Chapter 9.50 LITTER

As used in this Uniform Litter Control Code, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. All words used in the present tense include the future and past tense; all words in the plural number include the singular number, and all words in the singular number include the plural number. The word “shall” is always mandatory and not merely directory.

“Commercial handbill” is any printed or written matter, any sample or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, paper, booklet, or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature, excluding newspapers:

1. Which advertises for sale any merchandise, product, commodity, or thing; or

2. Which directs attention to any business or mercantile or commercial establishment, or other activity, for the purpose of either directly or indirectly promoting the interest thereof by sales; or

3. Which directs attention to or advertises any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event of any kind, for which an admission fee is charged for the purpose of private gain or profit; but the terms of this clause shall not apply where an admission fee is charged or a collection is taken up for the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to such meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event of any kind, when either of the same is held, given or takes place in connection with the dissemination of information which is not restricted under the ordinary rules of decency, good morals, public peace, safety and good order; provided, that nothing contained in this subsection shall be deemed to authorize the holding, giving or taking place of any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event of any kind without a license, where such license is or may be required by any law of this State, or under any ordinance of this Town; or

4. Which, while containing reading matter other than advertising matter, is predominantly and essentially an advertisement, and is distributed or circulated for advertising purposes, or for the private benefit and gain of any person so engaged as advertiser or distributor.

“Garbage” is putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.

“Highway” for the purpose of this chapter is synonymous with and includes street, road and alley.

“Litter” includes “garbage,” “refuse” and “rubbish” but also means all solid wastes including but not limited to containers, packages, wrapping, printed matter or other material thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, but not including the wastes of the primary processes of mining, logging, sawmilling, farming, or manufacturing.

“Litter bag” means a bag, sack, or other container made of any material which is large enough to serve as a receptacle for litter inside the vehicle or watercraft of any person.

“Litter receptacle” means those containers meeting minimum requirements of State regulations of the State Department of Ecology.

“Newspaper” is any newspaper of general circulation as defined by general law, any newspaper duly entered with the Post Office Department of the United States, in accordance with Federal statute or regulation, and any newspaper filed and recorded with any recording officer as provided by general law; and in addition thereto, shall mean and include any periodical or current magazine regularly published with not less than four (4) issues per year, and sold to the public.

“Noncommercial handbill” is any printed or written matter, any sample, or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine paper, booklet, or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature not included in the aforesaid definitions of a commercial handbill or newspaper.

“Park” is a park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center or any other area in the Town devoted to active or passive outdoor recreation.

“Person” is any individual, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, co-partnership, association, firm or other entity whatsoever.

“Private residence” shall mean any privately owned yard, grounds, walk, driveway, dwelling, house, building or other structure, including appurtenant porches, steps or vestibules, used or designed either wholly or in part for private residential purposes, whether single-family, duplex or multiple, and whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant.

“Public place” means any area that is used or held out for use by the public, whether owned or operated by public or private interests.

“Refuse” is all putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes (except body wastes), including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned automobiles and solid market and industrial wastes.

“Road” for the purpose of this chapter is synonymous with and includes street, highway, and alley.

“Rubbish” is nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, cardboard, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, cans, ashes, scrap iron, wire, pipe, metal articles, bric-a-brac, broken stone or cement, broken crockery, broken glass, broken plaster, lumber, and all other trash or abandoned material.

“Solid waste” means all putrescible and nonputrescible solid and semisolid wastes including garbage, rubbish, ashes, industrial wastes, swill, demolition and construction wastes, abandoned vehicles or parts thereof, and discarded commodities.

“State regulations” means the regulations duly promulgated and adopted by the State Department of Ecology pursuant to Chapter 34.04 RCW and codified or prepared for codification as part of the Washington Administrative Code, copies of the applicable portions of which are attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter as Exhibit “A” and by this reference are incorporated herein as if set forth in full.

“Street” for the purpose of this chapter is synonymous with and includes road, highway, and alley.

“Town” means the Town of Wilkeson, Washington.

“Vehicle” includes every device capable of being moved upon a public street and in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public street, excepting devices moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

“Watercraft” means any boat, ship, vessel, barge, or other floating craft. [Ord. 2019.03 § 1, 2019; Ord. 143 § 2, 1974].

9.50.030 Litter in general.

A. No person shall throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter, refuse or rubbish upon any street, alley, sidewalk or any other public place in the Town or upon a private residence or other private property not owned by him, or in any waters within the jurisdiction of the Town whether from a vehicle or otherwise except:

1. When such property is designated by the State or by any of its agencies or the Town for the disposal of garbage and refuse, and such person is authorized by the proper public authority to so use such property; or

2. Into a litter receptacle or other container in such manner that the litter will be prevented from being carried away or deposited by the elements upon any parts of said public place, private residence or other private property; or

3. When such person is the owner or does have control or custody of the property, or has prior consent of the owner or tenant in lawful possession of such property, or unless the act is done under the personal direction of said owner or tenant and provided said litter will not cause a public nuisance or be in violation of any other State or local laws, rules or regulations.

