Believing that a significant amount of recyclable
or reusable material can be removed from the solid waste stream being
generated within the Town of Bethlehem and in order to facilitate
the conservation of vital and natural resources through recycling
and in recognition of the established public policy of the State of
New York to encourage local governments to implement comprehensive
materials recycling programs as part of their solid waste management
strategies, the Town Board hereby finds that it is in the general
public interest to implement environmentally sound, yet economically
feasible, recycling programs to complement the Town's solid waste
management system. In so doing the Town Board acknowledges those findings
and recommendations of the Town of Bethlehem New York Solid Waste
Task Force, contained in its Recycling Plan, dated June 1989, revised
July 25, 1989.
For purposes of this article, those terms defined in §§
97-1 and
97-10 of this chapter shall have the meanings indicated therein unless a different meaning or context is set forth or required in this article. The following additional terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMERCIAL WASTE COLLECTOR
Any person who collects residential, industrial or commercial
waste from more than one household or from any business, institution
or commercial establishment or industrial facility within the Town
of Bethlehem or who otherwise transports or disposes of such wastes
collected from said sources or who performs such service for a fee.
CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
Cardboard containers, boxes and packaging which are cleaned
of contamination (e.g., food wastes, metals, plastics, excess tape)
and which have been flattened or baled for transport. It excludes
cereal or food-type packaging (see "paperboard").
[Amended 1-26-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
GLASS CONTAINER
Clear, green and amber (brown) glass jars, bottles and containers,
empty, rinsed and with rings and caps removed.
METAL CANS
Bi-metal, aluminum or other ferrous or nonferrous or composite
cans and containers used for food or beverages. All metal cans shall
be cleaned of contaminants, with labels removed.
[Amended 1-26-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
NEWSPAPER
Common machine-finished paper, made chiefly from wood pulp,
used for printing newspapers.
OFFICE, SCHOOL and HOME PAPER
All bond paper, including computer printout, stationery,
photocopy and commercial wastepaper; school paper; envelopes; store
receipts; and magazines, catalogs and junk mail. Staples and windowed
envelopes are acceptable, but paper must be free of tape, rubber bands,
paper clips, binders and other contaminants. This term excludes carbon
paper, chemical transfer paper, and non-paper materials such as Tyvek
envelopes or plastic-bubble-wrap-padded envelopes.
[Added 1-26-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
PAPERBOARD
All single-layer cardboard, often coated with kaolin clay,
typically found as packaging, including cereal or other food boxes,
laundry or dishwashing detergent containers, shoe boxes, tissue containers,
poster board, etc. Paperboard must be clean, dry and free of contaminants.
[Added 1-26-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
PLASTIC CONTAINERS
All plastic containers, clean of contaminants, with a few
exceptions. Containers made of Styrofoam/polystyrene are not recyclable.
All plastic film (e.g., shrink wrap, dry-cleaning bags, etc.), plastic
bags, vinyl, and very small items (straws, utensils, pens, etc.) are
also excluded.
[Amended 1-26-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Those materials specified by the Town of Bethlehem or the
State of New York by law, ordinance, rule or regulation which are
to be separated from the waste stream and held for reuse or which
have, or may have in the future, market or other value. These materials
shall include but not be limited to glass containers, plastic containers,
corrugated cardboard, paperboard, newspapers, office, school and home
paper, and metal cans, as defined herein. The Recycling and Composting
Department Head may, with the approval of the Town Board, designate
other kinds of solid wastes that shall constitute recyclable material.
[Amended 1-26-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011; 5-11-2022 by L.L. No. 3-2022]
RESIDENTIAL WASTE
All solid waste generated or produced by persons occupying
buildings containing three or fewer dwelling units.
WASTE SEPARATION
The segregation or separation of recyclable or reusable materials
from the solid waste stream at the source of its generation or production.
[Amended 5-11-2022 by L.L. No. 3-2022]
The above listing of recyclable materials shall
not prohibit the establishment, by way of regulation promulgated by
the Recycling and Composting Department Head with the approval of
the Town Board, of such further or additional recyclable items or
materials that must be separated pursuant to this article.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section,
article or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in
its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, article
or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such
judgment shall have been rendered.
This chapter shall take effect September 1,
1990, and when the appropriate certified copies hereof are filed with
the Secretary of State pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Municipal Home Rule Law.