Chapter 8.16
GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Sections:
8.16.030 Responsibility of property owners.
8.16.050 Fees—Billed against owner.
8.16.060 Fees—Delinquent charges.
8.16.065 Refuse collection and solid waste collection tax.
8.16.080 Exclusive right of city.
8.16.010 Refuse prohibited.
No person shall leave or keep within the city of Poulsbo any refuse or decaying matter or any matter commonly referred to as garbage, except as provided in Section 8.16.020. All property owners and occupants of premises shall use the garbage collection and disposal system as set out in this chapter. (Ord. 82-28 § 1, 1982)
8.16.020 Containers.
A. It shall be the duty of every owner, agent or occupant of any residence or business establishment to place the garbage in either a customer-owned ten- or twenty-gallon container or a thirty-two- or sixty-four-gallon city-provided container, pending removal by the city garbage collector. All containers shall be tightly covered and placed at the nearest street edge or sidewalk and shall be placed in such a manner as to be easily accessible for collection personnel.
B. An exception will be made for the elderly or handicapped who are physically unable to move their garbage containers to the street’s edge. Collection personnel will carry out containers of the elderly or handicapped who are unable to physically place the containers on the street on collection day.
C. Property owners, agents or tenants are responsible for removing empty containers from the street’s edge after collection; in no case shall empty containers be left at the street’s edge longer than twenty-four hours. Customer-provided garbage cans must not be larger than twenty gallons nor more than sixty-five pounds when full. (Ord. 2010-10 § 1 (part), 2010: Ord. 95-9 § 1, 1995; Ord. 82-28 § 2(a), 1982)
8.16.030 Responsibility of property owners.
Property owners of vacant houses or lots shall keep those areas free of debris, refuse or decaying matter, and shall not allow their property to be maintained in such a way as to be a hazard to the public health and safety. Property owners or agents may contact the public works director for special garbage pickup as provided under Section 8.16.040(B). (Ord. 2005-17 § 1 (part), 2005; Ord. 82-28 § 2(b), 1982)
8.16.040 Fees—Schedule.
A. Minimum Rate. Each dwelling, each unit of a duplex or multiple dwelling and each business establishment or other place shall pay at least the minimum rates set forth in Section 3.12.090(C). Once the unit is occupied, these rates shall apply even though the tenants are away on vacation or at other times when the unit is temporarily unoccupied, unless owner requests the water to be turned off, meter locked and fee, as set forth in Section 3.12.100(G)(2), paid for water turn-off/on.
B. Computation of Charges. The exact amount to be charged shall be determined by the city council according to the character and quantity of service rendered, but not inconsistent with the monthly rates set forth in Section 3.12.090(C).
1. Extra untagged garbage or refuse not in approved and prepaid cans, containers or bags will not be picked up; however, extra garbage tags can be purchased at City Hall.
2. Residential cans and recycling bins must be at curbside by seven a.m.
3. Dumpsters must be unblocked and unlocked by seven a.m.
4. The property owner shall maintain containers, lids and dumpsters in a clean/serviceable condition. New property owners shall also provide screened concrete pads for storage of dumpsters and recycling totes. A change of existing ownership, type of business or dumpster requirement will require the construction of a dumpster pad/recycling containers and enclosure to city standards if none previously existed.
5. Charges for garbage or refuse deposited in prepaid bags in addition to can(s) or container(s) shall be as set forth in Section 3.12.090(C)(1).
6. A property owner, agent, tenant, occupant, contractor or other person who requests “special” temporary service to remove garbage or refuse from property within the city, is a “nonregular customer.” The city will attempt to accommodate those customers by depositing a dumpster on the customer’s property or jobsite and service the garbage or refuse dumpster when it becomes full, or within a reasonable period of time and as determined at the discretion of the public works director. The charge for “special” temporary service shall be as set forth in Section 3.12.090(C)(4).
7. The public works director is authorized to establish, at least annually, a rate for garbage and refuse requiring special handling. Such rates shall be on file at the Poulsbo public works office and with the city clerk and shall be provided to consumers upon request. Consumers may obtain such rates by calling the city at (360) 779-4078. The public works director shall establish such rates based upon the actual cost of providing service plus a ten percent overhead charge. Copies of the rate schedule shall be provided to the Poulsbo city council and shall be effective on the day following notice to the council.
C. Mandatory Recycling Program. A mandatory recycling program is hereby established. As a condition of garbage service, each dwelling, and each unit of a duplex or multiple dwelling unit shall be provided with recycling containers and shall participate in the costs of the recycling program. The charge for recycling shall be included in the rates established by Section 3.12.090(C) for single-family and duplex dwelling units. Multifamily dwelling units will be charged separately for recycling as established by Section 3.12.090(C)(3). Commercial businesses will be responsible to arrange for their own recycling via the city-contracted recycling company.
