• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Oklahoma City Ordinance Focuses on Trash Containers

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 November 2005, 18:01 CST

By Bryan Dean, The Daily Oklahoman

Nov. 23--Oklahoma City business owners will have to block their trash containers from the view of neighborhoods and public streets if an ordinance proposed during Tuesday's city council meeting passes.

Ward 6 Councilwoman Ann Simank sought the change after getting complaints from residents of neighborhoods. Council members will vote on the ordinance Dec. 13.

The ordinance would require businesses to place trash containers at least 25 feet from residential properties. Containers would also have to be screened by fences, berms or landscaping at least 6 feet high.

Simank called the trash bins "eyesores."

"The grass doesn't grow there, and trash blows there and it blows up and down the public street," Simank said.

The rule would apply to any trash container in view of a residential property or a public street.

The ordinance would not allow business owners to screen containers with chain link fences, even if slats are woven through the fence to visibly block the container.

"That will not cut it," Simank said. "We're hoping companies will get creative. We have allowed evergreen growth. You could plant some cedars that are 6 feet tall. You might want to berm it. Otherwise, wood fencing and gates would probably be the most logical choice."

If the ordinance passes, businesses will have 18 months to bring their trash bins into compliance.

-----

To see more of The Daily Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsok.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, The Daily Oklahoman

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Daily Oklahoman

More News in this Category