or rear yard line upon the property on which they sit.
(Prior code § 18-16.3)
A. 
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
"Business establishment"
means any commercial enterprise that provides plastic carryout bags to its customers, including sole proprietorships, joint ventures, partnerships, corporations, or any other legal entity, and includes all employees of the business and any independent contractors associated with the business. For the purposes of the ordinance, "business establishment" shall also include farmers' markets. "Business establishment" does not include sales of goods at yard sales, tag sales, other sales by residents at their homes, and sales by nonprofit organizations.
"Double-opening plastic bag"
means any thin plastic bag with a double opening (top and bottom) to protect clothing or other items for transport, including but not limited to laundry dry cleaning bags.
"Plastic barrier bag"
means any thin plastic bag with a single opening used to:
1. 
Transport fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, small hardware items, or other items selected by customers at the point of sale;
2. 
Contain or wrap fresh or frozen foods, meat, or fish, whether prepackaged or not;
3. 
Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where damage to a good or contamination of other goods placed together in the same bag may be a problem;
4. 
Contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods;
5. 
Contain materials to be hung on an exterior door; or
6. 
Contain a newspaper or other printed material for delivery.
"Plastic carryout bag"
means any plastic bag that is provided by a business establishment to a customer, typically at the point of sale, for the purpose of transporting purchases, not including plastic barrier bags, double-opening plastic bags, or reusable bags as defined herein, or plastic bags measuring larger than twenty-eight (28) inches by thirty-six (36) inches.
"Recyclable paper bag"
means a paper bag that is fully recyclable overall and contains a minimum of forty (40) percent post-consumer recycled content and contains no old growth fiber. The bag should display the words "reusable" and "recyclable" or the universal recycling logo on the outside of the bag.
"Reusable bag"
means a bag, with handles that are stitched and not heat-fused, that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse and is made primarily of cloth or other nonwoven textile or durable plastic with a minimum thickness of four mils.
B. 
Prohibited Acts.
1. 
No business establishment shall provide or make available any plastic carryout bag (either complimentary or for a fee) to members of the public for any sales transaction or other use.
2. 
Nothing in this section shall preclude business establishments from making reusable bags or recyclable paper bags, available to customers, by sale or otherwise.
C. 
Exemptions. The prohibition outlined in this chapter does not apply to:
1. 
Plastic barrier bags and double-opening plastic bags as defined herein;
2. 
Packages of multiple bags intended for use as containers for garbage, pet waste, or yard waste; and
3. 
Bags provided by pharmacists or veterinarians to contain prescription drugs or other medical necessities, provided that the bags are recyclable within the state's recycling program.
D. 
Enforcement, Violations, and Penalties. This chapter shall be enforced by any city department designated by the city of Cranston. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the following penalties:
1. 
For a first offense, the business establishment charged with violating the prohibition required by this chapter shall be served with a warning letter delivered via certified and regular mail to the establishment, addressed to the chief executive officer or local manager as may be applicable. The warning letter shall inform the establishment of the alleged violation and the necessity to correct the violation within twenty-eight (28) days of the date of the letter, and shall include a copy of this chapter. Should the alleged violator dispute the violation, the violation shall be heard by the city council safety services and licenses committee.
2. 
Should the business establishment not correct the violation outlined in the warning letter or be charged with a second offense after correcting the initial violation, a notice of violation shall be issued and a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) shall be assessed and imposed. The notice of violation shall be delivered via certified and regular mail to the establishment, addressed to the chief executive officer or local manager as may be applicable, and shall direct the business establishment to pay the fine assessed by mail or in person within fourteen (14) days of the assessment. Should the alleged violator dispute the violation, the violation shall be heard by the city council safety services and licenses committee.
3. 
Each additional violation shall result in issuance of subsequent notices of violation, and each day that such violation continues, shall constitute a separate violation and may be cited and fined as such. Should the alleged violator dispute the violation, the violation shall be heard by the city council safety services and licenses committee.
4. 
For any business establishment that is subject to multiple notices of violation pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance, the city council safety services and licenses committee may call the violator in for show cause.
(Ord. 2019-14, § 1, 3/25/2019)
The following definitions shall be for purposes of this chapter only, unless specifically adopted in another section of the Cranston Code of Ordinances:
"Dumpster"
shall mean an approved commercial grade metal container on wheels with a tightfitting solid top or metal barrels with a tightfitting lid.
"Residential commercial apartments"
shall mean any residential, private and condominium development consisting of five dwelling units or more.
(Ord. 2021-30, § 1, 10/25/2021)
The owner of residential commercial apartments that are not eligible for municipal curbside refuse collection services shall be responsible for engaging, at their expense, a private waste hauler for the storage, disposal, and collection of refuse.
(Ord. 2021-30, § 1, 10/25/2021)
It is the responsibility of the owners, or their agents, of any residential commercial apartment to employ a private collection hauling service that utilizes dumpsters.
All dumpsters shall be covered, and the name, address, and telephone number of the commercial waste contractor or hauler shall be prominently displayed on the exterior of each container. Any overflowing refuse container shall be in violation of the Health and Safety Code.
All dumpsters shall be screened by fencing or shrubbery if visible from the street.
Refuse shall be collected at least once a week from by the commercial waste contractor or hauler, or as many times as necessary to comply with any section of the Cranston City Code or to eliminate a public nuisance, potential health hazards or as the director of public works or director of zoning and code enforcement may determine in accord with the Cranston City Code.
Any overflowing of a dumpster due to accumulations of garbage, refuse, trash, not picked up at least once a week will be fined at fifty dollars ($50.00) per day pursuant Chapter 8.28.100 and shall otherwise comply with Chapter 8.28.
All dumpsters shall be serviced only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Anyone in violation of this subsection shall be subject to a fine of up to two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each day in violation. Second and subsequent violations may be subject to a fine of up to three hundred dollars ($300.00) maximum.
(Ord. 2021-30, § 1, 10/25/2021)