Antrim solid waste regulations updated

Antrim Township Supervisors last week voted to update the township's solid waste and recycling ordinance.

But most board members agreed even with the updates, the township's waste guidelines are far from ideal.

The ordinance specifies guidelines for how residents are to handle all aspects of the collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of municipal waste and recycling throughout the township.

Updates to the ordinance include changes to handling yard waste, storing waste on properties and disposal of wild animal carcasses.

The new ordinance prohibits dumping and littering and makes it unlawful to accumulate or salvage waste on private property.

Township Code Enforcement Officer Sylvia House said the township receives frequent complaints about junk on properties.

The ordinance also prohibits gathering leaf waste from one property to dump it on another.

"I've violated that and I'm going to continue to," admitted Supervisor Fred Young III.

Young said he often cleans up his neighbor's leaves by removing them to his own property.

House said residents who violate the ordinance with pure intentions such as Young's wouldn't likely be cited unless someone complains. If a complaint were brought to the attention of township officials, an investigation would be done before any violations are levied.

"The issues we have are when people bring back metal and stockpile it," House explained.

"I'd like to see something in the ordinance about electronics recycling," said Young said.

"Anything the township would offer residents would cost us $30,000 to start and it's tough to control," said Supervisor Pat Heraty. "But at some point you have to address it."

House said by not specifically addressing the disposal of electronics, residents can dispose of them as they choose, so long as they aren't violating county or state regulations.

The ordinance update passed, with Heraty abstaining from the vote.

"There's ways we can improve this as time goes forward," admitted Young.

*** Wild animal carcasses ***

The solid waste ordinance now bases the standards for disposal of wild animal carcasses on the state and federal regulations for disposal of domestic animals.

“Methods include burial, mortality composting and rendering in accordance with the procedures established by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and incineration only at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection licensed facilities,” the proposed update reads.

House said brochures about Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regulations, already familiar to local farmers, will be available at the township office.

The ordinance continues, “Animal carcasses, parts of hides that are being collected, stored and/or processed to generate a product, shall be concealed from view and enclosed and/or sealed off at all times in a manner that emits no odor and prevents the attraction, harborage or breeding of insects or rodents and eliminates conditions harmful to the public health, safety and welfare. Examples of proper storage are solid containers with tight fitting sealed lids, properly working refrigerated storage containers and the like. Tarps, plastic bags and the like are not proper containment.”