B. No person shall throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter, refuse or rubbish in or next to a recycle bin or within an area designated for recycling except for only those types of recyclable materials designated as acceptable for that recycle bin or recycle area.

C. Penalty. Any person violating the provisions of subsection (A) of this section is guilty of a civil infraction, which penalty shall be assessed as follows:

1. The penalty shall be a Class 3 civil infraction which involves a maximum penalty and default amount of fifty dollars ($50.00), not including statutory assessments, for a person who litters in an amount less than or equal to one (1) cubic foot.

2. The penalty shall be a Class 1 civil infraction, with a maximum penalty and default amount of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), not including statutory assessments, for a person who litters in an amount greater than one (1) cubic foot.

Any person violating the provisions of subsection (B) of this section is guilty of a Class 2 civil infraction, with a monetary penalty in an amount not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) plus applicable statutory assessments. “Civil infraction” has the meaning given that term by Chapter 7.80 RCW, the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (“IRLJ”) and any local rule adopted thereto by the Town’s Municipal Court. [Ord. 2019.03 § 1, 2019; Ord. 143 § 3, 1974].

9.50.040 Placement of litter receptacles.

A. Litter receptacles shall be placed in all parks, trailer parks, in respect to the service of transient habitation, gasoline service stations, tavern parking lots, shopping centers, grocery store parking lots, marinas, boat launching areas, beaches, bathing areas and other such public places in numbers appropriate to need as specified by State regulation.

B. It shall be the responsibility of any person owning or operating any establishment or public place in which litter receptacles are required by this section to procure and place and maintain such litter receptacles at their own expense on the premises in accord with such State regulations.

C. Penalty. Any person who fails to place such litter receptacles on the premises in the numbers and design required by State regulation, violating the provisions of this section, shall be subject to a fine of ten dollars ($10.00) for each day of violation. [Ord. 143 § 4, 1974].

9.50.050 Use of receptacles.

A. Persons placing litter in litter receptacles shall do so in such manner as to prevent it from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon any private residence or other private property.

B. Litter receptacles placed on sidewalks and other public places shall be used only for such litter material as persons may have for disposal while passing along the street or other public places and in no event shall be used for the disposal of other solid waste accumulated in residences or places of business. [Ord. 143 § 5, 1974].

9.50.060 Damaging receptacles.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully damage or deface any litter receptacle of another person.

B. Penalty. Upon conviction for such violation such violator shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each such violation. [Ord. 143 § 6, 1974].

9.50.070 Removal of litter.

It shall be the responsibility of the local municipality, other agency or person owning or maintaining the same for the removal of litter from litter receptacles placed in parks, beaches, campgrounds, and other public places. [Ord. 143 § 7, 1974].

9.50.080 Mandatory litter bags.

The owner and person in possession of all vehicles or watercraft shall keep and use a litter bag in said vehicle or watercraft at all times, which litter bag shall be maintained in such vehicle or watercraft in a place in which the same may be viewed from the outside of such vehicle or watercraft whether or not said vehicle or watercraft is locked or otherwise secured from entry. [Ord. 143 § 8, 1974].

9.50.090 Sweeping litter into gutter prohibited.

No person shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street, alley or other public place the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the sidewalks in front of their premises free of litter. [Ord. 143 § 9, 1974].

9.50.100 Merchants’ duty to keep sidewalks free of litter.

No person owning or occupying a place of business shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying places of business within the Town shall keep the sidewalk in front of their business premises free of litter. [Ord. 143 § 10, 1974].

9.50.110 Owner to maintain premises free of litter.

The owner or person in control of any private residence or other private property shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter. [Ord. 143 § 11, 1974].

9.50.120 Throwing or distributing commercial handbills in public places.

No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any sidewalk, street or other public place within the Town. Nor shall any person hand out or distribute or sell any commercial handbill in any public place; provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful on any sidewalk, street, or other public place within the Town for any person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, any noncommercial handbill to any person willing to accept it. [Ord. 143 § 12, 1974].

9.50.130 Placing commercial and noncommercial handbills on vehicles.

No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any vehicle; provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful in any public place for a person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, a noncommercial handbill to any occupant of a vehicle who is willing to accept it. [Ord. 143 § 13, 1974].

9.50.140 Depositing commercial and noncommercial handbills on uninhabited or vacant property.

No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any private residence or other private property which are temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant. [Ord. 143 § 14, 1974].

