Spokane Municipal Code

Title 13 Public Utilities and Services

Chapter 13.02 Solid Waste

Article III. Collection

Section 13.02.0352 Commercial Container Site Location Requirements

1. All commercial containers must be placed on a firm surface pad of concrete or asphalt at least four inches thick. Use of asphalt is discouraged. Customers are cautioned that asphalt surfaces may sink or become uneven or unserviceable. Use of asphalt is at the customers’ sole risk.

2. The surface pad for a dumpster must be at least twelve feet wide by ten feet deep inside measurements without recycling, and seventeen feet wide by ten feet deep with recycling. The gates when opened should have an inside clearance of twelve feet.

1. 1. The surrounding site-obscuring fence must be a minimum of six feet tall with sturdy gates.

1. 1. 1. The gates must be of construction and design to rest in an open position during pickup so they do not swing shut upon City equipment or personnel.

1. 1. 2. The gate(s) must include some sort of latch mechanism to ensure the gates remain open during entry, dumping process and exit.

1. 2. Said container site must have adequate lighting and any other improvements determined necessary by the director of solid waste management and Spokane County health district.

3. The container pickup location for recyclable materials must have a five feet opening for access either to the front or side.

1. 1. Large containers designated for large volumes of recyclables must have screened enclosures of adequate size and dimension to contain each container.

1. 2. The department reviews each application and reserves the right to modify the requirements herein or impose additional requirements in the interest of safety, aesthetics and the efficient operation of the department.

4. Customers must provide access and turning space for departmental vehicles. These requirements include:

1. 1. Space for a collection vehicle turning radius of a minimum of forty-five feet or equivalent vehicle clearance or access if the collection vehicles perform a hammerhead maneuver.

1. 1. 1. As used herein, the term “hammerhead” defines a backup pattern of a collection vehicle in the shape of the letter “T”;

1. 2. collection vehicle backup allowance requirement of fifty feet;

1. 3. enclosures housing containers must include space to allow an approach for department collection vehicles sufficient for vehicle ingress and egress.

1. 1. 1. Because this is a site-specific determination by the department, all customers must obtain specific written approval from the director before construction begins;

1. 4. a sturdy, reliable backstop to prevent damage to back enclosure wall;

1. 5. all collection vehicle access routes must have at least fourteen feet vertical height drive clearance.

1. 1. 1. Dump clearance is greater.

1. 1. 2. Customers are required to remove any vertical height lines or obstacles;

1. 6. all maneuvering must be done on site. No backing out onto streets.

5. An apron or curb cut must be available or provided for departmental use, provided at the customer’s expense.

1. 1. Department collection vehicles are not designed to “jump” curbs. Where such maneuver occurs as a result of customer failure to provide proper apron or curb cut for vehicle access, the customer is responsible for any damage caused and must pay all costs of curb replacement and repair.

6. Nothing may be stored in the enclosure other than City-owned containers.

1. 1. This includes grease buckets, loose cardboard or pop and milk crates.

1. 2. The City will not repair any damages incurred to an enclosure when it is improperly used for storage.

7. Rolloff Requirements.

Rolloff containers are placed after an on-site inspection to insure that space requirements are fulfilled.

1. 1. Generally, a container will not be placed in the street, in the parking strip or on the sidewalk.

1. 2. If a customer requires a temporary container to be placed in a parking strip, an obstruction permit must be obtained from and receipt confirmed by the construction services division or equivalent office at (509) 625-6300 prior to delivery.

8. No permanent dumpster will be delivered until all conditions are met.

1. 1. A certificate of occupancy or other departmental approval likewise will not be signed until on-site inspection confirms compliance with this chapter. At all times, it remains the customer’s sole responsibility to obtain such approval, which should not be presumed.

1. 2. Note that for customer convenience other parts of a building project may be approved, but solid waste approval of a site plan as required herein may not be inferred thereby.

Date Passed: Monday, November 26, 2012

Effective Date: Tuesday, January 1, 2013

ORD C34938 Section 18