Mounds of tree limbs, clippings and yard waste piled up on Lawrence Township streets for weeks on end will no longer be a common sight, under a proposed “garbage and refuse” ordinance.
The ordinance, which was introduced by Township Council at its Aug. 28 meeting, sets out the rules and regulations for brush collection and also requires commercial landscapers to register with the township. An enforcement mechanism is included in the ordinance.
The proposed ordinance, which replaces the piecemeal ordinances that regulated how brush was to be set out for collection, grew out of a discussion about the brush collection program between Township Council and Public Works Director Greg Whitehead.
Whitehead told the council in June that there had been ongoing issues with the brush collection program, although regulations were in place. The brush collection program was intended for homeowners who do their own yard work.
Among the issues were the commercial landscapers who put tree stumps in the street for collection, who brought in yard debris from other towns for disposal and who put yard debris in the street for collection after the Department of Public Works crews have passed through the neighborhood.
Township officials agreed that a new ordinance should be drafted to regulate brush collection.
“We decided that brush collection is an important benefit to the residents,” Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski said, and that’s what led to the proposed ordinance.
Commercial landscapers will have to register with Lawrence Township, under the proposed ordinance. They must register every year by March 31 and pay a $50 annual fee.
The commercial landscapers will receive a copy of the brush collection regulations, and must acknowledge in writing that they have received it. They must also acknowledge in writing that they have received – or have been offered – a copy of federal and state wage and hour laws intended to prevent wage theft.
The proposed ordinance also makes it clear that the property owner or occupant is responsible for ensuring that any commercial landscaper that he or she hires will comply with the brush collection regulations.
Nerwinski said that if the ordinance is adopted, township officials will take steps to educate residents about the new requirements – through social media and community events.
To ensure that the regulations are being followed, inspections will be made from time to time by the township’s Department of Health, Department of Public Works or the Police Department.
The proposed ordinance states that plants, bushes, twigs and branches should be put in the curb or on the edge of the street for pickup by township Department of Public Works crews during the scheduled week for the neighborhood. The township is divided into four zones for brush collection pickup purposes.
The piles may not be more than three feet tall nor extend more than 12 feet along the curb or edge of the street. Branches must be less than six inches in diameter, and should not be more than three feet long.
Leaves should be separated from other vegetative matter and not mixed together with it. Grass clippings should be put in bags and disposed of with regular household trash.
Property owners or occupants may not add their vegetative material to the piles in front of a neighboring property, nor may they allow vegetative material from other properties to be added to the piles in front of their property. They may store yard debris and vegetative material on their property until it is time to be collected.
Trees and tree stumps are banned from collection, and commercial landscapers and tree contractors should not put them out for collection. The property owner or occupant is responsible for ensuring compliance by the landscaper or contractor.
Violators will be fined $500 for the first offense and $750 for the second offense. A third offense carries a $1,000 fine or a jail term of up to 90 days, or both. Commercial landscapers may have their license revoked.