Chapter 15.03
COLLECTION SERVICES
Sections:
15.03.030 Container requirements.
15.03.040 Sanitation service – Billings, delinquencies, penalties and liens.
15.03.050 Service description – Residential.
15.03.060 Service charges – Residential.
15.03.070 Service description – Commercial.
15.03.080 Service charges – Commercial.
15.03.090 Service description – Roll-off container service.
15.03.100 Services charges – Roll-off container service.
15.03.010 Collection service.
It is unlawful for anyone except the city to collect solid waste within the city for compensation without the approval of the city. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.020 Container use.
A. Refuse containers for residential and commercial use shall be furnished by the city. The city retains ownership of all containers.
B. No person shall place any garbage, rubbish, refuse or recycling materials in any city-owned container other than in the container which was assigned by the city to such person and as directed by the city.
C. No person other than a city-approved, authorized collector or city employee charged with that responsibility shall tamper with or remove any solid waste or recyclables from a city-owned container other than the owner or occupant of the property served by such container.
D. The gray household waste container shall only contain garbage, refuse, rubbish and trash as defined herein.
E. Hot ashes, clinkers and lithium-ion batteries shall not be placed in containers for disposal.
F. All garbage shall be drained of liquids before being placed in the container and secured in such manner as to prevent, to the extent possible, moisture gathering in refuse containers. The city may decline to collect undrained garbage which is in a liquid state, unwrapped, or improperly placed.
G. Refuse containing hypodermic needles or other sharp objects should be disposed of in proper disposal containers, or at a minimum, a solid-wall container such as a plastic beverage or milk container.
H. Dead animals shall not be placed in any city-owned container unless approved by the city. Any animal or any part of an animal from slaughterhouses or similar places, regardless of size, shall be regarded as industrial refuse and shall not be collected by the city. All persons seeking to remove or dispose of any dead animal may do so at the Horn Rapids Landfill at a rate described in RMC 15.04.020.
I. The green yard waste containers shall only contain vegetation material such as grass clippings and plant trimmings including woody material equal to or less than four inches in diameter. Refuse, dirt, construction and demolition debris, packaging or bags, tree branches of more than four inches in diameter, or rubble is not allowed in the yard waste containers. Failure to use this container as described is a violation subject to the provisions of RMC 15.05.010.
J. The blue recycling container shall only contain cardboard, plastic, newspaper, aluminum and tin. No glass is allowed in the recycling containers. Contamination of the recycle container with glass or other materials is a violation subject to the provisions of RMC 15.05.010.
K. No residential refuse container set out for removal by city personnel shall weigh more than the maximum container-rated weight as specified by the director or 40 pounds per unit of extra refuse.
L. All persons setting out refuse for collection shall take adequate precautions to prevent the escape thereof. Materials susceptible to escaping shall be bagged.
M. No person shall place household or commercial dangerous or hazardous waste in any city-owned containers. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.030 Container requirements.
A. It is the duty of every person in possession, charge or control of any structure or dwelling within the city where waste is created or accumulated at all times to use city-owned containers or other containers as approved by the city, in accordance with this chapter, and to deposit or cause to be deposited refuse therein.
B. Refuse containers shall be kept in a sanitary condition with the outside thereof clean and free from grease and decomposing material. Lids shall be kept on containers except while refuse is being put in or removed from such containers. When any person puts refuse in or removes refuse from a refuse container, the lid shall be placed in the closed position.
C. Location. No container shall be kept or stored within the confines of any street or public alley in the city, except as otherwise allowed by the city. Containers placed on private property which have been approved for pickup by the city shall be placed in a preapproved, readily accessible location.
D. Curbside. By 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection, containers to be picked up curbside shall be placed in a location accessible by the traveled roadway and positioned with the lid opening toward the collection vehicle when the container is dumped. Containers and any extra refuse shall maintain a minimum of three feet from all obstructions, including other containers. Any container placed out for curbside pickup shall be removed from public right-of-way by the person in possession, charge or control of said container within 24 hours after collection unless otherwise allowed by the city. Residents located in cul-de-sacs, courts, or set back from the main travel way of a city street shall locate their containers at a location adjacent to the main traveled way established by the director for safe and efficient pickup.
E. No enclosure or other structure may be placed around any city-owned container in its accessible location for pickup without the review and approval of the city.
F. Special Containers. Suitable containers, such as compactor units and drop boxes, may, with the permission of the city, be used by establishments which dispose of refuse in such quantity that containers, as defined in this title, would be impractical or inefficient. These containers shall be kept in good condition with close-fitting lids and watertight construction. The city, after proper notification to the person in possession, charge or control of said container, may require the replacement or repair of any container which deteriorates to an unsatisfactory condition. Disposal of refuse from these containers shall be as authorized by the city.
G. Prohibited Materials. The rules and regulations authorized by this title shall identify the materials that can and cannot be placed in any city-owned container. The city may decline to pick up any container which has unauthorized materials placed in it.
