Alameda Municipal Code § 4-1 Litter Control

As used in this section:

Littering shall mean the willful or negligent throwing, dropping, placing, depositing, or sweeping, or causing such acts, of any waste matter on land or water in other than appropriate storage containers or areas designated for such purposes.

Public property shall include all publicly owned, held or maintained areas, including rights of way and other easements.

Waste matter shall mean discarded, used or leftover substances (liquid or solid) including, but not limited to, a lighted or unlighted cigarette, cigar, match, or any flaming or glowing material, or any garbage, trash, refuse, paper, container, packaging or construction material, oil, solvent, carcass, nauseous or offensive matter, or any object likely to injure any person or create a hazard for motorists or pedestrians.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

It shall be unlawful for any person to litter public property or the property of another.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

In those cases of littering from vehicles where the violators cannot be apprehended immediately, a rebuttable presumption shall be applied that the registered owner of the vehicle committed the violation.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

Persons distributing literature door-to-door shall not deposit it on public property and shall distribute it in such a way that it is not blown from the place of distribution.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

All receptacles, storage areas and vehicles containing waste matter shall be sufficiently covered or otherwise secured to prevent waste from escaping.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

Persons in possession or control of properties used for commercial purposes shall keep those exterior portions of the properties which are accessible or viewable by the public, including but not limited to areas used for parking, doorways and alleys, and the area between the face of the curb line abutting the properties and the nearest building thereon, free of all waste matter.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

Persons distributing merchandise of any kind, including food and beverage, shall provide adequate disposal containers, and frequent enough removal of their contents, to enable patrons to deposit all waste material generated by said merchandise therein.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

a. Persons in possession or control of any property shall maintain those portions of the property viewable from public rights of way, and including public rights of way thereon, free of waste matter.

b. Exceptions. This subsection shall not apply to:

1. Garden trimmings, unless composted or stored in piles for extended periods; and

2. Construction materials during the period of construction.

c. Old Literature. For purposes of this subsection waste material shall mean and include literature distributed door-to-door which is more than three (3) days old.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

a. Litter. Shopping carts left unattended on public property or rights of way shall be, for purposes of this subsection, deemed litter.

b. Removal and Redemption. The Public Works Director may cause shopping carts left unattended on public areas to be removed to a designated location. Owners may redeem them upon proof of ownership and payment of City costs, which shall not exceed five ($5.00) dollars.

c. Disposal. Carts not redeemed within thirty (30) days shall be sold at auction or disposed of if not saleable.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)

a. Cumulative. The provisions of this section shall be cumulative and do not conflict with other provisions of this Code. See, for example, subsection 22-6.9.

b. Citations. Violations of this section are misdemeanors as provided in this Code and may be cited pursuant to Section 1-5 of this Code or abated as a nuisance as provided therein.

(Ord. No. 2205 N.S.)