Title
Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances Title VI: Conduct, Article I: Regulated Actions and Rights, by adjusting language in Chapter 619: Municipal Waste and Recycling, sections 619.02, 619.03, and 619.04, to keep waste and recycling code relevant to current practices in the City of Pittsburgh.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is the only municipality in Allegheny County that collects waste and recycling from its residents, and thus, the Department of Public Works - Bureau of Environmental Services is responsible for the culture of proper waste collection and recycling participation in all our 90 neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, the City’s Chapter 619: Municipal Waste and Recycling code outlines requirements for the collection and storage of waste and recycling and informs residents of their responsibilities; and,
WHEREAS, when Pittsburgh began its recycling program in 1991, residents used now-historic blue grocery bags to contain their plastics, glass, and aluminum for curbside collection by the Bureau of Environmental Services; and,
WHEREAS, in 2023, the City implemented a Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban, coinciding with the completion of delivering 98,000+ blue recycling bins to every home from which the City collects recyclables, functionally replacing blue plastic bags; and,
WHEREAS, bolstered by digital and mail communications, and "no bags" visuals on the individual blue bin lids, the Bureau of Environmental Services and contracted Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) will no longer accept plastic film in the recycling stream, and therefore will no longer collect recyclables in blue plastic bags.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances Title VI: Conduct, Article I: Regulated Actions and Rights, by adjusting language in Chapter 619: Municipal Waste and Recycling, sections 619.02, 619.03, and 619.04, to keep waste and recycling code relevant to current practices in the City of Pittsburgh.
§ 619.02 SEPARATION OF RECYCLABLES FROM MUNICIPAL WASTE.
(a) In accordance with Pennsylvania Act 101, recycling is mandatory in the City of Pittsburgh.
(b) Materials collected as recyclables are designated by the waste regulations.
(c) Recyclables must be separated from municipal waste and free of solid and liquid residue.
(d) Municipal waste may not be stored or placed for collection in blue bags, blue containers, or any container marked for recycling.
§ 619.03 MUNICIPAL WASTE AND RECYCLABLES STORAGE AND CONTAINERS.
(a) Residents of single family dwellings and small apartment buildings shall store municipal waste and recyclables in durable, watertight containers with close-fitting lids. Containers shall be kept in clean, neat, and sanitary condition at all times.
(b) For leased single family dwellings and small apartment buildings, owner(s) shall provide containers for the storage of both municipal waste and recyclables. Both the owner(s) and lessee(s) shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter and the waste regulations.
(c) All persons not serviced by the City shall store municipal waste and recyclables separately in durable, watertight containers with close-fitting lids. Such containers are subject to Pittsburgh Zoning Code 916.04(B). Dumpsters and containers shall be located a minimum of thirty (30) feet from any property zoned R1D, R1A, R2, R3, RM, or H.
(d) All persons not serviced by the City shall label dumpsters and/or containers with the associated establishment name and/or address.
(e) Residents of single family dwellings and small apartment buildings must store containers in the rear of the property, and/or removed from view of the public right-of-way, where feasible.
§ 619.04 MUNICIPAL WASTE AND RECYCLABLES COLLECTION.
(a) Single family dwellings and small apartment buildings. The City shall collect municipal waste and recyclables from single family dwellings and small apartment buildings, defined as having five (5) or fewer units.
(b) Timing. Municipal waste and recyclables shall be placed for collection no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. the day of collection. Containers shall be removed from collection site and stored no later than 10:00 p.m. on collection days.
(c) Placement.
(1) Municipal waste shall be contained and placed at the collection site in one (1) or a combination of the following:
a. A substantial, leak-proof bag;
b. Containers not exceeding thirty-five (35) gallons;
c. City-issued containers.
(2) Recyclables shall be contained and placed at the collection site in one (1) or a combination of the following:
a. City-issued containers;
b. Blue containers clearly marked for recycling and not exceeding thirty-five (35) gallons;
c. Blue bags.
(3) Municipal waste and recyclables shall be placed at a single location readily accessible within while not obstructing the public right-of-way, or at the edge but not more than five (5) feet back from the traveled roadway or curb, or at a location determined by the Director.
(4) The Director may grant exceptions to this section to single family dwellings and small apartment buildings occupied by persons with physical limitations which prevent them from placing municipal waste and recyclables at an accessible location. Such persons shall submit a written request for medical exemption certified by a physician. Upon approval, the Director shall determine an alternate collection site.
(d) Inspection. The Department may exercise its right to inspect municipal waste and/or recycling placed at the collection site in order to verify compliance with this Chapter and with the waste regulations.
(e) Ownership. Municipal waste and recyclables placed at the collection site shall continue to remain the responsibility of the generator until collected. No other person shall tamper with or remove such materials unless authorized by the generator, the City, or the private collector.
(f) Private collectors. All persons not serviced by the City are responsible for hiring a private collector for municipal waste and recyclables, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter. These include but are not limited to commercial establishments, institutional establishments, multi-family dwellings, publicly-managed establishments, and special events. All private collectors that operate within city limits shall submit an annual report on recycling tonnage collected. The reports shall be submitted no later than February 28 following reporting year.
All persons not serviced by the City shall maintain record, subject to City review upon request, of the name and address of the private collector and annual tonnage of municipal waste, recyclables, and any other waste collected.
(g) Disposal of municipal waste. All municipal waste collected shall be taken to a landfill cited in the Allegheny County Solid Waste Management Plan 2019, or any subsequent revisions.
(h) Handling of recyclables. All recyclables collected shall be taken to a recycling or material recovery facility that follows all applicable regulations.