Bring out your trash!**

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

Better throw your trash away before January 1st!

# Trash stored in other non-regulation barrels or unapproved containers will be considered bulk items: they will be disposed of, but will be considered in violation and ticketed appropriately.

Containers put out for pickup may not exceed 50 pounds when full;

What counts as trash? Does furniture? What about furniture too large to fit in an approved container? What constitutes and approved container? Will landlords be required to supply these new approved containers?

How would you know if your trash exceeds 50 pounds if the container is on wheels? Again what about a heavy piece of furniture or other trash? Now what? Is there a place to bring it to if it won't be picked up?

**In an approved container.

Comments

My reading of things

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

You can still put out bulk items on trash day. You can also put out other excess trash, but again, only when it's okay for items to go to the curb. You can't store your impoperly-containered trash outside until it's curb time.

You can download the complete ordinance here (http://crm.4gov.com/SOMERVILLEMA/FILEXFER/issue_12612/Ord2006Trash.pdf).

Re: My reading of things

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

(BTW, I found it via the 311 link on the Somerville home page, then search for "trash" and there are a number of trash-related questions. Otherwise, go to Departments, then Clerk, then look for Trash Ordinance. I believe it is behind a door marked "Beware of the Tiger".)

Lots of changes

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting the link to the complete ordinance. It seems to me that they've made quite a few new changes, not just the oft-discussed "must cover your trash" rule.

Hmm. The new regulations say owners must remove weeds, but doesn't define weeds, despite the long list of definitions.

It also makes it illegal to put trash in someone else's barrel.

And it's contradictory; it says in definition there's no restriction on the size of barrels for private property, but in 2-h-1 says " No receptacle shall exceed 50 pounds per container or a 32-gallon volume."

Re: Lots of changes

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

And it's contradictory; it says in definition there's no restriction on the size of barrels for private property, but in 2-h-1 says " No receptacle shall exceed 50 pounds per container or a 32-gallon volume."

I just read the whole thing myself, and it says there's no restriction on the size of barrels for private collection. I think that means if you're dealing with a private trash-collection company.

The 50-lb thing is pretty unclear, though--do they mean that I can put two 25-lb bags in one barrel? Or does the 50-lb limit include the weight of the barrel?

Re: Lots of changes

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

So it does! Thanks for catching that.

I have to say, it would have been nice if the publicity by the city had included "barrels must be 32 gallons or smaller" since I'm sure lots of people have gone out to buy barrels already.

As far as the 50lbs go, I think the meaning is that no trash collector should have to pick up anything weighing more than 50lbs. So I think that means barrel + rubbish.

Re: Lots of changes

[damsel-ophelia.livejournal.com]

Illegal to put trash in someone else's barrel? Huh. I know I have been guilty of tossing a wrapper or empty soda bottle in the trash/recycling someone's put out on the curb if there isn't a city-maintained waste barrel handy. I always thought it was a much better idea than littering. Good to know...

Re: Lots of changes

[artic-monkeys.livejournal.com]

I think this rule applies to tenants habitially putting all their trash in a neighbors trash barrel or dumpster because their landlord did not provide one and they don't want to purchase their own.