It has been brought to our attention that there is still some confusion over a few of the details of the new waste-collection bylaw in the Town of St. Marys. Frankly, it has us puzzled how anyone could have any problem figuring out any part of it. It is all set down very clearly in 2,500 words on seven pages of legal-size paper.
The bylaw is divided up into 14 sections which are split into another 45 subsections. Within those 45 subsections, there are an additional 25 sub-subsections and within those sub-subsections are six more sub-sub-subsections. So, you can see, care has been taken not to leave anything out.
Because it is so simply presented, we hesitate to explain the bylaw yet again for our readers but since the maximum fine for breaking any part of it is $2,000, perhaps some sections of it do bear repeating. The bylaw excerpts we’ve been asked about most appear first in quotations with an explanation of their meaning following in regular type. (Our answers were developed after consulting with the Ontario Commissioner of Speaking Plainly.)
• “No person, other than the householder, shall pick over, interfere with, disturb, remove or scatter any bundle of paper, or article placed for removal, whether contained in a covered metal container or otherwise except and until the same is removed as herein provided, provided however, that the householder shall be permitted access to any covered metal container placed by the said householder for garbage collection by the Town, for the purpose of depositing therein additional garbage prior to the said container’s contents being collected or removed by the said Town.”
What this means:
Stay the heck out of your neighbour’s garbage can!
• “No person shall suffer or permit within the Town, the accumulation upon his premises or upon lands occupied by him or under his control, or deposit or permit the deposit upon any lands belonging to him or in occupation or under his control, of any garbage, refuse or waste or any other matter or thing, which may endanger public health.”
What this means:
Bombs, grenades, dynamite, gunpowder, live rattlesnakes and any other ammunition must be separated from the regular garbage and placed in a special green container for pickup at a later time.
• “No person shall sweep, throw, cast, lay or direct or suffer any agent or employee to sweep, throw, cast, lay or deposit any ashes, offal, fruit skins, cinders, straw, excelsior, store sweepings, shavings, paper, dirt, lawn rakings, broken glassware, hand bills, crockery, bottles, carcass of any animal, or waste of any kind whatever, on any lane, street, creek, roadway, or public place in the Town.”
What this means:
No littering allowed. For example, if you drag a dead cow, llama or bear uptown and leave it in front of the town hall, you’ll be in big trouble. (Editor’s note: Despite extensive research, we apologize that we have not been able to find out what offal and excelsior are, but to us, offal sounds awful.)
• “No person shall convey through the streets within the Town limits any garbage, refuse or any non-collectible waste except in properly covered metallic containers or otherwise in carts, wagons, or vehicles totally enclosed or covered with canvas, tarpaulins, or nets, so fastened down around the edges as to prevent any of the contents falling upon the streets and to protect the same from flies and to control, as far as possible, the escape of any offensive odours therefrom.”
What this means:
Keep your car windows rolled up as you drive through St. Marys, especially if you haven’t had a bath for a while.
Otherwise, happy waste disposalling!
©1989 Jim Hagarty
