[Adopted 11-13-1979 by Ord. No. 572 (Ch. 20, Part 2, of the 1990 Borough
Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 3-11-1980 by Ord. No. 577]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
All stores, offices and institutions located in the Borough
of Royersford.
Four thirty-two-gallon containers shall be equal to 1/4 cubic
yard of compacted trash.
Animal or vegetable refuse from the storage, vending, sale,
preparation or use of foodstuffs such as meats, fish, fruits or vegetables.
All miscellaneous trash, solid wastes, and waste material
and shall include, but is not limited to, ashes, tin cans, glass,
pottery, paper, boxes, discarded clothing and furnishings, pruning
from vines and junk of all kinds resulting from the ordinary conduct
of business or housekeeping.
Each dwelling unit in a single-family, twin-family, or multifamily
dwelling or apartment, providing independent living facilities for
one or more persons, located in the Borough of Royersford.[1]
[Amended 3-11-1980 by Ord. No. 577; 2-9-1982 by Ord. No. 599; 9-14-1982 by Ord. No. 613; 12-29-1987 by Ord. No. 690; 1-11-1989 by Ord. No. 696; 10-30-1990 by Ord. No. 715; 12-27-1990 by Ord. No. 718; 12-18-1992 by Ord. No. 731; 12-12-2000 by Ord. No. 771; 12-10-2002 by Ord. No. 779; 12-9-2003 by Ord. No. 784; 12-13-2005 by Ord. No. 800; 12-11-2007 by Ord. No. 812; 12-9-2008 by Ord. No. 819]
A.
Residential units. Containers, not exceeding 32 gallons' capacity each, or plastic bags, may be provided by the occupant of each residential unit in the Borough of Royersford for collection by the Borough at the rate of $484 annually per residential unit, billable and payable quarterly. Refuse may be placed in plastic bags, which shall be securely tied and shall be of sufficient strength to retain the items placed therein. Garbage and refuse shall be placed in containers which shall be made of plastic or metal, shall be watertight and flytight and shall be provided with handles and closely fitting covers. Covers shall be so constructed that they shall not be blown off by the wind and so that dogs or other animals may not remove them. Garbage or refuse placed in paper bags or cardboard containers is not allowed and shall not be collected by Borough authorities, except such paper bags and cardboard containers which are heavy-duty and weather-resistant and are specifically authorized by the Borough Code Enforcement Officer. The owner of five or more apartments in a single structure may elect to be treated as a commercial property under Subsection B for garbage and refuse collection. An apartment owner so electing shall notify the Borough Manager, in writing, and said election shall be in effect for a minimum period of one year and until revoked, in writing, by the apartment owner. In the event of such election, the apartment owner of five or more units in one structure shall be subject to the rules and regulations applicable to commercial property garbage and refuse collection and to the rates applicable to commercial properties, as set forth in Subsection B.
[Amended 11-25-2014 by Ord. No. 868; 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 879; 12-12-2017 by Ord. No. 893; 12-11-2018 by Ord. No. 898; 12-13-2022 by Ord. No. 923; 12-12-2023 by Ord. No. 928]
B.
Commercial properties. Garbage and refuse from commercial properties shall be placed in a weekly maximum of four containers not exceeding 32 gallons' capacity, each of a quality described in Subsection A, for collection by the Borough at the rate of $745 annually for residences with business, $840 annually for two- to three-unit apartments, $870 annually for two-unit residential, $915 annually for three- to four-unit apartments with office, $1,020 annually for three- to four-unit apartments, $1,362 annually for fire companies, and $1,871 annually for four or more apartments. No refuse that is not totally within the container shall be collected, except that paper, boxes, or corrugated paper may be placed in either disposable, nonreturnable containers not to exceed three feet by three feet by three feet, or may be folded flat and tied, in any event, not exceeding 50 pounds in weight or 48 inches in any dimension, provided that such refuse shall not be exposed to adverse weather conditions. Garbage and refuse in excess of four thirty-two-gallon containers per week shall be subject to an additional charge based upon cubic feet and garbage and trash involved. Collection charges for commercial properties, in excess of a weekly maximum of four thirty-two-gallon containers, where the garbage and refuse is not placed in a dumpster, shall be as follows:
[Amended 11-25-2014 by Ord. No. 868; 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 879; 12-12-2017 by Ord. No. 893; 12-11-2018 by Ord. No. 898; 12-13-2022 by Ord. No. 923; 12-12-2023 by Ord. No. 928]
C.
