To promote and maintain the community health and sanitation, it is the intention hereof to make the collection, removal, and disposal of solid waste within the city universal and compulsory within the city. The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the power of the city to regulate the matters of health and safety consistent with the city’s general police powers.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
“Person”
means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, institution, association, or other entity, public or private, whether acting by themselves or by a servant or employee. The term also means the occupant and/or owner of the premises for which services mentioned in this chapter are rendered.
“Premises”
means any building (including mobile homes and manufactured homes), and improved lot, parcel, real estate, or portion of land, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips, including, but not limited to, dwellings, apartments, rooming or boarding-houses, motels, clubs, restaurants, and other eating places, shops, other places of business or commerce, industrial sites, or any other building or structure, public or private.
“Solid waste”
means all putrescible and nonputrescible solid, semi-solid, and liquid wastes from all public and private premises. For the purposes of this chapter, “solid waste” includes, but is not limited to, garbage, refuse, rubbish, ashes, industrial wastes, materials placed in residential recycling containers, demolition and construction wastes, and swill; provided, however, that “solid waste” does not include recognized industrial by-products, commercial recyclable materials, sewage, sludge, septage or abandoned vehicles or parts thereof.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
The city council has the authority to contract with a private company to provide solid waste collection services in the city, and may also include billing within the contract. The city also has the authority to relinquish its jurisdiction and opt in to the regulation of solid waste collection and transportation by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission as authorized by RCW 81.77.0201. Automated collection is mandatory for both types of solid waste collection.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
Solid waste collection and removal services as provided for herein shall be mandatory for all premises within the city except for those exemptions in PMC 8.08.055. Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, no person or other business entity, other than the city, a city contract collector, or WUTC regulated hauler may engage in the business of solid waste collection within the city.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
It shall be the duty of every person in possession, charge, or control of any premises to cause such solid waste to be removed and disposed of by the city, a city contract collector, a WUTC regulated hauler, or by other means approved by the city. This requirement expressly excludes sourceseparated recyclable and yard/organic wastes which the city solid waste collection company shall not collect until or unless mandated by applicable government regulation pursuant to authorized rates prescribed by the WUTC for regulated solid waste collection companies, or by city or city contract collector authorized rates or charges.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
A. 
Upon request of a premises owner or occupant, which is accompanied by a statement of express permission per PMC 8.08.060 when required, reasonable exemptions which include (but are not limited to) the following examples shall be granted. The contractor shall be notified by the city of the address of the premises so exempted if the exemptee is currently served by the contractor:
1. 
Residential premises solid waste from a business owner’s personal residence being deposited into the business owner’s business container at the business location.
2. 
Low waste generator such as a single occupant combining service with an immediate family premises owner and depositing in the second premises container.
3. 
Low waste generator which elects to accumulate waste for a period of time and take to the landfill or transfer station; provided, that no solid waste odors or noxious fumes shall be allowed to be frequently present at the premises.
B. 
It shall be cause to revoke any exemption granted under this section if (1) the disposal of solid waste causes the contracted-for containers(s) to overflow, if (2) not-contracted-for containers (boxes, bags, or cans) are placed to be collected, or if (3) exemptee is found guilty of illegal solid waste disposal anywhere in the city or county.
C. 
Persons requesting exemption shall fill out a request form available at the city clerk/treasurer office. An exemption committee shall meet to approve or disapprove grants of exemption when applications are received by the clerk/treasurer, but no more often than one time per month.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
It is unlawful for any person to throw, place or scatter any solid waste over or upon any area within the city limits. This includes, but is not limited to, private property, streets, alleys, rights-of-way, or other city property. It shall also be unlawful for any person to deposit solid waste that is created or accumulated on one set of premises into the container(s) on another set of premises without the express permission of the person(s) in control of the second set of premises.
However, it shall be lawful to place yard waste, leaves, and trimmings on the public streets or in designated containers during any scheduled yard waste pickup days when placed in accordance with publicized rules and regulations for the pickup days.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)
Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, or who shall counsel, aid, or abet any such violation or failure to comply, shall be deemed guilty of a civil infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a monetary penalty of not more than $100.00 for the first offense, a monetary penalty of not more than $200.00 for the second offense, and a monetary penalty of not more than $400.00 for the third or subsequent offense. Each separate violation of the provisions of this chapter is deemed a separate offense.
(Ord. 841 § 1, 2008; Ord. 940 § 1, 2024)