The collector shall use its best efforts to provide solid waste collection service to all customers in the applicable service areas. However, upon written approval from the director of public works, the collector may deny or discontinue service to a customer if the director or his or her designate determines pursuant to the procedures of this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter that a customer’s acts or omissions warrant the denial or discontinuance of service. The collector shall discontinue service to a customer only when notified in writing to do so by the director and only after providing the customer affected with 10 business days’ written notice.

If a residential customer is unable to pay for all services received, the collector shall develop a mutually satisfactory payment plan and/or shift the customer to the least expensive service level, which may include eliminating organics collection services. For customer accounts that are 60 days past due, the collector is allowed to pursue all lawful remedies, including debt collection services, to collect funds due for services provided. The collector shall not initiate collection agency procedures on accounts prior to their becoming 60 days past due. The collector may, however, use other traditional collection notifications by telephone or in writing 30 days after the initial invoice. The collector is authorized to bill a residential or multifamily property owner or landlord or their authorized representative for any past due amounts owed by a tenant; provided, that the owner, landlord or representative has received prior notification.

The collector may discontinue service to a customer without written approval from the director only if the customer’s account is 60 days past due (on a two-month billing cycle) and with at least 10 business days’ prior written notice to the affected customer and property owner, if the property owner is not the customer. The collector shall restart a stopped customer’s service upon customer request once the account is paid in full or satisfactory payment arrangements have been made between the collector and the customer. The collector shall also restart a stopped customer’s service upon request from the director for health and safety reasons. The collector shall notify the city prior to suspending service to any multifamily customer. (Ord. M-4264 § 5, 2019; Ord. M-3193 § 5, 1995)