[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park 3-8-1966 by Ord. No. 66-O-2; amended in its entirety 5-14-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-5. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fees and penalties — See Ch. 110.
Litter and graffiti  — See Ch. 132.
Recycling and yard waste — See Ch. 161.
[Amended 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01[1]]
The collection of refuse, yard waste, recycling, solid waste, and special trash in the City is governed by the provisions of this chapter. Collection of recycling and yard waste is also governed by the provisions of Chapter 161, Recycling and Yard Waste, as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also changed the title of this Ch. 119 from "Refuse, Solid Waste, Yard Waste and Special Trash" to its current title.
[Amended 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5]
Places to be served are as follows: all single-family dwellings within the City limits and commercial and apartment units that are approved by the Public Works Director for such service and upon payment of appropriate fees for such service, subject to the provisions contained in §§ 119-3 and 119-6 below.
[Amended 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5; 2-26-2002 by Ord. No. 02-O-1; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
A. 
It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of each private residence, apartment house, commercial establishment and any other place of business or residence using the refuse cart and recycling cart system for garbage collection and recycling to comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter and Chapter 161.
B. 
All refuse carts shall be placed at the curb prior to 7:00 a.m. on scheduled refuse collection days. Refuse carts shall be placed, where possible, only on the grass adjacent to the curb. Carts shall be removed from the curb prior to 12:00 midnight on refuse collection day. Carts shall be stored on each property in the rear or side yard. Households with no one physically able to place carts at the curb and to remove them may request exemption from these requirements by presenting to the City a statement, in a form satisfactory to the City, that no person physically capable of moving the refuse cart to and from the curb resides on the premises.
C. 
All normal household refuse shall be placed in refuse carts.
D. 
The placement in the refuse carts of rocks, sod, dirt, sand, vehicle parts, concrete or other construction materials, roof shingles, yard waste, recyclable materials such as newspapers, glass, aluminum cans, plastic containers, mixed paper, including without limitation junk mail, telephone books, computer paper, cardboard, magazines or books, and special trash, is prohibited. Hazardous or flammable materials shall not be placed in any City refuse, recycling or yard waste carts. In addition to any other applicable penalties, any person violating this provision shall be deemed responsible for resulting damage or injury to collection crew members or the refuse, yard waste or recycling carts.
E. 
Refuse carts will be kept clean by the user.
[Amended 2-26-2002 by Ord. No. 02-O-1; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
The following are acceptable for collection as authorized in this chapter.
A. 
Regular trash. Accumulations from the ordinary conduct of the household of the following materials will be acceptable for regular trash collection:
(1) 
Garbage (food wastes).
(2) 
Trash and other legally permissible refuse generated at the property, not exceeding 75 pounds, that can be reduced in size to fit into and not damage the refuse cart, so long as the cart lid can remain fully closed, except for those items listed in § 119-3D.
(3) 
Domestic animal waste in plastic containers with lime in accordance with Prince George's County Health Department regulations.
B. 
Bulky trash. Residential waste that is too large or numerous to be accepted during regularly scheduled trash collection and is not classified as special trash or overweight, oversized or improperly sorted. Bulky trash includes household items, furniture, lamps, divans, chairs, and mattresses (only if wrapped in plastic or placed in a plastic mattress bag). Bulky trash does not include construction and demolition debris, except home improvement materials generated only by the occupant.
C. 
Special trash. Electronics containing CRTs; televisions; monitors; air conditioners; appliances such as refrigerators and freezers (which must have doors removed or secured in a manner that prohibits them from closing), stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, furnaces, water heaters, compactors, garbage disposals, microwaves, ovens, items containing Freon, R-12 or any other refrigerant; grills; and tires without rim or wheel.
D. 
Overweight, oversized and improperly sorted items. Overweight, oversized or improperly sorted items that require specialized equipment to collect upon payment of a fee.
[Amended 6-9-1992 by Ord. No. 92-O-9; 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5; 9-8-1998 by Ord. No. 98-O-7; 2-26-2002 by Ord. No. 02-O-01; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
In accordance with the schedule established by the Department of Public Works after notification to the Mayor and Council, City refuse collectors will empty all refuse carts which have been placed on the curb by 7:00 a.m. and will return them to the curb. Residents may inquire about said schedule by contacting the Department of Public Works. Where households are exempt from the requirements to place carts at the curb, collectors will bring the carts from behind the house, empty them and return them to their behind-the-house locations.
