Steve Thurston (2021)
Under the new ordinance, garbage must be screened from public view.
Town of Bolton approved a garbage ordinance, #86, that requires local companies to keep garbage in approved containers with lids on. Also, leaks should be dried with a drying agent and once dried, swept up and put back into the garbage. Hosing leaks down the road is a thing of the past.
Businesses have one year to implement changes, and then they face a $1,000 fine, the ordinance says.
Pastor Scott Matthews of the Bolton Community Church worried about how this ordinance will be enforced, he told the board after the vote. He said that section 86-6 was too loose and provided hardship relief that says “an owner may petition the Zoning Board of Appeals to vary the requirements.” He felt too many people would claim a hardship and not follow the rules.
“The enforcement is what we’re both concerned about,” Matthews said, referring to another speaker who agreed with him.
Supervisor Ron Conover responded that the rules are stronger, and now people must come forward and ask for the variance, something that was not codified before.
“If that means that they have to have more regular pickups [of garbage to follow the rules], then they need more regular pickups,” Conover said.
He also said that most likely local people would see problems with garbage and report it to the town, and the town would take it from there. No one would patrol to check, Conover said, adding that in other situations, these problems are fixed with a simple phone call.
The rules apply to restaurants, commercial enterprises and multi-family residences of three or more units, the ordinance says. [The ordinance #86 can be found on the town’s website here.]
Mike Muller, the town’s attorney, said after the meeting that some businesses had been using public property, locations two blocks away from the establishment and other people’s property to openly store garbage. This ordinance aimed to change that.
The ordinance also says that owners must have:
- “Leak free” dumpster or garbage containers with fitting lids.
- Opaque fencing at least 12 inches taller than the container.
- Control of the area to keep it clean.
- Placement of the receptacle in the back or side yard, away from the public thoroughfares.
- Access to the receptacles from the garbage-owner’s property or under contract with another property owner.
- Enclosures as far as possible from residential properties.
- Enclosures situated “on premises” (this may be subject to Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Board review).
Public garbage cans and temporary garbage containers set up during construction do not fall under the ordinance. Owners may appeal to ZBA or planning for variances to the rules.