Amending Code by Inclusion of New Article 12 Addressing Residential Composting Regulations

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Residential Composting Regulations Ordinance Page 2 Article 12. Residential Composting Regulations Sec. 14 -116. Definitions. As used in this Article: (a) Community garden means a Parcel or parcels of land which is gardened collectively by agroup of individuals and /or a non -Profit organization(s) where Produce Plants and related food items are grown or developed for the benefit of the community. (b) Compost means the Product produced by the composting of vegetative mater. t (c) Composting is the biological treatment process by which microorganisms decompose the organic component of vegetative matter (such as yard or landscaping waste including leaves grass brush, limbs and branches (d) Organic materials for composting mean discarded garden plants grass clippings tree Leaves acid plant trimmings, spent flowers weeds sawdust wood ash straw, fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, lettuce leaves trimmings from kitchen scraps coffee grounds tea leaves/bags and other raw non - greasy food wastes 2 Sec. 14 -117. Compost Area Size and Location Regulations/Limited Exceptions for Community Gardens. (a) A compost area may only be located in the rear yard of a residentially zoned parcel, shall be located at least five (5) feet from lot lines and no closer than twenty (20) feet to any habitable building other than the residential owner's own home (b) All compost areas shall comply with applicable zoning regulations of Chapter 21 of the South Bend Municipal Code and shall not exceed a total of one hundred (100) cubic feet in volume for city lots less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet and one hundred fifty (150) cubic feet for lots greater than ten thousand (10,000) square feet and no greater than five (5) feet high .1 (c) If a community garden located within the City is anticipated to exceed the cubic feet ' This definition is from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Land Quality publication dated January 24, 2000, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk. ' This definition is from the Department of Horticulture's Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service publication written by B. Rosie Lerner entitled "Managing Yard Wastes: Clippings and Compost" Oct. 2002, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk. ' Reasonable set back regulations are consistent with the City's zoning regulations which are to promote "...the public health, safety, comfort, morals, convenience, and general welfare" addressed in South Bend Municipal Code § 21- 01.01(c)(3).