South Lake Tahoe Municipal Code Div. 1 Generally

A. Every vehicle used for the collection, removal or transportation of discarded materials and C&D shall be so designed and equipped as to prevent the escape or loss of any refuse, rubbish and debris while being transported. Whenever discarded materials or C&D is transported in an unenclosed vehicle, the container shall be so designed and equipped as to prevent the escape or loss of any such discarded materials or C&D while being so transported. Loads of tree trimmings, bushes or shrubs may be transported in open-bodied vehicles provided the material be securely tied in place to prevent scattering along the streets and alleys. Tree limbs shall be confined within the limits of the vehicle bed and shall not extend over the sides or extend beyond the tailgate of the vehicle.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person authorized to collect discarded materials or C&D to maintain any collecting vehicle in an unclean, filthy or leaky condition or to keep such vehicle standing in any street or alley of the city longer than necessary for the actual work of collection or to conduct collection or removal in any but a sanitary manner and by sanitary methods.

(Ord. 409 § 1; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-9)

Each person owning improved premises in the city and each person occupying or having charge or control of improved premises in the city shall, in accordance with the terms of this chapter and all applicable state and federal regulations, make available for collection and disposal, or if a nonresidential commercial business provide legal access to collection and disposal, of all discarded material which has accumulated on such premises, on the appointed day and at the appointed time, except where weather conditions prevent such collection and disposal.

(Ord. 409 § 1; Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-10)

For services outside the provisions of this chapter, individuals or businesses may contract with the city or the city's franchisee; provided, such services shall be offered and accepted according to the rate schedule applicable thereto.

(Ord. 409 § 1; Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-11)

Each person owning a residential unit up to and including a fourplex, and each person occupying or having charge or control of such premises, shall have the obligation to contract for collection service for each and every unit of property and provide for collection and disposal of all discarded materials originating upon such premises in three carts for each residential unit to include one cart each for solid waste, source-separated recyclables, and yard trimmings. Owners or occupants may request an additional cart for solid waste for an additional charge. Residential units may share carts for recyclables and yard trimmings so long as both residential units have solid waste carts. Residential units that have bear boxes existing as of August 22, 2023, may elect to continue to use a customer owned container to be serviced from the bear box instead of a cart for solid waste.

Each owner shall place and/or direct its tenants to place source-separated recyclable materials in the applicable container, place yard trimmings in the applicable container, and place solid waste in the applicable container, and shall not place prohibited container contaminants in containers and not place materials designated for the yard trimmings or recyclable materials containers in the solid waste containers.

Bulky items shall be collected at additional charge to the customer. Bulky items must remain out of sight from the general public view, and shall only be placed at curbside on the arranged day of collection at the property line adjacent to a public street no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the day designated for collection, and shall be removed from public view by 6:00 p.m. on the day designated for collection, unless containers are housed in approved shelters. In the event a bulky item is placed in view of the general public without scheduled collection, the city manager or the county health officer shall order the franchisee to collect said item at the property owner's expense.

Customers may exercise the option to deliver such bulky items directly to the transfer station at transfer station rates, or otherwise properly dispose of such bulky items.

(Ord. 523 § 5; Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1157 § 3; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12)

Each person owning, or having charge or control of, a multiresidential property of five units or greater shall place for collection and disposal all discarded materials originating on such premises in a suitable container or containers, and may elect to be serviced either with residential containers as described in SLTCC § 4.150.110 or commercial containers as described in SLTCC § 4.150.130.

Bulky items shall be collected at an additional charge to the customer. Bulky items must remain out of sight from the general public view, and shall only be placed at curbside at the property line adjacent to a public street no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the day designated for collection, and shall be removed from public view by 6:00 p.m. on the day designated for collection, unless containers are housed in approved shelters on the arranged day of collection. In the event a bulky item is placed in view of the general public without scheduled collection, the city manager or the county health officer shall order the franchisee to collect said item at the property owner's expense. Customers may exercise the option to deliver such bulky items directly to the transfer station at transfer station rates, or otherwise properly dispose of such bulky items.

(Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 801 § 1; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.1)

Each person owning, or having charge or control of, a commercial premises shall place for collection and disposal all discarded materials originating on such premises in a suitable container or containers consisting of either carts for solid waste and recyclables and a bin for organic waste, or one or more compactors sufficient to accommodate the type and amount of discarded materials generated at such commercial establishment. Lids must remain closed at all times, except when discarded materials are being added or removed from the container. Size of container and frequency of collection shall be determined by the type and amount of discarded materials generated, so that collection occurs as often as good sanitary practice and applicable state and federal law require.

Frequency of collection shall be at least once per week for commercial establishments generating food waste. Collection for commercial establishments not generating food waste shall be either regularly scheduled or on an as-needed basis, unless as-needed collection is determined by the city manager or the county health officer to constitute a health hazard. Contents of the container shall not extend above the rim of the container.

Bulky items shall be collected at an additional charge to the customer. Bulky items must remain out of sight from the general public view, and shall only be placed at curbside at the property line adjacent to public street no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the day designated for collection, and shall be removed from public view by 6:00 p.m. on the day designated for collection, unless containers are housed in approved shelters on the arranged day of collection. In the event a bulky item is placed in view of the general public without scheduled collection, the city manager or the county health officer shall order the franchisee to collect said item at the property owner's expense.