9.50.150 Prohibiting distribution of handbills where properly posted.

No person shall throw, deposit or distribute any commercial or noncommercial handbill upon any private residence or other private property, if requested by anyone thereon not to do so, or if there is placed on said residence or property in a conspicuous position near the entrance thereof, a sign bearing the words: “No Trespassing,” “No Peddlers or Agents,” “No Advertisement,” or any similar notice, indicating in any matter that the occupants of said residence or property do not desire to be molested or have their right of privacy disturbed, or to have any such handbills left upon such premises. [Ord. 143 § 15, 1974].

9.50.160 Distributing commercial and noncommercial handbills at inhabited private residences.

No person shall throw, deposit or distribute any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon private residence which is inhabited, except by handing or transmitting any such handbill directly to the owner, occupant, or other person then present in or upon such private residence; provided, however, that in case of inhabited private residence which is not posted, as provided in this chapter, such person, unless requested by anyone upon such residence not to do so, may place or deposit any such handbill in or upon such inhabited private residence if such handbill is so placed or deposited as to secure or prevent such handbill from being blown or drifted about such residence or sidewalks, streets, or other public places, and except that mailboxes may not be so used when so prohibited by Federal postal law or regulations.

A. Exemption for Mail and Newspapers. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the distribution of mail by the United States, nor to newspapers (as defined herein), except that newspapers shall be placed on private residences or other private property in such a manner as to prevent their being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon private residences or other private property. [Ord. 143 § 16, 1974].

9.50.170 Litter thrown by persons in vehicles.

No person, while a driver or passenger in a vehicle, shall throw or otherwise deposit litter upon any street or other public place or upon any private residence or private property. [Ord. 143 § 17, 1974].

9.50.180 Vehicle loading.

A. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any public street unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom, except that sand or gravel may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substance may be sprinkled on a roadway surface in the cleaning or maintaining of such roadway by public authority having jurisdiction for the same or by persons under contract or other authorization by such public authority.

B. Any person owning or operating a vehicle from which any glass or other objects of its load have fallen or escaped, which would constitute an obstruction or injure a vehicle or otherwise endanger travel upon such public street shall immediately cause said public street to be cleaned of all such glass or other objects and shall pay any cost therefor. [Ord. 143 § 18, 1974].

9.50.190 Town inspections for litter receptacles.

A. At such times as the Fire Department or other local fire control agency makes routine or other fire inspections within the Town, it shall also be the duty of the Fire Department to inspect all such inspected premises to assure compliance with the requirements for placing and maintaining litter receptacles as required by this chapter. In the event violations of this chapter are found, members of the Fire Department are authorized to issue citations and the other legal process authorized in this chapter as in the case of police and other law enforcement personnel.

B. The Building Department shall not approve occupancy of any building, structure or other improvement for new construction or modification to any existing building, structure or other improvement for which a building permit is required, nor give final inspection approval to any such building, structure or other improvement, until litter receptacles as herein required have been set in place on the subject property. In the event violations of this chapter are found, members of the Building Department are authorized to issue citations and other legal process authorized in this chapter as in the case of police and other law enforcement personnel. [Ord. 143 § 19, 1974].

9.50.200 Enforcement officers and procedures.

Enforcement of this chapter may be by any police officer or other law enforcement officer, Fire Department and Building Department personnel, jurisdictional Health Department personnel, and those public employees charged with the responsibility of operating and maintaining all public places within the provisions of this chapter. All such enforcement officers are hereby empowered to issue citations to and/or arrest without warrant persons violating the provisions of this chapter. Said enforcement officers may serve and execute all warrants, citations, and other process issued by the courts. In addition, mailing by registered mail of such warrant, citation, or other process to the last known place of residence of the offender shall be deemed as personal service upon the person charged. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit citizens’ complaints or arrests as may be otherwise permitted under applicable State regulations, State statute, ordinance, or court rule. [Ord. 143 § 20, 1974].

9.50.210 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to accomplish litter control in the Town and pursuant to the general laws of the State of Washington to adopt basically uniform and coordinated litter control local legislation throughout the State. This chapter is intended to place upon all persons within the Town, in a cooperative and coordinated Statewide effort, the duty of contributing to the public cleanliness of the Town and appearance in order to promote the public health, safety and welfare and to protect the economic interests of the people of the Town against unsanitary and unsightly conditions. It is further the intent of this chapter to protect the people against the health and safety menace and the expense incident to the littering of the streets and public places by the promiscuous and uncontrolled distribution of advertising matter and commercial and noncommercial handbills. [Ord. 143 § 21, 1974].

9.50.220 Interpretation.

In the event any other Town ordinance, whether or not codified, is in conflict with any of the terms of this chapter, the more stringent shall be construed as applicable. [Ord. 143 § 23, 1974].

9.50.230 Penalties.

Every person convicted of a violation of this chapter for which no penalty is specifically provided within the specific section violated shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each such violation. Each day that such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense. [Ord. 2019.03 § 1, 2019; Ord. 143 § 24, 1974].