This chapter shall be known as the "Township
of Bethlehem Anti-Litter Ordinance."
For the purpose of this chapter, the following
terms, phrases and words shall have the meaning given herein. The
word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
GARBAGE
Putrescible animal and vegetable waste resulting from any
handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
LITTER
Garbage, refuse and rubbish, as defined herein.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
PRIVATE PREMISES
Any dwelling house, building or other structure designed
or used, either wholly or in part, for residential, commercial or
industrial purposes, whether inhabited or uninhabited or vacant, and
shall include any lands adjacent thereto under common ownership as
that of the ownership of the structure.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any and all streets, sidewalks, alleys or other public ways,
and any and all public grounds and buildings.
REFUSE
All putrescible solid wastes, including garbage.
RUBBISH
Nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible
and noncombustible wastes, such as paper wrappings, cardboard, tin
cans, glass, bedding, building materials, abandoned and dismantled
automobiles, scrap metal, industrial waste, broken asphalt, concrete
and like construction, road debris and similar materials.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to the distribution of mail by the United States.
The occupant of every structure shall cause
garbage to be removed from the premises on which structures are located
at least once weekly by private scavenger or otherwise.
Nothing set forth in this chapter shall be deemed
to prohibit:
A. The creation and maintenance of a bona fide compost
pile or heap upon private premises where such compost pile or heap
contains solely organic refuses and garbage, excluding human body
waste and dead animals, the end product of said compost pile or heap
to be used incident to gardening activities, and provided that the
material of which such compost pile or heap is comprised shall not
be supplied by persons other than the owner or tenant of the private
premises upon which the compost pile or heap is located.
B. The deposit and maintenance of yard clippings, leaves,
branches and twigs from trees and other similar natural refuse, at
a location for collection by the township pursuant to a prescribed
removal program of the township therefor.
C. The deposit and maintenance of other litter in a location
along the street line, suitable for township or other authorized collection,
provided that such rubbish and other litter, if so deposited and maintained,
shall not be so deposited and maintained at such location for a period
exceeding one day.
D. The creation and maintenance of a woodpile on private
premises, said woodpile to be kept stacked and reasonably secured
and to be used to collect and maintain wood for purposes of burning
in a fireplace or stove located within a structure existing upon said
private premises.
Any person who violates the provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalties provided by §
1-15 of Chapter
1, General Provisions. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.