Customers may exercise the option to deliver bulky items directly to the transfer station for transfer station rates, or properly dispose of such bulky items.

(Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.2)

In the event a multiresidential or commercial property is determined to constitute a nuisance because of blowing debris originating from the container, or the container is determined to be insufficient to contain discarded materials generated, or is determined to be a hazard to the public health or is otherwise in violation of health codes, the city manager or the county health officer may order a change in the size of container, and/or increase the frequency of collection, as well as any other alternatives set forth in SLTCC § 4.150.150(A) through (I), at the expense of the person owning or having charge or control of said property.

(Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.3)

No person owning or possessing any multiresidential dwelling or owning or possessing any single-family dwelling, or industrial, commercial or business premises or structure, shall allow or permit any excess discarded materials, rubbish, or waste to collect and accumulate upon or in the premises or structure in a manner that creates a nuisance.

During intervals between collection or disposal, the storage, accumulation, collection, keeping, handling or maintaining of discarded materials on premises where produced shall be performed in such a manner as to prevent the harboring and breeding of rodents, insects and other vermin and to take adequate precautions to prevent ready access to the waste by animals; as to prevent objectionable odors in the ambient air; as not to constitute a fire hazard; and as not to result in such unsightliness as to result in the depreciation of value of adjacent property or the comfortable enjoyment of life thereon.

If the city manager finds and determines that during the intervals between collection or disposal, accumulation of discarded materials results in a nuisance and thus is contrary to the public health and welfare of the city, and/or the property owner has failed to adequately provide for appropriate collection and/or storage pursuant to this chapter, mandatory commercial or increased residential collection service shall be imposed for minimum of one year. Further, the city manager may impose one or more of the following corrective enforcement actions for a minimum of one year:

A. Increasing the size of the container;

B. Increasing the frequency of collection service;

C. Ordering the removal of trailers, pickup trucks, dump trucks and storage containers under the nuisance abatement procedure pursuant to Chapter 4.40 SLTCC;

D. Mandating safety-approved dumpsters with tight-fitting lids;

E. Mandating dumpster "skirting" for containers;

F. Mandating relocation of dumpster;

G. Mandating "controlled access" lids to prevent animal disturbances;

H. Mandating bear-proof containers for repeat violators of single-family residences and multiresidential properties not using safety-approved dumpsters; and/or

I. Any other enforcement action deemed reasonable and appropriate by the city manager.

(Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 997 § 1; Ord. 1157 § 4; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.4)

The collection of discarded materials from all hotels, hotel/resorts, motels, motels converted to residential units, inns, time-share condominiums and motor inns may be based upon a motel multiplier of 0.10 cubic yards, per motel unit, per week to determine a minimum level of collection service.

The collection of discarded materials from all multiresidential units may be based upon a multiresidential multiplier of 0.40 cubic yards, per residential unit, per week to determine a minimum level of collection service.

Nothing in this section is intended to prevent any arrangement, or the continuance of an existing arrangement, under which payments to the franchisee for collection service are made by a tenant or tenants, or any agent, on behalf of the owner. However, any such arrangement will not affect the owner's obligation as provided herein.

(Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1157 § 5; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.5)

Collection of solid waste shall be made at least once a week from single-family residences and multiresidential units, or as many times per week as the city manager may order.

No more than one week's accumulation of solid waste or food waste shall be kept or permitted to remain upon any commercial premises in the city.

At the minimum, there shall be at least one collection per week from restaurants, cafes, diners, hamburger stands, coffee shops, coffee houses, fast food places, grocery stores, vegetable, meat, poultry or fish markets, or fresh drink stands, and any other commercial establishment generating food waste.

(Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1157 § 6; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.6)

No person shall store discarded materials in trucks, trailers, vans, delivery wagons, pickup trucks, truck trailers or dump trucks, or any other unapproved storage containers for more than 48 hours.

(Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.7)

All bulky items (nonhazardous) left at curbside will be picked up by the franchisee during regularly scheduled route days and the account holder will be billed accordingly.

(Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.8)

The owner or person in possession, charge or control of any commercial establishment shall not be required to subscribe to services provided by a franchisee during such periods as the establishment is vacant and not generating or accumulating discarded materials. Nor shall commercial establishments in residential units with a business license be subject to additional mandatory commercial collection.

(Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-12.9)

Suitable containers for residential service, up to and including a fourplex, shall be placed in such a manner as not to be readily visible from public streets; provided, that during the time fixed for collection from the premises, containers shall be placed for collection as follows:

A. Carts and customer owned containers shall be placed at the property line adjacent to a public street no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on the day designated for collection, and shall be removed from public view by 6:00 p.m. on the day designated for collection, except for approved customer owned containers which may remain in a bear box for solid waste collection. During snow removal conditions, franchisee is only required to service bear boxes where a direct path of access at least 36 inches wide has been cleared of snow from the public street to the bear box.

