[Adopted 7-13-2020]
These regulations are pursuant to the authority granted to the
Townsend Board of Health pursuant to MGL c. 111, § 31, which
provides that "Boards of Health may make reasonable health regulations,"
and MGL c. 111, § 155.
These regulations are adopted in the interest of and for the
preservation of the public health of the citizens of the Town of Townsend
For the purpose of these regulations, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section.
Organic waste, including vegetable and animal waste, scheduled
for curbside pickup.
Offal (variety meats) is the same name for internal organs
and entrails of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular
list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but includes
most internal organs and excludes muscle and bone.
Included, but not limited to: mothballs, art and hobby supplies
(glue), photo chemicals, rubber cement, floor and furniture polishes,
fluorescent bulbs, nail polish remover, disinfectants (household,
toilet, window and drain cleaners), upholstery, rug and floor cleaners,
plant chemicals, spot removers, lighter fluid, silver/metal polishes,
oven cleaners, rodent killers, antifreeze, waxes and polishes, motor
oil and fluids, oil-based paint, solvents, lead-based paints and stains,
paint removers and thinners, weed killers, pool chemicals, driveway
sealers, flea collars and control products and poisons. See http://devenshhw.com
for a more detailed list.
Refuse, garbage, rubbish, or any unwanted waste materials
in any amount intended for disposal by any person or persons. It may
consist of animal of vegetable waste, paper, cellophane, rubber, glass,
metal, plastic and other like materials.
Any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment,
or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining
thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals.
Kitchen refuse and scraps of waste food mixed with water.
All non-organic, non-hazardous household waste suitable for
curbside pickup and landfilling.
Leaves, pine needles, lawn clippings, garden waste, weeds
and hedge clippings less than six inches' diameter are allowed to
be disposed of at the Recycling Center.
A.
No person
shall throw, deposit, discharge or leave, or cause to be thrown, discharged,
deposited, or left, any swill, hazardous waste, garbage, trash, house
offal, yard waste, furniture of any kind or offensive waste of any
kind upon any public or private way, property of another, vacant lot,
public place, street gutter, storm drain or body of water, except
in a receptacle labeled and designated for such a purpose.
B.
Persons
placing litter in public receptacles shall do so in a manner as to
prevent it from being carried away or deposited by the elements, such
as wind, upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon private
property.
C.
No household
garbage or trash shall be discarded at any public trash receptacle.
D.
The owner
or person in control of any private property shall at all times maintain
his/her premises free of litter so that the same does not constitute
a danger to public health, safety and welfare.
A.
No person
shall disturb, remove or collect any rubbish from any premises without
consent of the owner thereof, nor any wastes placed out for collection,
upon any sidewalk or way, except employees or agents of the City.
B.
No person
shall interfere in any manner with the recyclables or the containers
used for the accumulation of recyclables or remove any such container
from the location where it shall have been placed by the owner or
person lawfully in control of the premises, nor shall any such person
remove the contents from any such container or interfere in any way
with said container.
C.
These
regulations are not meant to prohibit anyone from taking individual
items placed at the curb for collection, i.e., chairs, tables, furniture,
etc. It is intended to prevent disturbance of the contents of trash
which is contained, i.e., barrels, bags, etc.
Whoever violates any provision of these regulations may be penalized
by the noncriminal method of disposition as provide in the MGL c.
40, § 21D, or by filing a criminal complaint at the appropriate
venue.
Each day any violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate
offense at $100 first offensive, $200 second offense and $300 third
offense. Additional costs subject to assessment for removal/cleanup
can be added.
Enforcement of these regulations shall be by the Townsend Board
of Health or their designated agent(s).
These regulations shall not prohibit property owners from offering
furniture or equipment for others to take or purchase. Said furniture
or equipment is to be deposited and displayed on the edge of the private
property near the public sidewalk; provided, however, that said furniture
or equipment may not be left for longer than one week, at which point
the property owner shall dispose of said furniture or equipment in
accordance with these regulations.
If any provision of these regulations is declared by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or not enforceable, the other
provisions shall not be affected thereby, but shall continue in full
force and effect.
These regulations were passed on July 13, 2020. They will take
effect September 1, 2020.
