Solid Waste Collection, Disposal and Control Bylaw 2183, 2015
Merritt, British Columbia
This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 440cfd2d6afb · verified 2026-06-08 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
CITY OF MERRITT
BYLAW NO. 2183, 2015
A BYLAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION, DISPOSAL
AND CONTROL OF SOLID WASTE
WHEREAS under the provisions of the Community Charter, a municipality may
provide for services for community benefit;
AND WHEREAS the City of Merritt has established a service to provide for
the management of solid waste;
AND WHEREAS it is deemed expedient to establish regulations for the management
of solid waste;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the City of Merritt, in open meeting
assembled, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1.
CITATION
This Bylaw shall be cited as "CITY OF MERRITT SOLID WASTE
COLLECTION, DISPOSAL AND CONTROL BYLAW NO. 2183, 2015".
2.
REPEAL
The "City of Merritt Solid Waste Collection, Disposal and Control Bylaw No. 1358,
1992 is hereby REPEALED.
3.
DEFINITIONS:
In this bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Approved Garbage Bag"- means a garbage bag constructed of 1.5 mm
polyethylene and measuring 66 cm (approximately 26 in.) in diameter by 91 cm
(approximately 36 in.) in height, and must not exceed 22.7 kg when placed out
for collection.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 2
"Approved Solid Waste Receptacle"- means a solid waste container which has
been supplied and approved by the Public Works Manager and/or
Superintendent in accordance with this by-law for use with the curbside collection
service.
"Automated Collection"- means the collection of solid waste using a specially
designed vehicle with mechanical apparatus which empties a container or solid
waste bin directly into a vehicle without requiring manual labour to empty the
container or solid waste bin.
"Bear Attractants" - include any and all food wastes, offal, and accumulations of
discarded fruit, whether on public or private land.
"Bin Collection Utility Charge" - means the utility charge that is imposed, in
accordance with Schedule "C" of City of Merritt Fees and Charges Bylaw No.
2176, 2015 upon the owners of real property who have been authorized to use
the City bin collection service.
"City" - shall mean the City of Merritt, including the Council and its agents.
"City Bin Collection Service" - means the City's automated collection or semi-
automated collection of solid waste by means of approved bins.
"Collector" - shall mean the Deputy Financial Manager for the City of Merritt, and
his/her designate, appointed to receive and distribute all money paid to the
municipality.
"Collection Crew" - means any City employee or other person authorized by the
City to provide any service under this by-law.
"Commercial / Industrial Premise" - shall mean any building or self-contained
part thereof, used or intended for use, other than a dwelling.
"Commercial / Industrial Bin" - shall mean a metal bin supplied and approved by
the Public Works Manager and/or Superintendent in accordance with this by-
law for use or intended to be used at a commercial / industrial premise, supplied
by and rented from the City.
"Commercial / Industrial Solid Waste" - shall mean any and all rejected,
abandoned or discarded matter, sweepings, all inflammable materials of a like
nature, resulting from the operation of a commercial/industrial premise, but does
not include special waste or any recyclable materials.
"Curbside Collection Service" - means the City's curbside automated collection of
solid waste from premises situated within the City of Merritt.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 3
"Dwelling" - shall mean any residential building or self-contained unit, having one
kitchen, used or intended for use as a dwelling, place of abode, or place of living
by one family or tenant, and includes, but is not limited to each such unit of a
duplex, apartment, townhouse or mobile home.
"Garbage Tag" - means a tag issued by the City in accordance with this by-law
"Green Waste" - means grass and hedge clippings, flowers, leaves, garden
waste, and branch and tree prunings up to 15 cm in diameter.
"Hazardous Waste" - has the meaning assigned in the Hazardous Waste
Regulation to the BC Environmental Management Act, as amended from time to
time.
"Multi-Family Dwelling" - means a building or part of a building used or intended
to be used for four or more dwelling units.
"Occupier" - shall mean any person occupying any dwelling, or commercial
/industrial premise, within the City, including any owner, lessee or tenant.
"Offensive Waste" - means any matter or thing, natural or manmade, that, on its
own or when mixed with any other substance, may be germ or vermin infested,
have an offensive odour, be injurious to the health of a person handling it, or that
results in the disruption of solid waste collection service by reason of the need to
clean equipment, personnel, public or private property, and includes, without
limitation, acids and other corrosive materials, combustible materials, and
includes special waste, but does not include hazardous waste.
"Private Bin Collection Service" - means any automated collection or semi-
automated collection of solid waste by means of solid waste bins, other than the
City bin collection service.
"Public Works Manager or Superintendent" - means the person appointed as
such from time to time by the City of Merritt and any person delegated to assist in
carrying out his/her duties under this by-law.
"Recyclable Materials" - includes, but is not limited to, mixed paper, newsprint,
corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic milk jugs.
