West Chester holds public hearing on major rewrite of trash, tote and dumpster rules

West Chester Borough held a public hearing to review proposed amendments to Chapter 62, “Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse,” that would reorganize the code, define terms such as “toter” and “dumpster,” change storage and screening requirements, and require larger dumpsters for properties that generate more than the equivalent of four 96‑gallon toters per week.

The revisions, presented by a member of the council committee, would move general rules into a single section, split public-collection and private‑hauler requirements into separate sections, and clarify dumpster use and screening. The hearing record shows the committee worked with borough staff on the draft and that the changes are intended to make the ordinance more readable and enforceable.

Why it matters: Council members and residents said the borough’s alleys and sidewalks are increasingly used for permanent trash storage and that inconsistent rules have allowed a proliferation of toters and uncovered bags. The draft attempts to limit the…