D. Variable Size Residential Cans. Customers desiring to use ten- or twenty-gallon containers must provide their own container and notify City Hall of the size of can being utilized for correct billing.
E. Illegal Dumping. Persons who choose to engage in illegal dumping or who place their refuse in containers being paid for by others, will be guilty of illegal dumping or theft of services and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law in effect on the date the violation occurs.
F. Low Income Seniors and Disabled Citizens.
1. Low income senior citizens and low income disabled citizens who live in a residence served directly by solid waste facilities of the city of Poulsbo and who pay solid waste utility bills directly to the city may qualify for a discount.
2. For the purposes of this section, “low income senior citizen” means a person who has attained the age of sixty-two years and whose total income from all sources, including that of his or her spouse, does not exceed forty-eight thousand dollars annually. For purposes of this section, “low income disabled citizen” means a person whose total income from all sources, including that of his or her spouse, does not exceed forty-eight thousand dollars annually, and who is (a) a person qualifying for special parking privileges under RCW 46.19.010(1)(a) through (j); or (b) a blind person as defined in RCW 74.18.020; or (c) a disabled, handicapped, or incapacitated person as defined under any other state or federal program. The income threshold shall be adjusted by same percentage as the annual rate adjustments in accordance with Section 8.16.070.
3. All persons claiming the discount provided for in this section shall first be required to file an application with the city of Poulsbo finance department to initiate the reduction. The application shall be on forms prescribed by the finance director and shall provide information by which the finance director may verify the applicant’s eligibility to participate. Applicants shall be required to submit such additional information as may be required by the finance director to verify eligibility. In order to stay eligible for the program, an applicant must recertify their eligibility every twelve months. If the city determines that the applicant is ineligible for the reduction, the applicant will be notified by the city.
4. If an applicant moves from the residence to which the service is provided or otherwise becomes ineligible for the reduced rate, the applicant shall be required to notify the finance department immediately.
5. If false information is submitted to the city in connection with any application for a reduced utility rate, the applicant will automatically become ineligible to receive any future discounts and any discounts or reductions already given shall be fully repaid to the city, together with a penalty in the amount of one hundred percent of the repayment amount. This remedy shall be in addition to any other remedies the city may have for the giving of false information. (Ord. 2024-15 § 2 (Att. A), 2024; Ord. 2010-10 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 2005-17 § 1 (part), 2005; Ord. 2003-16 § 22, 2003: Ord. 2003-01 § 1, 2003: Ord. 93-03 § 1, 1993: Ord. 91-31 § 1, 1991: Ord. 90-10 § 1, 1990; Ord. 89-16 § 2, 1989; Ord. 87-42 § 1, 1987: Ord. 86-09 § 1, 1986; Ord. 85-1 § 1, 1985; Ord. 82-39 § 1, 1982; Ord. 82-28 § 3(b), 1982)
8.16.050 Fees—Billed against owner.
Garbage collection fees shall be billed against the owner of the real property for which the service is provided. (Ord. 82-28 § 5(a), 1982)
8.16.060 Fees—Delinquent charges.
All charges for garbage service shall be due and payable on the first day of each calendar month succeeding the month on which service was billed and shall become delinquent on the twentieth of the month. The penalty for delinquency shall be per Section 13.80.050(F). (Ord. 2019-21 § 2 (Att. A (part)), 2019: Ord. 82-28 § 5(b), 1982)
8.16.065 Refuse collection and solid waste collection tax.
The city shall impose and collect a refuse collection and solid waste collection tax in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 82.18 RCW, RCW 82.32.300 and the rules promulgated thereunder as the provisions of WAC 458-200-250 and the provisions of Chapter 282 of the Laws of 1986 and Chapter 431 of the Laws of 1989. All consumers of services provided by the city under this chapter shall be subject to such tax; provided, however, that agencies of the federal government shall be exempt as required and provided for in said statutes and regulations. (Ord. 93-15 § 1, 1993)
8.16.070 CPI adjustment.
In addition to such other changes as may be approved by city council, commencing January 1, 2010, and in January of each successive year thereafter, the fees, rates and charges in Section 3.12.090(D) shall automatically be adjusted based upon the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the year ending June 30th of the previous year. However, these fees shall not, in any case, decrease. (Ord. 2018-19 § 1 (part), 2018: Ord. 2009-02 § 2, 2009: Ord. 82-28 § 5(c), 1982)
8.16.080 Exclusive right of city.
The city of Poulsbo has the exclusive right to collect refuse, decaying matter or garbage, and no other person, group, business, firm or corporation shall make such collection unless specifically authorized by the city council. (Ord. 82-28 § 4, 1982)
8.16.090 Violation—Penalty.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in any sum not less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for not less than one day nor more than thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 82-28 § 6, 1982)