Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of words and terms as used in this article shall be as follows:

(a)   Commercial Waste. All refuse emanating from establishments engaged in business including, but not limited to stores, markets, office buildings, restaurants, shopping centers, theaters, hospitals, governments, and nursing homes.

(b)   Dwelling Unit. Any enclosure, building, or portion thereof occupied by one or more persons for and as living quarters;

(c)   Garbage. Waste resulting from the handling, processing, storage, packaging, preparation, sale, cooking, and serving of meat, produce, and other foods and shall include unclean containers;

(d)   Multi-Family Unit. Any structure containing more than four individual dwelling units;

(e)   Refuse. All garbage and/or rubbish or trash;

(f)   Residential. Any structure containing four or less individual dwelling units, rooming houses having no more than four persons in addition to the family of the owner or operator, and mobile homes;

(g)   Rubbish or Trash. All nonputrescible materials such as paper, tin cans, bottles, glass, crockery, rags, ashes, lawn and tree trimmings, stumps, boxes, wood, street sweepings and mineral refuse. Rubbish or trash shall not include earth and waste from building operations or wastes from industrial processes or manufacturing operations;

(h)   Single Dwelling Unit. An enclosure, building, or portion thereof occupied by one family as living quarters.

(i)    Solid Waste. All non-liquid garbage or rubbish and trash.

All solid waste accumulated within the City shall be collected, conveyed, and disposed of by the City or by contractors specifically authorized to collect and dispose of solid waste.

The city shall have the right to enter into a contract with any responsible person for collection and disposal of solid waste not exceeding five (5) years in length and which contract may be exclusive.

(Code 2020)

The owner or occupant of every dwelling unit or commercial enterprise shall provide at his or her own expense a suitable container for the storage of solid waste as provided in this article. No owner or occupant shall permit to accumulate quantities of refuse or other waste materials within or close to any structure within the City unless the same is stored in approved containers and in such a manner as not to create a health or fire hazard.

Residential containers owned by the resident shall have a capacity of not more than 30 gallons. They shall be of galvanized metal or other non-rusting material of substantial construction. Each container shall have a tight fitting lid and shall be lead-proof and fly-tight. All containers shall have handles of suitable construction to permit lifting. Plastic bags manufactured for garbage and refuse disposal may be substituted for residential containers. Plastic bags, when used, shall be securely closed. All garbage shall be drained of all liquids before being placed in bags or containers.

On premises where excessive amounts of refuse accumulates or where cans or bags are impractical, bulk containers for the storage of refuse may be used. Containers shall have a capacity and shall be equipped with appurtenances for attaching mechanical lifting devices which are compatible with the collection equipment being used. Containers shall be constructed of durable rust and corrosion resistant material which is easy to clean. All containers shall be equipped with tight fitting lids or doors to prevent entrance of insects or rodents. Doors and lids shall be constructed and maintained so they can be easily opened. Containers shall be watertight, leak proof and weather proof construction.

Solid waste collectors, employed by the City or operating under contract with the City, are hereby authorized to enter in and upon private property for the purpose of collecting solid waste containers.

All garbage shall be drained of all excess liquid, and wrapped in paper or other disposable container before being placed in solid waste containers.

Heavy accumulations such as brush, tree limbs, broken concrete, sand or gravel, automobile frames, dead trees, and other bulky, heavy materials shall be disposed of at the expense of the owner or person controlling same.

No person shall deposit in a solid waste container or otherwise offer for collection any hazardous garbage, refuse, or waste. Hazardous material shall include:

(a)   Explosive materials;

(b)   Rags or other waste soaked in volatile and flammable materials;

(c)   Chemicals

(d)   Poisons;

(e)   Radioactive materials;

(f)   Highly combustible materials;

(g)   Soiled dressings, clothing, bedding and/or other wastes, contaminated by infection or contagious disease;

(h)   Any other materials which may present a special hazard to collection or disposal personnel, equipment, or to the public.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(a)   Deposit solid waste in any container other than that owned or leased by him or under his control without written consent of the owner and/or with the intent of avoiding payment of the refuse service charge;

(b)   Interfere in any manner with employees of the City or its contractors in the collection of solid waste;

(c)   Burn solid waste except in an approved incinerator and unless a variance has been granted and a written permit obtained from the City or the appropriate air pollution control agency;

(d)   Bury refuse at any place within the City except that lawn and garden trimmings may be composted.

Manure from cow lots, stables, poultry yards, pigeon lofts and other animal or fowl pens, and waste oils from garages or filling stations shall be removed and disposed of at the expense of the person controlling the same and in a manner consistent with this article.

No person shall haul or cause to be hauled any garbage, refuse or other waste material of any kind to any place, site, or area within or without the limits of the City unless such site is a sanitary landfill, transfer point, or disposal facility approved by the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment.

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person, except an employee of the City specifically authorized for that purpose, to collect or transport any solid waste within the City;

(b)   Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a person from hauling or disposing of his or her own solid waste providing it is done in such a manner as not to endanger the public health or safety.

Any person desiring to collect or transport solid waste within the City shall make application to contract with the City to the City Clerk. The application shall set forth the name and address of the applicant, the make and type of vehicle to be operated for collecting and transporting solid waste. The application shall be accompanied by a certificate of inspection and approval of said vehicle by the county health officer issued not more than 15 days prior to the date of application.

Any person with whom the City contracts for the collection of garbage, shall maintain a telephone for the purpose of answering all calls in connection with the collection of solid waste material in the City.

Any vehicle used by any person for the collection and transportation of solid waste shall be maintained in a good mechanical condition. Vehicles shall be equipped with an enclosed covered body to prevent the contents leaking or escaping therefrom. Only tree trimmings or brush may be transported in open-bodied vehicles provided the material is securely tied in place to prevent scattering along the streets and alleys.

The collection and transportation of trash and waste materials shall be at all times under the general supervision of the mayor or his or her duly authorized agent, who shall have the authority by and with the consent of the Governing Body to make additional rules and regulations not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this article requiring that the collection and transportation of trash and waste materials shall be conducted in such manner as not to endanger the public health, or to become an annoyance to the inhabitants of the City, and providing for a proper fee to be charged to the customer.

Any person who shall conduct or operate within the City limits any vehicle for the purpose of collecting and transporting solid waste without first contracting as required by this article or who shall violate the terms and provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this code and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in Section 1-116.

All solid waste collector rates shall be approved by the Governing Body of the City prior to their effective date, provided that commercial rates may be set by private contract between the collector and the commercial customer.