Churches, fire companies and fraternal organizations within the Borough
of Royersford shall be exempt from the charge established hereunder.
D.
Garbage and refuse that may be placed for collection is garbage and
refuse generated by residents within the Borough of Royersford.
[Amended 9-28-2010 by Ord. No. 836]
E.
Garbage and refuse placed for collection shall be placed at the curb
or sidewalk not before 4:00 p.m. on the day preceding collection nor
after 7:00 a.m. on the collection day. All receptacles for the collection
of garbage and refuse shall be removed from the curb or sidewalk on
the same day that collection takes place. Containers containing refuse
and garbage shall be placed at a point at the curb of the various
streets or alleys adjacent to the property where the refuse is accumulated,
unless it shall clearly appear that some other point is more convenient
both to the party accumulating the refuse and the collector.
F.
No garbage or refuse shall be allowed to accumulate outside a container
as above set forth, nor be deposited on any street, alley or highway
or on any property within the Borough of Royersford, nor shall any
garbage or refuse be placed in any storm sewer, inlet or deposited
in any manhole. No garbage or refuse shall be placed in or as part
of any compost box or pile.
G.
All refuse, except clippings from bushes, shrubbery, leaves and grass
and tree trimmings, newspapers and wallpaper, shall be placed in closed
containers as set forth above.
H.
Containers for ashes shall be metal with handles and shall not exceed
one-bushel capacity. No ashes shall be placed for collection unless
they have been out of the heating apparatus for a period in excess
of 24 hours. Clippings from thorned bushes shall be tied in bundles
or placed in containers. If placed in containers, such containers
shall not be returned. Shrubbery and tree trimmings shall be tied
in bundles and shall not exceed a length of four feet. Lawn clippings,
fallen fruit and leaves shall be placed in plastic bags and securely
tied. Wallpaper shall be placed in containers. These containers will
not be returned. Newspaper shall be bundled and tied. All containers
with contents or bundles shall weigh less than 50 pounds. Building
offal such as brick, plaster, slate, stone and construction waste
matter will not be collected.
I.
Commercial properties may use dumpsters up to a maximum of three
cubic yards per dumpster. The charge for collection from dumpsters
shall be as established from time to time by the Borough Council.
Collection charges for commercial properties, in excess of a weekly
maximum of four thirty-two-gallon containers, where the garbage and
refuse is not placed in a dumpster shall be as established from time
to time by the Borough Council.
J.
Residential and commercial property owners in the Borough of Royersford
may request special refuse or garbage collection at specific rates
to be set based upon the volume of the collection and the time involved.
There shall be a minimum charge as established from time to time by
the Borough Council.
K.
All containers used for garbage and refuse collection shall be maintained
in good condition and order by the owners thereof. Containers for
refuse and garbage containing rusted bottoms or sharp edges will not
be picked up for collection.
L.
If any quarterly billing for refuse and garbage collection fees are
not paid within 30 days after the date of the bill, a 10% penalty
shall be added thereto; and if the installment plus penalty is not
paid within 60 days after the date of the bill, the aggregate amount
thereof shall bear interest from the penalty date at the rate of 1/2%
per month or fraction thereof. Any unpaid refuse and garbage collection
fee, together with penalties and interest thereon, to the extent permitted
by law, shall be a lien upon the property served which may be collected
by action in assumpsit, or by lien filed in the nature of a municipal
claim, as provided by law. Charge for preparation of certifications
for trash and garbage collection shall be as established from time
to time by the Borough Council and payable to the Borough of Royersford.
M.
With reference only to commercial properties, if any quarterly billing
for refuse and garbage collection fees is past due for more than 60
days, the Borough Manager may terminate commercial trash collection
to property involved until all past due amounts are paid in full to
the Borough. The Borough Manager shall give notice of termination
to the user at least seven days prior to actual termination of service.
N.
Interest at the rate of 10% per year shall be added to, and collectible
on, the amount of unpaid garbage and refuse collection payments, together
with penalties thereon, imposed by this article, and said interest
shall be computed from the date of the filing of the lien.
[Amended 6-28-1988 by Ord. No. 694; 10-30-1990 by Ord. No. 715; at time of adoption of
Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall
be punishable by a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000,
plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough
in the enforcement proceedings. Upon judgment against any person by
summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on default of the
payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant
may be sentenced and committed to the county correctional facility
for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that such violation exists
shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article
that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition
to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce
this article in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery
County.
