From: Lthack@aol.com
Subject: Garbage Cleanup

If your agency is responsible for issuing orders for garbage cleanup, how
long do you give for compliance?  To whom do you issue the orders (tenant or
property owner)?  Do you require garbage containers?  If so, who is
responsible for providing containers?

We are trying to change our code but have had a bit of resistance by some of
our not so cooperative landlords.  Any info. you may share will be helpful.

Thanks, Laura Thacker 



From: Diane Evans 
Subject: Garbage Cleanup (fwd)

We issue a 10 day notice to the owner of the property (Housing Code holds
owner responsible for the condition of property). We do not do an inspection
upon receipt of a complaint, but instead generate a form letter from the
office based on what the complainant tells us. We do not accept anonymous
complaints. A blind copy of the notice is sent to the complainant with a
request to notify us after 10 days if the situation has NOT been improved. At
that point we do an inspection, charge a violation inspection fee if we verify
the condition has been unchanged, and set a second 10 day notice period with
the threat of a second inspection fee and legal action.

Garbage containers are required by local ordinances.

The vast majority of our complaints are resolved in this fashion, and we save
a tremendous amount of staff time by using the form notice generated from the
office and using the complainant as our "eyes" for compliance.



From: Lthack@aol.com
Subject: Trash Storage

In Racine we've been working with the community based concept (for solid
waste clean up and storage).  It sounds like you are dealing with an area
where there are a number of tenant occupied properties.  It's important that
both property owners and tenants understand their responsibilities in keeping
the trash cleaned up and contained properly until collection.

Community base policing was implemented in high crime areas (in Racine) about
three years ago.  Turned out that the areas with most crime were also the
areas with the worst trash problems.  We joined forces with the Police where
they had community based policing houses set up. Environmental Health has a
desk or office space at each site (currently five sites).  A lot of emphasis
is put into being accessible for the community and changing attitudes. The
district sanitarian and officer walk the streets together on specified days.
We recently changed an ordinance to require garbage containers where there
are repeat offenders (to be provided by the property owner).

Getting people to change old habits is difficult.  Community support is very
important.

The Univ. of Wisconsin is currently evaluating our program.  I'd be happy to
send you the results when we get them.



From: CThac@aol.com
Subject: Re: Trash Storage/Collection Points (fwd)

Don't even consider it.  Sorry to come across that strongly but I think you
would be going from a bad situation to an even worse one.  I think you need
to make significant changes to how the residents are storing their refuse but
not the way you proposed.  You need to make the landlord or owner of the
properties responsible or let government do the job. That is provide and
maintain containers for each of the residents.  Never, never require trash to
be put out after dark!  How can you hold anyone responsible, no wonder the
area is blighted.  People will foul their own nests especially if they can't
be held responsible.

    The only way communal trash cans will work is if the city is willing to
clean and maintain them on a frequent basis otherwise i'm afaird that you
will go from bad to worse.



From: Allentown Health Bur. <105252.3576@compuserve.com>
Subject:  Garbage Cleanup 

The City of Allentown provides trash collection for all properties up to
and including 20 units.  Health Bureau shares responsibility with City Code
Enforcement Bureau for trash complaints.  Those involving illegal dumping
are handled by Code; property owner is held liable for cleanup withing 30
days.  Complaints about inappropriate trash storage or set-outs are Health
Bureau responsibility.  Orders are directed at tenants if they can be
identified through checking through the trash, otherwise the property owner
may be held liable.  Time for complaince varies from 24 hours up to thirty
(30) days, depending on severity of problem. The City's solid waste
ordinance specifies containers that are durable, water tight, and  made of
metal or plastic; sealed plastic bags also permitted.  The trash generator
is responsible for providing adequate containers.  For buildings with
private collection, bulk containers must be provided by the property owner.
For more information, please call Jeff Stout at (610) 437-7599.

Tom Morgan



From: Treser, Chuck 
Subject:  Garbage Cleanup 
 
It seems to me that this might be a great way to generate articles for the
NCLEHA Newsletter -- generate a question on the EH Listserve and then compile
the responses.  I'd bet this would stimulate other responses and other
questions.  I see growth of both NCLEHA and the EH Listserv as people figure
out this is a great way to tap into the rich ideas that are already available
in EH.