[Amended 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5; 2-26-2002 by Ord. No. 02-O-1; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
A. 
Bulky trash, special trash and oversized and overweight items will be collected only by appointment, payment of any required fee when invoiced, and only if placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. in a manner which, in the sole judgment of the City, permits safe handling by the collection crew without damaging collection equipment.
B. 
The City must be notified of the type and number of items when a collection is scheduled. All items must be set out neatly and separated by type for collection. Bulky trash will be collected up to four times in a fiscal year from any one property.
[Amended 2-22-2022 by Ord. No. 22-O-01]
C. 
A separate fee as established in Chapter 110 will be charged for items of special trash and of bulky trash to be collected.
[Amended 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-02]
D. 
A separate fee as established in Chapter 110 will be charged for each dispatch of equipment for overweight, oversized or improperly sorted materials to be collected.
E. 
Construction/demolition material generated by any contractor or person receiving a fee to perform a construction/demolition project may not be placed for collection by the City. The owner and occupant will be required to properly manage the waste material and debris generated as a result of such a project and arrange for its proper disposal.
F. 
Placement of material for collection at a property other than the property that generated the material is prohibited.
[Amended 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5]
A. 
All dogs or other animals that might interfere with collectors shall be confined on collection days.
B. 
Hazardous materials such as acid, car batteries or alkaline household batteries; roof shingles, ammunition; automotive fluids and fuels; caustics; cleaning agents; cooking oil; driveway sealers; fire extinguishers; fluorescent light bulbs or tubes; insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers; liquid latex and oil-based paints; photographic chemicals; poisons; pressurized tanks (propane, helium, etc.); smoke detectors; solvents, varnishes and stains; and swimming pool chemicals are not acceptable and may not be placed for collection.
[Amended 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
C. 
Any potentially dangerous materials should have sharp points removed or bent down, or be placed in disposable containers clearly labeled to indicate the hazard to the collector.
[Amended 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
[Amended 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
Tips and gratuities shall not be offered to City employees.
[Amended 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-02; 5-25-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-06; 9-24-2024 by Ord. No. 24-O-05]
A. 
Fees. All fees for refuse collection will be payable annually with the submission of an application for an occupancy permit as set forth in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties. A prorated refund will be made upon 30 days' notice to discontinue service as necessary. All fees for special trash, bulky trash and overweight or oversized item collection shall be paid when due.
B. 
Waiver. A waiver, in whole or in part, of the fee due for any bulky trash collection may be granted by the Public Works Director based on proof of hardship. A hardship exists when the bulky trash generated at a property in the City is the result of an act of God, such as flooding, or other one-time event or special circumstance, such as illness or death, or move to a retirement or assisted-living facility. A denial of a waiver may be appealed to the City Manager, whose decision shall be final.
[Amended 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5; 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
A. 
The City will provide up to two refuse carts to each single-family residence at no cost. One additional refuse cart will be provided at the annual cost set out in Chapter 110.
B. 
Apartment units and commercial establishments under contract for refuse collection by the City will be provided refuse carts and recycling carts as needed. The number of carts needed will be determined by the City. Replacement refuse carts will be provided by the City at no cost if the need for the replacement was not caused by owner/occupant abuse. Refuse carts which are destroyed or become unusable, in the sole judgment of the Public Works Director, as a result of the acts or negligence of the user, shall be required to be replaced, and the user shall pay for the cost of replacement of the cart. The charge for additional or replacement refuse carts is set out in Chapter 110.
[Added 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5; amended 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01]
A. 
Annually, the City Manager will designate one or more days as cleanup events. The Public Works facility will be open during a designated Saturday(s) for residents of College Park only to drop off household refuse. Use of the facility by nonresidents or commercial or industrial entities, regardless of residency, is prohibited.
B. 
Only nonhazardous material may be dropped off at the site. Hazardous waste, as identified in § 119-7B, will not be accepted, except as authorized by the City.
[Added 2-26-2002 by Ord. No. 02-O-1]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and is subject to the penalty provided in Chapter 110, Fees, and Penalties, of this Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 119-12, Used motor oil recycling, added 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-O-5, was repealed 1-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-01. This ordinance also renumbered former § 119-13 as § 119-12.