§ 130-36. Removal of yard trimmings.

(a)

Generally . No collection of yard trimmings shall be made by the department of public works from any residence, business or dwelling where the yard trimmings are the result of or includes:

(1)

Business or service conducted by others working under contract or agreement with the occupant;

a.

The department of public works will not collect tree trunks, stumps, limbs and trimmings generated by tree surgeons and/or any commercial entity engaged in tree trimming or removal. The removal and proper disposal of any and all such tree trunks, stumps, limbs and trimmings generated by tree surgeons and/or any commercial entity engaged in tree trimming or removal shall be the responsibility of the said commercial entity.

b.

The department of public works will not collect any matter generated by any landscaping development or landscaping maintenance and/or any commercial entity engaged in landscaping development or maintenance. The removal and proper disposal of any and all such matter generated by any landscaping development or landscaping maintenance and/or any commercial entity engaged in landscaping development or maintenance shall be the responsibility of the said commercial entity.

(2)

Yard trimmings not generated at the dwelling.

(b)

Curbside yard trimmings collection . It shall be mandatory for each occupier of single-family residential, property in the city to prepare and place any yard trimmings intended for removal by city personnel through the city's curbside program, separately and distinguishable from rubbish, trash and garbage, in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(c)

Removal by city . The department of public works may remove yard trimmings from the premises of residents, if such yard trimmings are prepared for removal in accordance with subsection (d), and is separately placed for removal in accordance with subsection (g).

(d)

Authorized containers . Yard trimmings shall be placed in proper, separate yard trimmings bags, the adequacy of which for identification of contents and the facilitation of removal by city personnel must be approved by the commissioner. The department of public works may collect up to 20 yard trimmings paper bags per collection period placed for yard trimmings collection, when full, are not to exceed 35 pounds in weight. Reusable containers or receptacles used for the disposal of yard trimmings may not exceed a volume of 32 gallons visibly marked with YARD TRIMMING on four sides.

(1)

It shall be the responsibility of the owner of any premises, to maintain all yard trimming containers serving the owner's property in a clean and healthful manner, free of obnoxious odors, maggots, insects and rodents or any other conditions which may render them unhealthy to those upon the premises or to the surrounding community.

(2)

It shall further be the responsibility of the owner of any premises, to see that all containers serving the owner's property are kept in good repair at all times and that the doors and lids of the containers be properly closed when not in use.

(e)

Extra yard trimmings . The department of public works may collect yard trimmings paper bags in excess of 20 per collection period in accordance with the fee for excess yard trimmings established under section 130-84, Rates and Charges.

(f)

Uncontainerized yard trimmings . The department of public works will not be required to collect any uncontainerized yard trimmings over four inches in diameter or four feet in length, human or animal excrement, nor yard trimmings or soil contaminated with household hazardous materials or hazardous materials.

(g)

Placement . All yard trimmings intended for removal by the City of Atlanta through its curbside service shall be placed either between the sidewalk and curb or in a place approved by the commissioner or his designee as accessible for removal by city personnel.

(h)

Collection schedule . The commissioner of public works or authorized designee shall establish a schedule for the collection and removal of yard trimmings.

(i)

Exempted circumstances . The commissioner is authorized to waive the requirements for preparation of yard trimmings and to provide collection service for organized community clean-up programs which are coordinated with the department of public works, for events that include but are not limited to the clean-up of massive property destruction resulting from fires and the like, and following natural disasters, such as storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

(j)

Preparation prior to pickup . It shall be unlawful for any person to place yard trimmings for removal by city personnel that is not prepared, placed and separated as required by this chapter. It shall be the duty of the commissioner or authorized designee to notify the property owner or occupant, in writing, to remove all yard trimmings not prepared and placed as required by this section, at the property owner's or occupant's expense, or to prepare it in accordance with this article.

(k)

Residential composting . Residents not placing yard trimmings for disposal through the curbside collection may use residential composting provided that the composting:

(1)

Occurs on the residential premises where the waste organic matter was generated;

(2)

Is conducted in accordance with accepted composting practices;

(3)

Is conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations;

(4)

Does not generate offensive odors or provide a source of food or harborage for vermin and other pests; and

(5)

Does not create a public or private nuisance.

(Ord. No. 2004-06, § 1, 1-12-04; Ord. No. 2015-08(15-O-1045), § 3, 2-26-15 ; Ord. No. 2016-24(16-O-1382) , § 1, 7-27-16; Ord. No. 2018-52(18-O-1300), § 5, 11-14-18 )