H. Container Damage and Replacement. If any container owned by the city is damaged or lost through the abuse or neglect of any person in possession, charge or control of said container, the person in possession, charge or control of said container shall be held responsible for the cost of repair or replacement of the container. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.040 Sanitation service – Billings, delinquencies, penalties and liens.
The sanitation service charges shall be billed on the basis of the rates established herein, and delinquencies and penalties charged, and liens placed as provided for in RMC 3.30.040 – Delinquency and utility collection charges.
A. A residence shall be considered occupied until the owner or owner’s authorized agent notifies the city’s utility billing department that the unit is vacant. Vacancy status starts the date the owner or authorized agent gives proper notice, or at a future date specified by the owner or authorized agent. A residence is considered occupied until it no longer contains personal property. Upon notification to the city, the account can be placed in abeyance for a fee of $40.00, which will suspend the daily refuse charge until the utility billing department receives notice of occupancy.
B. All multifamily housing units will have commercial containers appropriately sized for the refuse demand placed at the housing complexes. Refuse services will be billed to the landlord/owner account. If shared container service is not practical, the landlord/owner account will be charged the individual service rate per this code and individual residential containers will be provided.
C. Any customer who believes that an assessed sanitation charge, billing or notice of delinquency is out of compliance with this chapter may appeal such charges, billing or notice of delinquency pursuant to the appeal process defined in Chapter 5.55 RMC related to appeal procedures. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.050 Service description – Residential.
A. All residential account holders will receive basic service consisting of one gray container for household waste and one green container for yard waste. Additional containers may be provided upon request. All containers shall be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the customer’s assigned collection day and will be picked up weekly, except that recycling containers will be collected every other week. Collection service may be suspended when street conditions make it impracticable to safely access containers. Yard waste container service may be suspended during extended freezing periods.
B. A residence may be considered exempt from having a yard waste container and fee if all landscape space is commonly owned, such as is found at condominiums with a homeowners’ association. Residences meeting this criterion will only be billed the refuse – no yard waste fee once they have contacted the director and the exemption has been verified.
C. Extra curbside garbage service is available. Extra waste shall be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the customer’s normal collection day. Extra curbside garbage bags placed out for collection shall not exceed 32-gallon capacity, and shall be of sufficient strength to hold refuse not exceeding 40 pounds and withstand ripping or tearing when lifted by the top of the bag. Boxes placed out for collection shall not weigh more than 40 pounds, and shall be of a size that can be safely and reasonably handled by one person so that they can be placed by the refuse collector in the container for dumping at an additional charge.
D. Recycling collection service will be available to all Richland residential customers upon request. If requested, a blue recycling container will be delivered to the customer, and recycling will be collected on an every-other-week basis on a designated collection day.
E. A request for container replacement or an additional gray, green or blue container is subject to a container delivery fee per the city’s fee schedule and a daily service charge as specified in this chapter. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.060 Service charges – Residential.
A. The sanitation service charge for residential collection and removal of normal accumulations of refuse placed in city-provided residential container(s) for disposal shall be as according to the table below. This does not include the removal of refuse resulting from major renovations or new construction, nor does it include earth, rocks, sod, dead animals, animal wastes, or household hazardous wastes.
Daily Sanitation Service Charge for Residential Service
All residential customers shall be charged the following daily service rates effective for utility bills generated on or after December 1, 2023, with the billings in the month indicated:
|
|
Daily Rate |
Residential Call Back |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic Refuse Service |
$0.5753 |
$12.00 |
|
Refuse – No Yard Waste |
$0.5474 |
$12.00 |
|
Recycling – Optional Additional Fee |
$0.2532 |
$12.00 |
|
Additional Refuse Container Fee |
$0.2679 |
N/A |
|
Additional Yard Waste or Recycling Container |
$0.0657 |
N/A |
B. Extra curbside garbage placed out for collection shall generate a charge of $3.00 for each additional garbage can load.
C. When residential collection services by private corporations are authorized by contract, the service provider shall collect from each residential account a Richland landfill self-haul surcharge in the amount of $0.80 per month. The surcharge is equivalent to the component of the residential collection rate listed in this section that subsidizes reduced disposal fees at the Richland landfill for Richland residents. The Richland landfill self-haul surcharge shall be collected by the contract service provider and be paid to the city on or before the twenty-fifth day of each month.
D. Per Chapter 3.29 RMC, a discount shall be applied to the rates specified in this section for qualifying low-income citizens.
E. Residential requests for call back or returns by solid waste personnel to empty containers which were obstructed; were not at curbside and in street by 6:00 a.m.; were packed in such a way that refuse would not exit the container when tipped; or to pick up additional refuse will be charged a call-back fee.
F. Commingled residential recycling is an optional service at the rates described in the table found in this section. The recycling container is serviced every other week and allows for a mix of recyclable materials which include cardboard, plastic, newspaper, aluminum and tin. No glass is allowed in the recycling containers. Failure to use this container as described will result in an additional refuse container fee added to the utility bill. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4; Ord. 2024-34 § 2].
