Pre-collection Practices

1.  All  refuse and recyclable materials shall be placed in separate containers of substantial construction. The person from whose premises collection is made shall procure these containers. These containers shall be of plastic, metal or other suitable material approved by the Borough Manager; shall be portable and have suitable handles by which they may be lifted. Refuse containers shall not leak and shall have tight-fitting covers sufficient to keep out water and to prevent disturbances by animals and entrance of insects. Containers shall not be less than five (5) nor more than twenty-one (21) gallon capacity provided that containers shall not be so small as to require an excessive number for each household.

2. No more than three (3) 21-gallon containers or 75 lbs. total weight shall be placed out for collection at one time.

3. It shall be the responsibility of the person occupying the premises to keep refuse and recycling containers in a sanitary condition.

4. Riffraff shall include furniture, bicycles and large waste materials not commonly produced from the ordinary conduct of housekeeping, excluding white goods. Carpet shall be cut into 4' wide strips. Riffraff shall be collected on the first regular collection day of the week. Riffraff does not include tires.

5. All refuse and recyclable materials shall be drained of liquids before being deposited for collection.

6. Refuse not placed in refuse containers must be secure so as to prevent it from blowing away from the collection point.

7. The removal of wearing apparel, bedding or other refuse from premises where highly infectious or contagious diseases have prevailed shall be performed under the supervision and the direction of the Board of Health. The owner/occupant of premises containing such refuse shall contact the Borough Manager to arrange for removal at the expense of the owner/occupant.

8. Highly flammable or explosive refuse may not be offered for regular collection. The owner/occupant of premises containing such refuse must contact the Borough Manager to arrange for removal at the expense of the owner/occupant.

9. Grass clippings and yard waste may be placed at the curb in identifiable containers, separate from the refuse and recyclable materials for collection. Tree trimmings, hedge trimmings and similar materials shall be cut to lengths not to exceed three (3) feet and securely tied in bundles not more than two (2) feet thick before being offered for regular collection.

10. Except during the time allowed by this ordinance for the placement of containers for collection, no refuse container shall be placed or stored on any property so as to be visible from the street in front of the property.

Collection

1. Items placed at the curbside for collection shall be placed at ground level at a point just inside the curb or street line, or at such place as to be easily accessible or convenient for collection. The Borough Manager is authorized to give notification where the items are to be placed.

2. Where practical, refuse collection will be made from the rear of the property.

3. The Borough Manager will notify the owner or occupant of the days of refuse and recycling collection. Refuse and recycling may be set out for collection the night before the scheduled day, but may not be set out prior to 6:00 pm before the scheduled pick-up.

4. Any refuse or recycling container which does not conform to these regulations or which has ragged or sharp edges or any other defect liable to hamper or injure the collector shall be promptly replaced. Failure to comply within ten (10) days after notice will result in the removal of the defective container by the hauler.

5. The owner or occupant shall remove empty containers from their collection point the same day as collection was made.

6. Refuse collection shall be twice per week. Recycling collection shall be once per week on the second pickup. Riffraff shall be placed out for collection on the first pickup of the week and white goods shall be placed out for collection on the second pickup with the recyclables.

Recyclable Materials - Pursuant to Ordinance 2001-5, entitled "Mandatory Recycling", the following materials are hereby designated as "recyclable materials" within the Borough:

Residential. For all residential establishments as defined by this Ordinance:

(1) Clear, Brown and Green Glass, excluding plate glass, automotive glass, blue glass and porcelain and ceramic products.

 

(2) Aluminum, Steel and Bi-metallic Cans used for food or beverage.

 

(3) Newspapers and Newsprint, including advertising inserts printed on coated paper, which are often or normally distributed or intermingled with newspapers.

 

(4) Plastics Containers of the following compositions:

(a) Polyethylene terephthalate ("PET" or "PETE"), often coded with the number "1", such as plastic soda bottles.

 

(b) High-density polyethylene ("HDPE"), often coded with the number "2", such as one (1) gallon plastic milk or water jugs, laundry products, etc.

(5) Yard Waste includes garden residue, brush, shrubbery and tree trimmings and similar material, but not including grass clippings and leaves.

 

(6) White Goods shall mean stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, hot water heaters, clothes dryers and similar appliances.

 

(7) Magazines shall mean printed matter on coated paper containing miscellaneous written pieces published at fixed or varying intervals, also known as periodicals, and including telephone directories.

 

(8) Corrugated Paper shall mean the fabricated or manufactured structural paper material with an inner core shaped in rigid parallel furrows and ridges, with one or more outer liners, often consisting of material known as Kraft paper.

