Mis-bagged yard waste fine?

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

So our landlord called us this week. It seems he received a $25 citation from the city of Somerville for something involving incorrect trash on our curb (Apologies for not getting the exact description, the landlord spoke with one of my roommates).

The only strange thing on our curb this last week was some bags of leaves in (incorrect) plastic trash bags that the landscaping crew had left from some work done in the backyard. The bags of leaves were left by the trash crew (they were not picked up, and are now back in the backyard).

This raised some questions in my head:
1) No where on the Somerville Environmental Service Guide does it say that you will be fined for putting out improper trash.

2) How can the city fine you if they did not take the trash? It makes sense if they take the trash and then fine you for that, but the garbagemen just skipped over the bags of leaves. It seems this is a "no harm, no foul" sort of situation.

As an aside, the landlord has agreed to pay the fine, since he was the one that hired the landscapers. I did not want to tell him what to do, but I want to tell him to not pay the fine.

Any comments?

Comments

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

Yard waste must be put in brown paper bags or in bins with an official label. Construction waste cannot be thrown out in the curbside trash pickup. I keep telling my landlord this and the people that he hires to do work keep putting the crap out in black plastic bags.

from the link that you posted:

Remember:
1. Yard waste must be kept in paper bags or
barrels marked with “yard waste only” stickers.
These stickers are available FREE of
charge from DPW customer service, as well as
the in the Mayor’s Office, City Hall.
2. Yard waste may also be dropped off at the
DPW yard, Monday– Friday, 8:00AM—
4:00PM, year round. PLASTIC BAGS will NOT
be accepted. Bushes and tree limbs must be
cut and tied in bundles that are not more than
3 feet in length for both pick up and drop-off.

and

We don’t accept building materials such as but not limited to; lumber,
sheet rock, bricks and concrete. For disposal of these items you
would need to contact a private disposal company

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I understand why it was not picked up. I just do not understand the fine.

PLASTIC BAGS will NOT be accepted.

This sentence does not say "In fact, we will even fine you for even trying plastic bags."

[larksdream]

Yeah, but then there's trash sitting on the curb all day. Leaving trash sitting around on the curb is fineworthy, IMO.