[1]
State law reference – General authority of city relative to collection and disposal of refuse, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.2-927 et seq.
(1) 
The city may, whenever it deems it necessary, after reasonable notice, have trash, garbage, refuse, litter, other debris, and other like substances which might endanger the health of other residents of the locality, removed by its own contractors or employees, in which event the cost thereof shall be charged as an additional refuse collection service fee (as further described in the city's solid waste policy, which is incorporated by reference herein as may be amended) billed with other such fees and ultimately collected in any way permitted by law. Failure to timely pay such additional refuse collection service fee may result in the city discontinuing its services.
Violation of any provision of this article or the city's solid waste policy, prescribed and approved pursuant to this article, shall also be subject to a civil penalty of $50.00 for the first violation, or violations arising from the same set of operative facts. The civil penalty for subsequent violations not arising from the same set of operative facts within 12 months of the first violation shall be $200.00. Each business day during which the same violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense. In no event shall a series of specified violations arising from the same set of operative facts result in civil penalties that exceed a total of $3,000 in a 12-month period. Three civil penalties previously imposed on the same person for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period, shall also constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. Civil penalties shall be due and payable to the city of Staunton within 10 days from the date of the notice. Repeated violations may result in the city discontinuing its refuse services. Nothing herein, however, shall exempt the person or entity from paying the fees herein prescribed and otherwise due.
(2) 
Every charge authorized by this article with which the owner of any such property shall have been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles 3 (Section 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (Section 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia. A locality may waive such liens in order to facilitate the sale of the property. Such liens may be waived only as to a purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner. All such liens shall remain a personal obligation of the owner of the property at the time the liens were imposed.
(Code 1985 § 25-17; Ord. 4-12-90; Ord. 2008-10; Ord. 2019-38)
The city will provide refuse collection service on the terms and conditions of this article to residents of the city and businesses located within the city. The city may, at the discretion of the city manager, provide refuse collection service to persons and businesses residing or located outside the city limits. Any service provided outside the city limits shall be subject to the city's solid waste policy as established by the director of public works and approved by the city manager.
(Code 1964 § 13-20; Code 1985 § 25-18; Ord. 2008-10)
The director of public works shall prescribe a city solid waste policy relating to the collection, handling and disposal of refuse by and in the city as deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this article. Such policy shall be subject to approval by the city manager.
(Code 1964 § 13-25; Code 1985 § 25-19; Ord. 2008-10)
The schedule for collection of refuse by the city in the various areas of the city shall be as established by the director of public works in the city's solid waste policy. The director may revise such schedule as special occasion or circumstances requires without amending the city's solid waste policy.
(Code 1964 §§ 13-21, 13-25; Code 1985 § 25-20; Ord. 1-26-84; Ord. 10-24-91; Ord. 2008-10)
(1) 
Residential. For a mandatory fee of $24.01 per month for each single-family unit (to include each unit in a multifamily structure), the city shall provide one weekly pickup of refuse from each residential unit in the city, whether inside or outside the central business district, the basis of computation of the fee being a single-family unit. The fee for refuse collection service for all other than single-family units shall be in an amount adequate to cover all costs to the city for such service, such amount to be established by the director of public works as part of the city's solid waste policy, with the approval of the city manager, but such fee shall not be less than $24.01 per month per unit.
(2) 
Light Commercial. The mandatory fee for refuse collection service to light commercial customers, whether inside or outside the central business district, shall be $54.51 per month. The light commercial designation shall apply to those customers which place the equivalent of four or fewer bags/containers of refuse at the curb for collection.
(3) 
Heavy Commercial. The mandatory fee for refuse collection service to heavy commercial customers within the central business district shall be $146.52 and $115.32 for those outside the central business district. The heavy commercial designation shall apply to those customers which place the equivalent of five or more bags/containers at the curb for collection. All full-time restaurants shall be deemed heavy commercial customers.
(4) 
Special Unscheduled Pickup. When refuse is stored or placed curbside in a manner not otherwise in accordance with the city's solid waste policy, it shall be deemed a request for a special unscheduled pickup and a crew may be dispatched to collect the refuse. The fee for pickup shall be in an amount adequate to cover all costs to the city for such service, such amount to be established by the director of public works as part of the city's solid waste policy, with approval of the city manager, but such fee shall not be less than $120.75 and shall be charged to the property owner or tenant.
(5) 
Recyclables. The mandatory fee for the collection of recyclable materials from customers not otherwise charged a refuse collection service fee shall be $24.01 per month.
(6) 
Collection Outside City Limits. The fee for refuse collection service rendered outside of the city limits shall be in an amount equal to 200 percent of the fee charged for such service in the city limits.
(7) 
Exemption, Deferral, Modification or Waiver of Fee.
(a) 
By ordinance, persons may be exempted, deferred, or charged a lesser amount from paying any charges and fees authorized for the collection and disposal of garbage and refuse only if based on the income criteria, as provided by Section 58.1-3211 of the Code of Virginia.
(b) 
The director of public works may waive all or part of the fees for any multifamily structure or commercial customer if contractual arrangements are made and maintained by that customer for adequate containerized service as determined satisfactory by the director of public works.
(Code 1964 §§ 13-20, 13-21; Code 1985 § 25-21; Ord. 1-26-84; Ord. 3-23-89; Ord. 9-28-89; Ord. 5-28-92; Ord. 10-8-92; Ord. 5-13-93; Ord. 2005-18; Ord. 2008-10; Ord. 2009-19; Ord. 2011-14; Ord. 2013-05; Ord. 2013-07; Ord. 2016-09; Ord. 2019-17; Ord. 2020-07; Ord. 2022-11)
(1) 
The fee for refuse collection service rendered by the city shall be billed in the most economical and practical method established by the city manager.
(2) 
Payment of the fee for refuse collection shall be made within 30 days from the date the bill becomes due and payable. In the event that any person fails to pay such fee, the city shall use such legal means and procedures as are available to effect collection.
(Code 1964 § 13-21; Code 1985 § 25-22; Ord. 1-26-84; Ord. 2008-10)
Except as otherwise provided, all persons availing themselves of the city's refuse collection service shall solely use containers meeting the requirements of the city's solid waste policy prescribed and approved pursuant to SCC § 8.30.090.
(Code 1964 § 13-23; Code 1985 § 25-24; Ord. 2008-10; Ord. 2013-07)
Residents and businesses located in the city of Staunton are required to separate and handle recyclable material for collection in accordance with the city's solid waste policy.
(Code 1985 § 25-24.1; Ord. 10-24-91; Ord. 12-17-92; Ord. 11-11-99; Ord. 2008-10)
Refuse, other than the recyclable materials set forth herein, shall be placed and handled by residents and businesses in accordance with the city's solid waste policy.
(Code 1985 § 25-24.2; Ord. 4-12-90; Ord. 2008-10)