B. During snow removal conditions, franchisee shall return containers to a location 10 feet outside of the right-of-way to avoid interference with or damage from city snow removal operations, so long as a path of access at least 36 inches wide has been cleared of snow from the public street to a point 10 feet outside of the right-of-way.

C. During snow removal conditions, customers shall provide a clear path for the return of containers to a point 10 feet outside of the right-of-way.

D. Shelter or housing for containers shall not be constructed or installed until approved by the city planning division.

(Ord. 744 § 1; Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1162 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-14)

Suitable containers for commercial service, other than safety-approved dumpsters, shall be placed in such a manner as not to be readily visible from public streets; provided, that during the time fixed for collection from the premises, containers are placed for collection in such a manner as previously approved by franchisee.

Commercial containers shall be placed at the property line adjacent to a public street no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the day designated for collection, and shall be removed from public view by 6:00 p.m. on the day designated for collection, unless containers are housed in approved shelters. Franchisee personnel shall be responsible for the return of containers to the front property line. During snow removal conditions, customer shall provide and maintain a clear path for the retrieval and return of containers to a point 10 feet outside of the right-of-way. Shelter or housing for commercial dumpsters shall not be constructed or installed until approved by the city planning division.

Containers which have become so damaged as to be no longer suitable for use, which no longer have tight-fitting lids, and are so designated by franchisee, the city manager, or the county health officer shall be replaced by the resident and/or business owner with a suitable container.

(Ord. 744 § 1; Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 997 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-14.1)

Multiresidential premises of five units or greater shall comply with either SLTCC § 4.150.210 or § 4.150.220, depending on whether the owner has elected to use residential containers or commercial containers.

(Ord. 997 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-14.2)

All residential, including multiresidential, and commercial containers, other than safety-approved dumpsters, shall be removed from public view not later than 6:00 p.m. on the appointed day of collection; provided, however, that containers within shelters or housing approved in accordance with SLTCC § 4.150.210(D) shall be within such shelters or housing not later than 6:00 p.m. on the appointed day of collection.

(Ord. 409 § 1; Ord. 536 § 5; Ord. 791 § 2; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 997 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-15)

The collection and disposal of any refuse which is excepted from collection and disposal by franchisee shall be the sole responsibility of the owner upon whose property such refuse originates. The owner will not leave such refuse at the front property line or in such a manner as to be readily visible from the public street.

(Ord. 523 § 3; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-16)

A. Standards. The American National Standard Safety Requirements for the Stability of Refuse Bins (hereinafter known as "standards") is hereby adopted and incorporated in the South Lake Tahoe city code by reference. A full and complete copy of the requirements is on file in the South Lake Tahoe city clerk's office and in the business office of South Tahoe Refuse Company located at 2140 Ruth Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA.

B. Responsibilities. The following responsibilities shall apply:

1. Manufacturer Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer of refuse bins to design and construct newly manufactured refuse bins in conformance with Sections 3 and 5 of the standards.

Newly manufactured refuse bins shall have a permanent identification of the name of the manufacturer and either the date of manufacture or a code traceable to the date of manufacture.

A statement attesting to compliance with this standard shall also be provided on the permanent identification.

The manufacturer of refuse bins shall inform purchasers of the refuse bins of the applicable requirements of this standard.

2. Retrofitter Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of persons who retrofit or modify refuse bins to modify or reconstruct in-service bins in conformance with Sections 3 and 5 of the standards.

3. Owner Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of refuse bins to ensure that refuse bins are modified or retrofitted to meet the requirements of the standards.

It shall be the responsibility of the owner of refuse bins to ensure that only refuse bins that are in conformance with Sections 3 and 5 of the standards are used.

The owner of refuse bins shall inform the customer of necessary safety precautions and requirements associated with the use of the bins including, but not limited to, the requirements specified in subsections (B)(3)(a) through (d) of this section:

a. Refuse bins shall be placed on a hard, level, weather-resistant surface.

b. Refuse bins shall be loaded uniformly, with no refuse extending beyond the internal volume of the bin.

c. All safety features for stability shall be used, such as fasteners (where required) to secure the refuse bin to a stationary object.

d. The customer shall inform the owner of the refuse bins of any damage, defect or malfunction of the refuse bin.

The owners shall train their employees in the use, handling and placement of refuse bins so as to be in conformance with the requirements of these standards.

4. Franchisee Responsibility. The franchisee shall train its employees in the use, handling and placement of refuse bins so as to be in conformance with the requirements of these standards. The franchisee shall inform the owner of the refuse bins of any damage, defect or malfunction of the refuse bins.

5. Franchisee Employee Responsibility. The employee of the franchisee shall return the refuse bins to their original location after unloading. If the location of the refuse bins is not a hard, level, weather-resistant surface, the employee of the franchisee shall notify the customer and the owner.

6. Customer Responsibility. The customer shall be responsible for ensuring that a hard, level, weather-resistant surface is provided for the placement of refuse bins.

The customer shall ensure that refuse bins used are placed on the customer's premises in conformance with the applicable requirements of the standards.

(Ord. 733 § 1; Ord. 921 § 1; Ord. 1187 § 1; Code 1997 § 23-16.1)