[Adopted by Ord. No. 66A-1949 (Ch. 20, Part 1, of the 1989 Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401]
All domestic, commercial and industrial refuse accumulated or stored upon any property within the Borough of Port Vue shall be collected and removed by the Borough of Port Vue or by an independent contractor if approved by Borough Council.
[Amended 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 379; 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401]
A. 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning appears clearly from the context:
ASHES
Residue from the burning of coal, coke or other combustible material.
DISPOSAL
Storage, collection, disposal or handling of garbage.
DWELLING
Place of residence within the Borough of one or more persons where refuse is generated through normal living habits. It shall not include apartments or buildings devoted to multiple-family occupancy.
GARBAGE
All animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking or consumption of foods.
OCCUPANT
The person generally in possession and control of any dwelling.
PERSON
Any natural person, association, partnership, firm or corporation.
REFUSE
All solid waste, except human body wastes, including garbage, ashes and rubbish.
RUBBISH
Glass, metal, paper, plant growth, wood or nonputrescible solid waste.
SOLID WASTE
Any waste, including, but not limited to, municipal, residual or hazardous wastes, including solidified liquids, semisolids or contained gaseous materials.
UNOCCUPIED
Lack of habitual presence of human beings.
VACANT
Empty; deprived of contents; without inanimate objects.
B. 
In this article, the singular shall include the plural; the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter.
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401]
Every family or household at whose premises refuse is collected or removed shall provide and maintain at all times a portable metal or plastic receptacle. The same must be watertight, equipped with a tight-fitting cover, and each receptacle shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401]
All refuse shall be picked up in accordance with specifications and schedules established by the Borough of Port Vue.
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401]
No refuse shall be allowed to accumulate on the ground or be deposited on highways, vacant lots or other property, nor be thrown in any stream or other body of water.
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401]
All garbage, before being placed into receptacles for collection, shall have drained from it, as far as practical, all free liquid. Garbage shall be wrapped in paper or otherwise contained. Ashes shall be placed in separate, fire-resistant containers. Rubbish shall be placed in approved containers or cut and baled, tied, bundled, stacked or packaged so as to be easily handled by the collector and not to exceed 36 inches in length and 50 pounds in weight.
[Added 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 378; amended 2-9-1988 by Ord. No. 389; 4-17-1990 by Ord. No. 407; 1-15-1991 by Ord. No. 419; 3-11-1992 by Ord. No. 434; 1-17-1994 by Ord. No. 456; 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 513; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 541; 6-7-2011 by Ord. No. 573]
A. 
The residences of the Borough are hereby divided into fair and reasonable types according to their structure and use for the purpose of garbage, rubbish and trash accumulation. The property owner of each residential dwelling situate within the Borough, including, but not limited to, apartment buildings, shall use the garbage, rubbish and trash disposal service as provided by the Borough and shall be billed for all service fees as hereinafter provided for the use of such collection and disposal facilities. In all cases, the owner shall be solely liable for the payment of all such bills. In the event the property owner does not reside at the premises, the property owner is required to provide his or her current address to the Borough. All bills for garbage, rubbish and trash disposal service shall be sent directly to the owner. In the event the property owner moves away from the address where garbage, rubbish and trash disposal service is being provided, the property owner is required to provide to the Borough an updated address within 10 days.
(1) 
For one-, two- or multiple-family dwellings, the service fee shall be $144 per year, per family;
(2) 
For apartment buildings, the service fee shall be $144 per year, per unit.
[Added 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 378; amended 3-11-1992 by Ord. No. 434; 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 513]
A. 
Quarterly payments. The annual fees established hereinabove shall be paid in equal, quarterly installments, due as follows:
(1) 
First quarter: due March 31.
(2) 
Second quarter: due June 30.
(3) 
Third quarter: due September 30.
(4) 
Fourth quarter: due December 31.
B. 
Discount period.
(1) 
Each family in a one-, two- or multiple-family dwelling shall be entitled to a discount of $10 on the annual service fee established hereinabove upon payment of the full annual service fee by March 31 of each year. No discount shall be given to apartment buildings.
(2) 
Council, for cause stated and upon motion duly made and approved in meeting assembled, may extend the March 31 discount deadline in any one calendar year.
[Added 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 378; amended 5-17-1989 by Ord. No. 397]
A. 
Penalty. A penalty of $3 shall be assessed on the unpaid balance after the due dates set forth hereinabove.
[Amended 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 513]
B. 
Liens. All charges and service fees hereby imposed shall be a lien from the due date thereof on each and every lot or tract of real property served by the garbage collection and disposal service. All liens for unpaid assessments shall be filed in the office of the Prothonotary of Allegheny County and collected in the manner provided by law for filing and collection of municipal claims. Unpaid fees imposed hereunder shall be referred to the Borough Solicitor for collection and shall be collected by the Solicitor in the name of the Borough of Port Vue in the manner provided by law.
C. 
In the event the annual garbage assessment fee imposed on any lot or tract or real property served by the Borough garbage collection and disposal service remains unpaid for a period of 30 days beyond the due date established for any quarterly installment, said account shall be designated delinquent. The Borough shall have the right to discontinue and suspend all garbage collection and disposal service to any property which has a delinquent account.
(1) 
The Borough shall provide a notice of discontinuance by first-class mail to the record owner of the property at the record owner's last known address, as determined by Borough records, and by personal service of the notice of discontinuance upon the occupier of the property. Should the property be vacant, then the notice of discontinuance shall be posted in a prominent location of the subject property.
D. 
The owner or occupier of the property may reinstate garbage collection and disposal service which has been discontinued and suspended for nonpayment by paying the full amount of the delinquency, including all penalties assessed therein.
[Added 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 379; amended 3-16-1992 by Ord. No. 444]
A. 
Application of section.
(1) 
The provisions of this section shall apply only to one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and apartment buildings with less than 10 units.
(2) 
No exemptions or credits shall be given to apartment buildings with 10 or more units or to commercial establishments.
(3) 
No exemptions or credits shall be given for any owner-occupied structure, regardless of the time period in which the owner-occupied structure is either vacant or unoccupied, when the owners are away from the premises with an intent to return to the structure.
B. 
Credit amount and vacancy period requirement.
(1) 
To qualify for the credit established herein for vacant or unoccupied structures, a structure must be vacant or unoccupied for a period of a minimum of three consecutive months.
(2) 
The property owner of the vacant or unoccupied structure shall obtain an application for credit at the Borough of Port Vue Municipal Building prior to the commencement of the period in which the structure is anticipated to be vacant or unoccupied. Said application shall be kept on file at the Municipal Building. The property owner shall report in person to the Municipal Building when the structure is no longer vacant or unoccupied to complete the application for and to receive his credit upon review and approval of Council.
(3) 
Credit shall be given for whole months only at a rate of $4 per each complete month the structure remains vacant or unoccupied.
(4) 
Credit shall be allocated per calendar year. A refund check shall be issued to any property owner or his agent who has previously paid the annual fee for the calendar year in which the refund is requested.
(5) 
In the event the property owner or his agent has not paid the annual fee for the calendar year, the credit amount established herein shall be deducted from the gross annual fee assessed against the subject property.
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401; 5-30-1990 by Ord. No. 412]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.