§ 27-12 Specifications for Waste Containerization Systems.
(a) The owner or other person in charge of the premise served by a waste containerization system (hereinafter the "premises") shall maintain in a safe, clean, odor-free and properly operating condition all containers and other equipment kept on such premises in connection with the operation of such system and shall keep the place of storage for the containers safe, clean and odor-free at all times. There shall be kept on the premises a hose and brush or a steam cleaner and all other necessary equipment to properly clean the containers, unless such containers are regularly cleaned at a location off the premises and such equipment is not required by any other law or regulation. Each container shall be cleaned on a concrete or other paved surface properly drained into the sewer or a septic system. Such surface and drainage system shall be maintained in a safe, clean, odor-free and properly operating condition.
(b) A waste containerization system shall be of sufficient capacity to permit the safe and sanitary storage of 150 percent of all waste normally accumulated on or generated within the premises between any regularly scheduled collections, unless otherwise agreed by the Commissioner of the Department of Sanitation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless a waste containerization system is sufficient to permit the safe and sanitary storage of all waste normally accumulated on or generated within the premises during a period of 72 hours, the owner or person in charge of the premises shall keep on hand sufficient additional lawful waste receptacles to permit such storage.
(c) Except when in the process of being collected or emptied, all containers shall be kept and stored on the premises at all times, in rooms or compartments which comply with § 27-837 of the Building [Administrative] Code or in any other location not prohibited by law. If the place of storage is outside the premises, the containers shall be kept in location where they will not be unsightly and will not cause a nuisance to residents of the premises or of neighboring premises. If possible they should be screened from view by an attractive enclosure. The place of storage of the containers shall be one from which the containers may be safely moved to the location where they are emptied or collected. Such location shall be one to which collection vehicles have safe and convenient access and which shall be suitably equipped, adequately lit and of sufficient size for the safe loading or emptying of the containers. The place of storage of the containers and the location where the containers are emptied or loaded shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Sanitation on behalf of itself, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Health.
(d) Containers shall be compatible in all respects, including without limitation dimensions and loading mechanisms, with the collection vehicles which service them.
(e) Containers in which tenants are required or permitted to deposit waste shall be of types which can safely, easily, and conveniently be opened and closed by all tenants using them and while available for tenant use shall be kept in a place which provides safe and convenient access for tenants.
(f) Containers shall:
(1) be made of continuously welded steel with all welds and edges ground smooth;
(2) be capable of holding 700 pounds of waste per cubic yard of capacity, when at rest and during loading and unloading, without permanent distortion;
(3) have adequate provision for reinforcement, stiffening and protection at points of high stress or wear;
(4) hold liquids without leaking and be equipped with a drain plug at the bottom on one end; and
(5) have heavy duty skids or rollers or other devices to keep the bottom of the container off the ground and reduce wear when it is moved.
(g) Containers shall have tight-fitting doors and/or lids which shall
(1) be attached by means of heavy duty hinges;
(2) be equipped with counterbalance springs whenever necessary to prevent destructive or dangerous overswinging;
(3) be reinforced to prevent bending and warping; and
(4) completely seal the containers to prevent rodents, insects and other pests from entering.
(h) The Department of Sanitation shall keep and make available to the public a list of containers which in the opinion of such Department, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Health meet the physical specifications of subdivisions (f) and (g) of this section.
(i) Unless made of stainless steel or another material not subject to corrosion or wear, containers shall be completely primed and painted inside and out with corrosion-resisting primer and paint. They shall be repainted whenever the metal shows through the paint and whenever necessary to prevent them from becoming unsightly. Containers shall have painted in block letters on one vertical side (and in the case of a container that is loaded onto or attached to a collection vehicle, in a position where it is easily visible when loaded or attached) the name and principal business address of the owner of the container, the capacity of the container in cubic yards and the gross allowed weight of the container (calculated on the basis of 700 pounds per cubic yard of capacity plus the tare weight of the container). The words "STAND CLEAR WHEN CONTAINER IS BEING SERVICED" shall be painted in a prominent position on all four vertical sides in block letters at least four inches high.
