City Manager Letter

Attached please find amendments to Chapter 8.24 of the Cambridge Municipal Code "Refuse and Litter" as well as a new proposed ordinance Chapter 8.25 "Dumpster Licenses".

As you know, a Rodent Task Force has been meeting for over a year. The Task Force is comprised of representatives of the Inspectional Services, Public Works and Public Health Departments, as well as members of the community and a representative from Harvard.  A major discussion point for the Task Force has been dumpsters and improvements to site cleanliness and rodent control through the licensing of dumpsters. Originally based on Boston's Site Cleanliness Ordinance, the Task Force, then DPW and ISD and the Law Department in more detail, drafted an ordinance to improve sanitary compliance in Cambridge.

The proposed Dumpster Licenses ordinance (chapter 8.25) outlines a process for the licensing of all dumpsters by the Inspectional Services Department, including temporary dumpsters (but excluding dumpsters used for one-day special events permitted by the City).   The ordinance requires the property owner or designated Responsible Party to submit an application to the City with information that will allow the city to better regulate the proper use of the dumpster.  Information on lot ownership and dumpster location, scheduling of hauling, cleaning and maintenance, waste hauler and pest control company data, proof of recycling and anticipated volume of refuse and recycling, as well as a description of how employees or residents are being notified about proper use, are some of the information required on the dumpster license application.

The amendments to the Refuse and Litter Ordinance (chapter 8.24) being recommended  are to: (1) appropriately reference the new ordinance, and (2) give more explicit control of refuse container use by multi-family dwellings to the DPW, including the ability of the DPW to refuse service due to the volume of the refuse and the capacity of the DPW to collect or dump such refuse, and require private collection (e.g. dumpster service and/or more frequent pickup) which provisions are already in effect with respect to commercial and nonprofit establishments. Again, we feel this amendment will enhance our ability to improve sanitary compliance in Cambridge.