"Quarter" - shall mean the time in any one year whereby commercial /industrial
premises are billed for solid waste service. Each quarter commences as follows:
January first (1st) for January, February and March, April first (1st) for April, May
and June, July first (1st) for July, August and September, and October first (1st)
for October, November and December.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 4
"Residential Solid Waste" - shall mean any and all rejected, abandoned or
discarded matter, including vegetable or animal food, floor sweepings, crockery,
glass or metal ware, having contained food, ashes, grass, hedge clippings, or
other garden refuse or rubbish. This does not include special waste or any
recyclable materials.
"Sanitation Labourer" - shall mean the person(s) appointed to collect solid waste
from within the solid waste collection area.
"Solid Waste Collection Service" - means the service provided by the City for the
collection, removal, and disposal of solid waste, and for greater certainty,
includes curbside collection service and City bin collection service.
"Solid Waste Collection Area" - shall mean the areas within the City of Merritt
Boundaries.
"Special Waste" - shall mean, including but is not limited to, all hazardous,
inflammable, radioactive and toxic materials as defined in the Waste
Management Act.
4.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
4.1 The City, by this by-law, is authorized to establish the solid waste collection
service for the purposes of collecting, removing, and disposing of solid waste
within the City, either by contract or by use of City-owned equipment and City
labour, and such service shall be under the control and subject to the inspection
of the Public Works Manager or Superintendent.
4.2
Upon providing the property owner or occupier with 24 hours prior to written
notice, the Public Works Manager or Superintendent is authorized to enter, at all
reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, any land and buildings for the
purposes of ascertaining whether the provisions of this by-law are being
complied with.
5.
REGULATIONS FOR ALL APPROVED SOLID WASTE RECEPTACLES:
5.1
No person within the City of Merritt shall dispose of solid waste, except in
accordance with the provisions of this by-law.
5.2
No person shall cause or permit the accumulation of solid waste at or near
commercial premises, except where such solid waste is placed in suitable solid
waste bins for collection and removal.
5.3
All containers and solid waste bins must, at all times, be maintained in a clean
and sanitary condition and be covered securely with the lid.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 5
5.4
No person shall cause or permit the contents of a container or solid waste bin, for
which he or she is responsible, to exceed the 22.7 kg weight limit.
5.5
No person may accumulate, store, or collect any bear attractants in a manner
that poses or may pose a risk to the safety of any person.
5.6
The City may suspend solid waste collection service or order solid waste
collection service suspended from properties where the containers or approved
bins, by location or design, are not accessible for pickup according to the
provisions of this by-law; but such suspension shall not waive any requirement,
or abate or waive any fees or charges under the provisions of this by-law.
5.7
Hot ashes from incinerators or burning barrels, any liquid wastes, bulk chemical
composition waste, animal cuttings or waste of dead animals, tires, oil, fuel, and
other equipment lubricant filters will not be picked up by the solid waste collection
service.
5.8
Hazardous waste and offensive waste will not be picked up by the solid waste
collection service.
5.9
All table and kitchen waste, all wet garbage, pet waste, grass clippings, cold
ashes, and sawdust or other granular materials must be enclosed in approved
garbage bags prior to being placed in any container or solid waste bin.
5.10 All materials which might adhere to any container or solid waste bin must be
separately wrapped or disposed of within individual disposable wrappings prior to
being placed in any container or solid waste bin.
5.11 No person may deposit for pickup by the solid waste collection service any
explosive, volatile or corrosive materials, dangerous chemicals, or any other
material that, on its own or when mixed with another material, may pose a risk to
the health and/or safety of the collection crew.
5.12 Solid waste must not be compressed into any container or solid waste bin in a
manner that will inhibit the waste from falling freely into the vehicle during the
regular tipping process.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 6
6.
REGULATIONS FOR CURBSIDE COLLECTION
6.1
Any person wishing to receive curbside collection service must deposit his or her
solid waste in an approved universal container supplied by the City, unless
otherwise directed by the Public Works Manager or Superintendent.
6.2
Additional curbside collection in excess of the container or containers may be set
out in an approved garbage bag with a garbage tag affixed to each additional
piece. Refer to Schedule "C" of City of Merritt Fees and Charges Bylaw No.
2176, 2015 for the rates.
6.3
Curbside collection service shall consist of one (1) collection, garbage and
recycle cans, per week, fifty-two (52) weeks per year, from every dwelling within
the City of Merritt Boundaries. Collection may be deferred to the following week
to accommodate for statutory holidays.
6.4
For collection purposes, all containers must have their lids closed, open side of
lid facing the street, and must be placed next to the lane, on the edge of the
roadway, with three (3) feet clear on both sides and the back of your container.
6.5
Containers shall be readily accessible for emptying on all designated collection
days between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. with the exception of statutory
holidays which will be determined from time to time by the City.
6.6
No solid waste receptacles shall be located at the occupier's property line, either
adjacent to the sidewalk or road shoulder, or as designated by the City, before
5:00 a.m. of the day of scheduled collection.
6.7
All containers must be removed from the lane or roadway by 7:00 p.m. on
collection day and stored on private property in a safe manner.
6.8
All containers not accessible or not meeting the accessibility criteria, on
designated collection days, shall not be collected until the next regularly
scheduled collection.
