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File #: 12953-24    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: In Committee
File created: 3/1/2024 In control: Committee on Sustainability and Green Initiatives
On agenda: 3/5/2024 Final action:
Title: An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances by the creation of a new Chapter 572, entitled “Litter,” in order to provide specific guidelines for enforcement of littering offenses within Allegheny County.
Sponsors: John Palmiere
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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances by the creation of a new Chapter 572, entitled “Litter,” in order to provide specific guidelines for enforcement of littering offenses within Allegheny County.

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Whereas, Allegheny County has a longstanding tradition of endeavoring to legislatively enhance and protect its natural features, homes, businesses, and residents from litter, as typified by regulations enacted governing conduct in the County parks, resolution 11-15 (establishing an annual Countywide Cleanup Day), authorizations for leaf composting areas on County-owned property, and the like; and
Whereas, although the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has criminalized scattering rubbish, at 18 Pa.C.S.A. §6501, this statute is neither particularly specific nor tailored to the individual needs and concerns of Allegheny County; and
Whereas, it is the considered judgment of Council that both observational and anecdotal evidence strongly suggest that existing protections against litter are not adequate to the task; and
Whereas, it is further the judgment of Council that the enactment of a uniform Countywide litter ordinance may serve the valuable purposes of creating additional disincentives to littering and raising public awareness of this concern, provided that such enactment does not impinge on existing or future statutes and regulations enacted by other municipal governments within the County; and
Whereas, it is incontrovertible that the proliferation of litter causes financial and administrative burdens for local governments, in the form of resources that must be committed to initiating and managing cleanup activities; and
Whereas, when confronted with similar circumstances, other home rule governments within the County have enacted litter control ordinances in an effort to curb the spread of litter;

The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follo...

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