§ 39-99. Placement for collection in the central business district.

It shall be unlawful for any owner, manager, tenant, or occupant of any business establishment or building in the central business district, or the agent or employee of such person, to fail to comply with the following minimum standards relating to the placement and collection of garbage, rubbish, or recyclable material:

(1)

Types of receptacles. Suitable containers must be used for private service commercial collection of municipal solid waste. Solid waste generated or accumulated in any business establishment or building shall be contained in a bulk container or one of the following trash receptacles:

a.

A garbage or rubbish container. A garbage or rubbish container shall meet the requirements of section 39-61 of this Code.

b.

Plastic bags. Plastic bags shall have a minimum film thickness of two mils.

(2)

Cardboard boxes. When cardboard boxes alone are placed for collection, they shall be broken down, flattened, and tied in bundles not exceeding four feet.

(3)

Collection. Collection of garbage, recyclable material, or rubbish is permitted at all hours except between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

(4)

Placement.

a.

Garbage, trash, and recyclable material receptacles and cardboard boxes shall not be placed out for collection earlier than 2:00 p.m. on the day of collection, and the receptacles shall be removed immediately after collection of the contents.

b.

No garbage, trash, or recyclable material receptacle or cardboard box may be placed out for collection for more than four hours, and the receptacles shall be removed from an improved public street right-of-way, including the street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way property adjacent thereto, no later than 7:00 a.m.

c.

Garbage, trash, and recyclable material receptacles and cardboard boxes shall be placed out for collection at the curbline of a public street in front of or adjacent to the premises and in such a manner as to leave a five foot minimum width corridor for pedestrian passage.

d.

Garbage, trash, and recyclable material receptacles may not be placed adjacent to or in a parking meter zone or a commercial vehicle loading zone or within five feet of any crosswalk.

(5)

City-owned trash receptacles. Solid waste generated or accumulated in any business establishment or building shall not be placed in city-owned trash receptacles used to collect litter.

(6)

Exception. This section does not apply to sidewalk litter collected by the city or the Houston Downtown Management District.

(Ord. No. 04-1060, § 2, 10-13-04; Ord. No. 07-464, § 8, 4-11-07; Ord. No. 09-823, §§ 22, 23, 9-2-09)