Commercial. For all commercial activities as defined in this Ordinance:

(1) Clear, Brown and Green Glass, excluding plate glass, automotive glass, blue glass and porcelain and ceramic products.

 

(2) Aluminum, Steel and Bi-metallic Cans used for food or beverage.

 

(3) Newspapers and Newsprint, including advertising inserts printed on coated paper, which are often or normally distributed or intermingled with newspapers.

 

(4) Plastics Containers of the following compositions:

(a) Polyethylene terephthalate ("PET" or "PETE"), often coded with the number "1", such as plastic soda bottles.

 

(b) High-density polyethylene ("HDPE"), often coded with the number "2", such as one (1) gallon plastic milk or water jugs, laundry products, etc.

(5) Yard Waste includes garden residue, brush, shrubbery and tree trimmings and similar material, but not including grass clippings and leaves.

 

(6) White Goods shall mean stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, hot water heaters, clothes dryers and similar appliances.

 

(7) Magazines shall mean printed matter on coated paper containing miscellaneous written pieces published at fixed or varying intervals, also known as periodicals, and including telephone directories.

 

(8) Corrugated Paper shall mean the fabricated or manufactured structural paper material with an inner core shaped in rigid parallel furrows and ridges, with one or more outer liners, often consisting of material known as Kraft paper.

 

(9) High Grade Office Paper shall mean any white paper of the type commonly used for letter writing, stationery, note paper, plain paper for photocopying machines, computer printers and other general purpose paper, whether or not printed or written material is contained thereon. Other similar paper such as colored papers, carbonless paper, "Fax" or thermal paper, etc. may but need not be included in this meaning. The term "high grade office paper" does not include newspaper, magazines, corrugated paper or any coated paper.

(1)  Glass. All glass shall have the lids and any metal or plastic rings around the necks of bottles removed and shall be rinsed to remove any remaining food or beverage. Glass may be commingled with cans and plastic containers.

 

(2)  Cans shall be rinsed to remove any remaining food or beverage. Cans may be commingled with glass and plastic containers.

 

(3)  Plastic Containers shall be rinsed to remove any remaining contents. Plastic may be commingled with cans and glass containers.

 

(4)  Newspapers shall be placed in paper bags or tied with string in bundles and shall not exceed 8" inches in thickness or fifty (50) pounds in weight. Newspapers, magazines and junk mail may be commingled for collection.

 

(5)  Magazines, Junk Mail and High Grade Office Paper shall be placed in paper bags or tied with string in bundles not to exceed 8" inches in thickness or fifty (50) pounds in weight. Newspapers, magazines, junk mail and high grade office paper may be commingled for collection.

 

(6)  Cardboard may be placed in paper bags or tied with string in bundles and shall not exceed a size equal to 2' x 3' x 1'.

 

(7)  White Goods shall be placed at the curb for collection on the scheduled weekly recycling day. The owner or occupant must provide documentation certifying that the refrigerant has been removed from all refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners prior to pickup. The doors must be removed from all appliances prior to being placed curbside.

 

(8)  Yard Waste shall be placed at the curb for pickup or taken to a designated drop off site from April 1^st to October 31^st. Yard waste must be kept separate from grass clippings, leaves and refuse.

 

(9)  Leaves - The Borough will collect dry leaves at the curbside during the months of October, November and December of each year. During this time Borough residents are asked to rake their leaves to the curb for collection. These leaves shall not contain any grass clippings, garden waste, tree trimmings or other brush trimmings.

 

(10)  Grass Clippings shall be placed at the curb for pickup or taken to the designated drop off site from April 1^st to October 31^st. Grass clippings must be kept separate from leaves.

Conveyance - No refuse or recyclable materials shall be hauled over the streets of the Borough of Macungie except in water-tight vehicles provided with a tight cover so as to prevent offensive odors escaping therefrom and refuse from being blown, dropped or spilled therefrom.

Disposal - No refuse shall be dumped or disposed of within the limits of the Borough of Macungie. All solid waste, excluding recyclable materials, yard waste or grass clippings, shall be transported to a Disposal Facility or Transfer Station in accordance with the Lehigh County Solid Waste Management Plan.

Sale and Marketing of Recyclables - Recyclable materials collected within the Borough of Macungie shall be recycled unless markets for them do not exist. The contractor must provide written documentation to the Borough that either said materials were recycled or that markets for those materials do not exist.

Private Contractors - Private contractors serving those premises exempt from the Municipal Collection Service must register with the Borough Manager and comply with requirements of the Ordinance 2006-04, Refuse Collection, Ordinance 2006-05, Mandatory Recycling, the Lehigh County Waste Rules and Regulations and these Rules and Regulations.