6.9
Where collection vehicle access to any premises is hampered by any
circumstance, the Public Works Manager or Superintendent may designate an
alternate location for the placement of the container and/or approved garbage
bags.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 7
6.10 All Approved Solid Waste Receptacles that are damaged, lost, or stolen must be
reported to the Public Works Manager or Superintendent immediately. All
Approved Solid Waste Receptacles that are damaged or stolen as a result of
neglect or misuse on the part of the property owner or occupier must be replaced
at the expense of the property owner; otherwise, the Approved Universal
Container will be repaired or replaced by the City. Refer to Schedule "C" of City
of Merritt Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2176, 2015 for the rates.
7.
SOLID WASTE COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL SERVICES:
7.1
Property owners and occupiers must apply to the City of Merritt for use of the
City bin collection service. Refer to Schedule "C" of City of Merritt Fees and
Charges Bylaw No. 2176, 2015 for the rates.
7.2
Shall include collection of solid waste from every premise within the City of
Merritt boundaries, for a minimum of one (1) time per week, fifty-two (52) weeks
per year, or at a frequency determined by mutual agreement between the
occupier and the City, prior to the commencement of each quarter.
7.3
Service shall consist of the removal of solid waste from regulation solid waste
receptacles, as regulated by this bylaw. Notwithstanding the above, if the amount
of solid waste collected does not, in the opinion of the City of Merritt, warrant the
rental of a commercial / industrial receptacle from the City, commercial /
industrial premises may be permitted to dispose of solid waste in two (2)
residential or plastic receptacles (240L).
7.4
All commercial / industrial Bins must be located on a concrete surface, provided
at the expense of the occupier
7.5
All commercial / industrial Bins shall be accessible for collection on all
designated collection days between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. with the
exception of statutory holidays which will be determined from time to time by the
City
7.6
All commercial / industrial Bins not accessible or not meeting the accessibility
criteria, on designated collection days, shall not be collected until the next
regularly scheduled collection.
7.7
A commercial / industrial Bin collection utility charge shall be and is hereby
imposed upon property owners who have been or whose occupiers have been
authorized to use the City bin collection service in accordance with this by-law.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 8
7.8
The bin collection utility charge imposed herein shall be calculated in accordance
with the rates set forth in Schedule "C" of City of Merritt Fees and Charges Bylaw
No. 2176, 2015 for the rates, and is payable whether or not:
a) any of the premises on the property to which the City bin collection
service will apply are used or occupied; or
b) the City bin collection service is interrupted or altered in any manner.
7.9
The time and frequency of City bin collection service and the location and
number of approved bins shall be determined by the Public Works Manager or
Superintendent from time to time.
8.
SPECIAL WASTES
8.1
Collection of special wastes will not be undertaken by the City. If disposal is
required, an occupier must contact the Ministry of Environment to receive
regulations for disposal and permission to do so, as regulated by the Waste
Management Act.
9.
PAYMENT OF FEES
9.1
Every occupier shall pay to the City fees and charges for the collection, disposal
and control of solid waste, which are payable, regardless if the collection
services are utilized. All fees and charges shall be as per Schedule "C" of City of
Merritt Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2176, 2015 for the rates.
9.2
Residential dwelling fees shall be billed semi-annually with the first bill issued at
the end of April and the second invoice at the end of October. Residential
Garbage Rates are due and payable thirty (30) days from the invoice date.
Invoices paid within thirty (30) days will receive a ten (10%) percent discount.
Outstanding payments at the end of the year shall be transferred to arrears
property taxes in accordance with the Community Charter.
9.3
Commercial / industrial premise solid waste collection fees, and all those other
than residential dwelling, shall be due and payable to the City, on a quarterly
basis. A new occupier shall be charged with a pro-rated monthly commercial /
industrial receptacle rental fee for the first month of his /her application. The
former occupier will be charged a pro-rated amount for the last month.
9.4
A commercial / industrial premise will be considered vacant if an applicant for a
water shut off has been approved, and will not be charged for solid waste
collection services. If a water shut off is not viable, vacancy will be determined by
the City, upon inspection. No refunds for vacancies will be considered.
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 9
9.5
All fees and charges remaining unpaid on the 31st day of December in any year
shall be added to and form a part of the property taxes, entered as taxes in
arrears in accordance with the Community Charter.
10.
DISPOSAL OF WASTE:
10.1 No person shall dispose of solid waste anywhere within the boundaries of the
City of Merritt, except within regulation solid waste receptacles, or as permitted
under Sec. 5 of this bylaw.
10.2 No person shall dispose of solid waste within a regulation solid waste receptacle,
unless given the authority to do so, by the occupier.
11.
PENALTY AND SUMMARY CONVICTION:
11.1 Every person who commits an offence under this bylaw is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00)
READ A FIRST TIME THIS
09th day of June, 2015
READ A SECOND TIME THIS
09th day of June, 2015
READ A THIRD TIME THIS
09th day of June, 2015
ADOPTED THIS
23rd day of June, 2015
Original signed by
Original signed by
Neil Menard,
Allan Chabot,
MAYOR
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
/CORPORATE OFFICER
City of Merritt
Bylaw No. 2183, 2015
Page 10