Title
Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances at Title VI: Conduct, Article I: Regulated Actions and Rights, by repealing the existing language of Chapter 619: Refuse Collection and Recycling, in its entirety and replacing it with a new Chapter 619: Municipal Waste and Recycling to streamline municipal waste and recycling practices in the City of Pittsburgh.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh must build a culture of proper waste disposal and increase recycling participation in order to meet its defined goals within the Roadmap to Zero Waste; and,
WHEREAS, the City's Chapter 619 waste and recycling code outlines requirements for collection, storage, and disposal of waste and recycling, as well as enforcement for non-compliance, but has not been updated in a number of years; and,
WHEREAS, a holistic update that reflects current and best practices is necessary to not only meet sustainability goals but also to improve the quality of life in each of our 90 neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, updates of onsite storage requirements and landlord and tenant responsibilities promote the overall health and welfare of Pittsburgh residents; and,
WHEREAS, mandates regarding waste and recycling affect every person in Pittsburgh whether renting or owning a home, running a business, or managing a facility, and such mandates must be conveyed in plain language; and,
WHEREAS, presented in a clear and concise manner in accordance with the Plain Language Resolution of 2015, Chapter 619 is now more accessible and thus more relevant; and,
WHEREAS, the City must better promote, educate, and offer resources to ensure compliance with Chapter 619 while simultaneously enforcing the requirements; and,
WHEREAS, food scraps and yard waste make up over 30% of trash sent to landfills, and composting standards provide guidance for residents to process organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment; and,
WHEREAS, sustainability is defined as meeting th...
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