[Adopted 2-8-2016 by Ord. No. 1-16]
A. 
Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to:
(1) 
Promote the recycling of residential yard wastes and certain residential kitchen waste by allowing composting at properties on which occupied one-family dwellings and/or two-family dwellings are located in residential zoning districts; and
(2) 
Establish minimum standards for proper compost pile and compost bin location and maintenance.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMPOSTING
The controlled biological reduction of organic waste to humus.
KITCHEN WASTE
Any uncooked plant matter not contaminated by or containing meat, fish and/or dairy products.
ONE-FAMILY DWELLING and TWO-FAMILY DWELLING
As defined in the City of Hudson Code § 255-4, Definitions, as "dwelling, one-family" and "dwelling, two family."
RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT(S)
R-1 One-Family Residential District; R-2 Two-Family Residential District; R-T Transitional Two-Family Residential District; PRD Planned Residential Districts; and the RM-1, RM-2, RM-3 and RM-4 Multiple-Family Residential Districts.
YARD WASTE
The organic waste produced from the growing, trimming and removal of grass, branches (not exceeding one inch in diameter), bushes, shrubs, plants, leaves and garden debris.
C. 
Property requirements and compost bin/pile maintenance. All compost piles shall be maintained using approved composting procedures to comply with the following requirements.
(1) 
Compost piles and compost bins regulated by this article shall only be permitted on property upon which an occupied one-family dwelling or two-family dwelling is located; that is in any residential zoning district; and that is consistent with any restrictive covenant and/or homeowners' association bylaws or rules, if applicable.
(2) 
All compost piles shall be enclosed in a freestanding compost bin. Each compost bin shall be no larger in volume than 125 cubic feet, shall be no taller than 42 inches, and shall be securely covered to keep animals from accessing the compost pile.
(3) 
Compost materials shall be layered, aerated, moistened, turned and managed to promote effective decomposition of the materials in a safe, secure and sanitary manner. Compost materials shall be covered with a layer of material such as leaves, straw, wood chips, or finished compost to reduce odor.
(4) 
All compost bins shall be maintained in a way to prevent the attraction or harborage of rodents and pests. The presence of rodents in or near a compost bin shall be cause for the City to consider the compost bin a public nuisance and proceed under Hudson Code Chapter 175 to abate the nuisance.
(5) 
All compost bins shall be maintained to prevent unpleasant odors.
(6) 
No compost bin shall be allowed to deteriorate to such condition as to be a blighting influence on the surrounding property or neighborhood or City in general.
(7) 
Location on property. The compost bins shall not be located closer than three feet from the rear property line and shall not be located in any required front or side yard as defined in the Zoning Code, nor closer than 20 feet to any habitable building off of the subject property.
(8) 
Those composting bins which existed prior to the adoption of this section shall be given one year to comply with the requirements set forth herein.
D. 
Ingredients.
(1) 
No compost bin shall contain any of the following:
(a) 
Lake or river weeds;
(b) 
Cooked food scraps of any kind or type;
(c) 
Fish, meat or other animal products;
(d) 
Manures;
(e) 
Large items that will impede the composting process.
(2) 
Permitted ingredients in a compost bin shall include the following:
(a) 
Yard waste as defined herein;
(b) 
Coffee grounds and unused tea leaves;
(c) 
Kitchen waste defined as uncooked plant matter not contaminated by or containing meat, fish and/or dairy products;
(d) 
Commercial compost additives.
E. 
Owner responsibility. Every owner or operator shall be responsible for maintaining all property under his or her control in accordance with the requirements of this section.
F. 
Abatement. All compost bins and compost materials not in compliance with this section may be declared a public nuisance and may be subject to abatement as provided in Hudson City Code Chapter 175.