Torrance Municipal Code Art. 2 Municipal Collection of Solid Waste

(Amended by O-1437; O-3391; O-3527)

a) Occupant means every owner, tenant, occupant, or person who is in possession of or who is the inhabitant of, or who has the care or control of an inhabited residence.

b) Residence means a single-family residence, a two-family residence, or one of two single-family residences on one lot, or a three-or four-unit apartment building provided the following circumstances are present:

1. The apartment building is located in a predominantly single-family or two-family area;

2. Not less than eighty-five percent of the dwellings on the same block are single-family or two-family dwellings; and

3. The apartment building is suitably built and/or located so that regulation City solid waste containers can be used effectively.

For the purpose of this Article, a residence shall be presumed inhabited if water service is being furnished thereto.

(Amended by O-1437; O-3527)

The City Council hereby finds and determines that the periodic collection of solid waste from all residences in the City benefits all occupants or residences in the City, and therefore, all such occupants are made liable for the payment to the City of such solid waste collection fees as may be from time to time established by resolution of the City Council.

(Amended by O-3527)

The City Council hereby finds and determines that the City government is unable to provide adequate and economical periodic refuse collection service for industrial and commercial establishments, institutions, apartment houses and buildings, other than residences as defined in Section 43.2.1, and therefore further finds and determines that the periodic collection of solid waste by the City government will not benefit occupants of such places and premises except residences.

(Amended by O-3527)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article, any occupant shall have the right to remove and dispose of or contract for the removal and disposal of their own solid waste as otherwise provided by law, but the exercise of such right shall not relieve such occupant from the obligation to pay the City the solid waste collection fee as provided in Section 43.2.2.

(Amended by O-1437; O-3527)

a) All fees established by the provisions of this Article for the collection and disposal of solid waste shall be collected by adding the same to the water bills rendered to customers of the Torrance Municipal Water Department whenever it is possible to do so.

b) The fees for solid waste collection added to the water bills shall be for the period covered by such bills, and payable at the same time and in the same manner as such bills.

c) For the purpose of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, the occupant shall be the person to whom the water bill is addressed.

d) Whenever it is not practicable to add the refuse fees to the water bills, the Director of Finance shall cause bills to be rendered for such fees in advance, which bills shall be due and payable in the same manner as prescribed for water bills in Chapter 6 of Division 7 of this Code.

e) Any fee imposed pursuant to this Article shall be a civil debt owing the City from the occupant of the residence where solid waste collection service is available.

(Amended by O-1437; O-3527)

A deposit may be required of any occupant whenever, in the opinion of the Director of Finance, such deposit is necessary to insure prompt and satisfactory payment of solid waste collection fees. In the event that any occupant having to their credit a deposit for solid waste service shall, for any reason, discontinue such service, the deposit shall first be applied to any solid waste fees remaining unpaid and any remaining balance of the deposit shall be refunded.

(Amended by O-3527)

a) Each occupant shall place in the designated receptacle(s) all solid waste for collection by the City.

b) No occupant shall place any garbage in a receptacle for collection unless it is drained and wrapped in newspaper or placed in a paper or plastic bag.

(Amended by O-471; O-1957; O-2525; O-2529; O-2541; O-3527)

a) Solid waste collected from residents as defined in Section 43.2.1 must be placed in receptacles provided by the City.

b) The weight of each receptacle, along with its contents, must not exceed the maximum weight allowed by the manufacturer of the receptacle.

(Amended by O-2541; O-3527)

a) No occupant shall place or cause to be placed for municipal collection any solid waste receptacles in any street or alley at any place or in any manner other than provided in this Article, or at any time other than on the days established by the City Manager for collection on the particular route or after 6:00 P.M. on the days immediately prior to such collection, or permit such receptacle to remain thereat for more than twelve (12) hours after it has been emptied.

b) In all cases where in the opinion of the City Manager, practical difficulty exists in complying with the requirements of this Article as to the placing of solid waste for collection, the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee shall designate where the same shall be placed or kept for collection and the conditions under which it shall be collected; provided, however, that they may refuse to have collected any materials or quantities which, in their opinion, are too large for collection.

c) The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee shall establish routes, days and hours for collection of solid waste and may change the same from time to time when, in the City Manager’s opinion, it becomes necessary or proper.

(Amended by O-2541; O-3527)

a) The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee shall provide for and supervise the collection and removal of solid waste at least once each week from all residents in the City as defined in Section 43.2.1

b) The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee shall establish routes, day and hours for collection of solid waste and may change the same from time to time when, in the City Manager’s opinion, it becomes necessary and proper.

(Amended by O-2541; O-3527)

The City Manager shall make rules not inconsistent with the provision of this Chapter as may be necessary and proper to effect the collection and removal of solid waste from residences by the City.

(Amended by O-2541; O-3527)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 43.2.9, the City Manager shall collect and remove only that solid waste which has been placed for collection along a street or alley at the location and time as prescribed by the provisions of this Article, and which is contained in receptacles of the type or kind prescribed by the provisions of this Article and the Rules and Regulations issued thereunder.

(Amended by O-2541; O-3527)

The City Manager may delegate any of the powers and duties conferred on the City Manager’s designee by this Article to any officer or employee of the City, but in such event the City Manager shall remain responsible for the proper performance thereof.

(Added by O-3745)

a) Failure to pay any and all solid waste collection fees established by resolution of the City Council that remain unpaid for a period of 60 or more days after the date upon which they were billed will result in collection of the delinquent fees pursuant to the authority contained in California Government Code Section 38790.1. The City will collect the delinquent fees in the manner described in California Government Code Section 25831. As prescribed in Section 25831, after notice and a public hearing, the unpaid delinquent solid waste collection fees will become liens on the property to which the solid waste collection services are provided and will be collected as a special assessment against the parcel, along with the property taxes.