[Amended 3-6-1989 by Ord. No. 89-08; 10-2-1989 by Ord. No. 89-68; 8-31-1992 by Ord. No. 92-34]
A. 
The City of Schenectady finds that a significant amount of recyclable material that could be removed from the solid waste stream is needlessly landfilled each year. The source separation of this solid waste so that recyclable material is recovered for reuse will:
(1) 
Reduce the consumption of and demand for scarce landfill capacity.
(2) 
Ensure a comprehensive mandatory City-wide program of source separation.
(3) 
Aid in the conservation of vital materials, resources and energy.
(4) 
Protect the environment and the health and safety of the citizens living and working in the City.
B. 
The enactment by the New York State Legislature of the Solid Waste Management Act of 1988[1] created the need for the City to demonstrate its long-term commitment to effective solid waste management and required the City to enact appropriate legislation to require the source separation and segregation of recyclables or reusable materials from solid waste by September 1, 1992. The City declares that the measures taken by the City be environmentally sound and yet achieve economically desirable waste reduction through waste recycling and reuse to not only meet, but substantially surpass, the goals established by the state. The state has established a goal of 25% waste reduction by September 1, 1992, and 50% waste reduction by 1997. The City finds that voluntary recycling programs that were not mandatory in other communities have not achieved the goals that have been set for them.
[1]
Editor's Note: See L. 1988, c. 70.
C. 
This chapter will accomplish a requirement for comprehensive source separation. The solid waste categories will be consolidated with similar materials to allow economic access to secondary markets. This chapter will put all persons in the City into a class who source-separate their solid waste.
D. 
Accordingly, the City finds that, to achieve these goals, it would be appropriate to:
(1) 
Implement the applicable provisions of the New York State Solid Waste Management Act of 1988[2];
[2]
Editor's Note: See L. 1988, c. 70.
(2) 
Create a program that provides for everyone in the City to recycle;
(3) 
Establish a mandatory City-wide comprehensive source separation program so that each category of separated solid waste can be individually addressed for recycling;
(4) 
Set forth a methodology for efficiently separating and collecting reusable and recyclable materials from the City's solid waste stream;
(5) 
Encourage and support the use of solid resources and skills of local community organizations and members in addressing and aiding a recyclable program;
(6) 
Institute penalties for noncompliance with this chapter.
A. 
The "City of Schenectady Mandatory Recycling Law" shall be cited as this chapter.
B. 
General purpose. The general purposes of this chapter are as follows:
(1) 
To provide for the efficient, economic and environmentally safe management of all solid waste and especially recyclable wastes in the City of Schenectady.
C. 
Specific purpose. The specific purposes of this chapter are the following:
(1) 
To provide for the separation of solid waste categories which include recyclables and nonrecyclables.
(2) 
To avoid the high cost of disposal of unseparated solid waste.
(3) 
To enhance the reuse and recyclability of solid waste and to limit the landfilling of solid waste.
(4) 
To minimize to the greatest extent possible the burning and the landfilling of recyclable solid waste.
(5) 
To provide education to all generators of solid waste in the City on how to reduce solid waste generation, and how to properly prepare materials for source separation.
(6) 
To provide for the enactment of regulations to comply with the Solid Waste Management Act of 1988.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See L. 1988, c. 70.
(7) 
To provide for the enactment of regulations pertaining to waste collection and recycling practices as they apply to residential, commercial not-for-profit and institutional properties.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 161-3, Definitions, was repealed 11-22-2004 by L.L. 2-2004. See now § 161-19 for definitions of terms that govern the whole of this chapter.