A. The city of Vancouver has a system of universal compulsory garbage/solid waste collection and also a system by which recyclable materials shall be collected. Accordingly, every person in possession, charge or control of any house, dwelling, multiunit residence, apartment house, trailer court or any building put to residential use shall be charged for solid waste collection service and for collection of recyclable materials at the rates hereinafter specified, whether such person uses either such service or not; and in case any such person chooses not to actually use either such service he or she shall be charged for the service of checking to see whether he or she has solid waste or recyclable materials to be collected.

B. It is the duty of every person in possession, charge or in control of any house or dwelling, or of any roominghouse, multiunit residence, apartment house or trailer court, to keep or cause to be kept an individual garbage can for each dwelling or unit therein; provided, in lieu of or in addition to garbage cans, apartment houses and trailer courts may use large containers, as hereinafter specified.

C. In addition, the city’s contracted collector of recyclable materials shall provide all such persons who will agree to use them with appropriate and city-approved recycling bins or containers, to be picked up by the collector of recyclable materials per its agreement with the city.

D. The person in control of such dwelling or roominghouse, apartment house or trailer court shall deposit or cause to be deposited in the cans, carts, or containers all solid waste accumulating on the premises. When refuse is placed in any of the cans or carts the lid shall be properly replaced. Each can or cart shall be kept clean inside and out to reduce odors. Each can or cart, including recycling bins and yard debris receptacles, shall be left at the curb for pickup not more than 12 hours before the scheduled pickup day and shall be removed from the curb in not more than 12 hours after the scheduled pickup day. Those customers with alley collection may leave their containers in the alley unless the collector or city requests the customer to store the container elsewhere due to space constraints, or health and safety concerns.

E. The person in charge of the premises likewise shall place or shall arrange to place recyclable materials in the recycling bins, carts or containers provided by the city or collector therefor; provided, it shall be optional to such person as to whether to participate in such recycling program but each such person shall be charged for such service according to the schedule in this chapter whether he or she uses the services of the recycling program or not. All persons choosing to participate in the program, except those subscribed to carryout service for solid waste collection or those receiving HELICO service, shall place the recycling carts and bins within five feet of the curb or edge of the public street abutting the property, shall set them out not more than 12 hours before the scheduled pickup time, and shall remove them from the pickup location in not less than 12 hours after the scheduled pickup. The person or entity in control of any apartment house or other multifamily structure shall provide an area on the premises for the location of recycling carts or containers for use by all residents of such facilities. The carts and containers shall be located so that they may be picked up by the collector of recyclable materials per its agreement with the city.

F. Unless the resident has applied for and qualified for HELICO carryout service, or unless he or she has subscribed to carryout service (as such terms are defined in this chapter), he or she on each regular collection day shall place the garbage cart and any extra bags, with any recycling bins or cart, within five feet of the curb or edge of the public street abutting the property. Whenever alleys exist, carts shall be placed so that service can be from five feet of the edge of such alley. When the customer has arranged to be on carryout service, he or she on each collection day shall place the carts, bins or cans in a consistent and reasonably accessible place which is not inside any building or carport, nor behind any fence or gate. Persons on HELICO carryout service shall place the carts at any reasonably accessible place.

G. It is the duty of every person in possession, charge or control of any shop, place of business or manufacturing establishment wherein solid waste is created or accumulated to keep or cause to be kept in a place accessible to the collector either a sufficient number of garbage cans such as are required for residential users, and subject to the same conditions, or may use larger containers or containers suitable for mechanical handling for such refuse. The collector shall furnish such a large container to any customer who orders one for service upon the rates specified in this chapter. All such containers shall be kept clean inside and out to reduce odors. A customer requesting a clean container to be supplied by collector shall pay for such service at the rate specified in the schedule of charges in VMC 6.12.190.

H. At commercial locations the owner or tenant or their employees shall lawfully dispose of solid wastes by carrying them in the businesses’ appropriate equipment to a disposal site or to other disposal facilities, but shall not contract with anyone other than the collector for that service, with the exception of special waste handling and removal contractors, for collection of such special wastes. If the special waste handling and removal contractors do not own hauling equipment and require a subcontractor for hauling the special waste, they shall use the city’s collector.

I. It is unlawful for anyone other than the owner or renter of the garbage cart, can, container or drop box or compactor to deposit any solid waste or other material therein except with the permission of such owner or renter.

J. Recyclable materials that are collected as such shall be reused, remanufactured into usable products and/or marketed for any use other than landfill disposal, incineration or fiber-based fuels. Source-separated wood waste which has limited use for recycling may be used for fuel; provided, it is separated from nonrecyclable materials before collection and transport. (Ord. M-4264 § 4, 2019; Ord. M-3688 § 7, 2005; Ord. M-3599, 2002; Ord. M-3193 § 4, 1995; Ord. M-3053 § 2, 1993; Ord. M-2980 § 1, 1991; Ord. M-2893 § 3, 1990; Ord. M-2665 § 5, 1987; Ord. M-2618 § 1, 1986; Ord. M-1497 § 5, 1974; Ord. M-1076 § 1, 1969; Ord. M-1019 § 1, 1968; Ord. M-82, 1953; Ord. C-33 § 4, 1943)