15.03.070 Service description – Commercial.
Commercial customers are provided containers and are serviced based on commercial classification. The director may make special arrangements with owners or operators of public food establishments, multifamily residences, and commercial establishments permitting the use of containers of greater capacity than 100 gallons. Container size and/or location may be changed to accommodate space limitations as determined by the director. In these situations, customers will be charged based on the container size and frequency of pickup. Shared refuse services will be billed to the property owner or similar shared user billing account. Businesses in the Uptown and Parkway shopping centers are classified into one of the options listed in the table below.
|
Classification |
Service Type |
|---|---|
|
Office/Service |
100 gallon |
|
Small Retail |
1 yard |
|
Medium Retail |
2 yard – twice a week |
|
Large Retail |
6 yard |
|
Small Restaurant |
2 yard |
|
Medium Restaurant |
2 yard – twice a week |
|
Large Restaurant |
8 yard |
[Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.080 Service charges – Commercial.
A. The sanitation service charge for commercial service shall be according to the table below. In the Uptown and Parkway shopping centers, the commercial refuse charge will be billed according to the table below based on the classification of business occupying the parcel/rental space. The owner of record per the Benton County auditor’s office will be billed when multiple tenants occupy one parcel. On parcels with one tenant, refuse will be billed to the active utility account for that tenant. When these parcels are vacant, the utility charges will revert to the owner/landlord account. Suspension of service and fee abeyance is not allowed when a building is vacant. Review and adjustment of charges will be available annually to keep the customer accounts current with the classification of business.
|
Container Size |
Daily Rate for Each Collection Day per Week |
Unscheduled/Additional Pickup |
|---|---|---|
|
100 gallon |
$0.6444 |
$18.85 |
|
1 yard – 300 gallon |
$1.7786 |
$50.90 |
|
2 yard |
$2.7222 |
$50.90 |
|
4 yard |
$4.7671 |
$48.10 |
|
5 yard |
$5.5496 |
$58.30 |
|
6 yard |
$6.3370 |
$68.35 |
|
8 yard |
$7.2904 |
$88.40 |
B. Commercial customers who prohibit access for scheduled container pickup shall be charged a call-back fee of $26.00 per occurrence. Examples of prohibited access include, but are not limited to, locked or blocked container enclosures.
C. Commercial customers who overload the provided refuse container will be charged a $15.00 per yard charge for the extra refuse, as estimated by the collections staff. Repeated incidents will subject the customer’s account to a review of their service by the director. The fee to change the container size is $50.00.
D. Commingled commercial recycling is an optional service at the rates described in the table below. The recycling container is serviced every other week and allows for a mix of recyclable materials in one 96- or 300-gallon container. The allowed recyclables include cardboard, plastic, newspaper, aluminum and tin. No glass is allowed in the recycling containers. Failure to use this container as described will result in an additional refuse container fee added to the utility bill. Requests for service to pick up material not available on the scheduled date are subject to a call-back fee.
|
Container Size |
Daily Charge for EOW* Service |
|---|---|
|
96 Gallon |
$0.2532 |
|
300 Gallon |
$0.7792 |
|
96 and 300 Gallon – Call Back |
$12.00 |
*EOW = Every Other Week (frequency container is picked up).
E. Cardboard-only commercial recycling is also an optional service at the rates described in table below. These containers are serviced every week and allow cardboard only. Failure to use this container as described will result in an additional refuse container fee added to the utility bill. Unscheduled, additional pick-ups beyond the weekly service are subject to the fees described in the same table.
|
|
Collection Frequency Per Week – Daily Rates |
Call Back |
Unscheduled/Additional Pickup |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1X |
2X |
|||
|
Commercial cardboard recycling |
$1.7030 |
$3.4027 |
$26.00 |
$50.90 |
[Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.090 Service description – Roll-off container service.
There is established a voluntary system for provision of larger “roll-off” container services as requested by customers of the city of Richland solid waste utility. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].
15.03.100 Service charges – Roll-off container service.
Roll-off container services will be considered temporary for the first two months of service and charged per day rent charges accordingly. After two consecutive months of service, users will be considered permanent. Disposal fees are subject to a one-ton minimum. Roll-off containers not picked up at least monthly will be charged a minimum monthly fee of $348.00. Charges for city of Richland roll-off service are outlined in the table below:
|
Container Type/Descriptor |
Hauling Fee |
Disposal Charge per Ton |
Per Day Rent Charge |
Delivery Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Drop Box – Temporary |
$150.00 |
$48.00 |
$5.00 |
$45.00 |
|
Drop Box – Permanent |
$150.00 |
$48.00 |
N/A |
$45.00 |
All roll-off containers that are overloaded, blocked or not ready to haul when the scheduled service arrives will be charged $45.00 call-back fee for the additional service attempt. [Ord. 38-21 § 1; Ord. 2023-28 § 4].