City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 140,
ARTICLE I, SECTION 140-4 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON ENTITLED “GARBAGE
AND RUBBISH COLLECTION” TO AUTHORIZE
A RED TAG BULK ITEM DISPOSAL SECTION
Whereas, in correspondence dated November 3, 2025, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works formally requested authorization to amend Chapter 140, Article I, Section 140-4 of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon, entitled “Garbage and Rubbish Collection - Additional Services,” to add a new subsection (F) as set forth herein; and
Whereas, on recommendation of the Department of Public Works (“DPW”), the City of Mount Vernon seeks to modernize and clarify the City’s sanitation code to reflect current waste management practices; and
Whereas, the accumulation and improper disposal of oversized household and commercial items such as furniture, appliances, and other bulky waste creates health, safety, and environmental hazards; and
Whereas, the City recognizes the need for an organized, sustainable, and enforceable system for the collection and disposal of bulky or oversized items; and
Whereas, the proposed amendment establishes a Red Tag Bulk Item Disposal Service, which requires the purchase of disposal tags for oversized items to ensure appropriate handling and cost recovery; and
Whereas, the establishment of such a program provides the Department of Public Works with a clear legal framework for implementation, enforcement, and fee collection consistent with City policy and budgetary procedures.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon, in regular session assembled, as follows:
Section 1. Amendment to Section 140-4 - Garbage and Rubbish Collection. Section 140-4 of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon is hereby amended to add a new subsection entitled “Red Tag Bulk Item Disposal Service”, to read as follows:
§140-4(F) Red Tag Bulk Item Disposal Service.
1. Purpose. The Red Tag Bulk Item Disposal Service provides for the lawful disposal of oversized or bulky household and commercial waste that cannot be collected through standard sanitation services.
2. Program Requirements.
(a) Residents and property owners shall be required to affix a City-issued Red Tag to each bulky item placed curbside for collection.
(b) The tags shall be visibly affixed to the item on the scheduled collection day.
(c) Any bulky item placed for collection without a valid Red Tag shall be subject to removal penalties as provided in this Code.
3. Tag Categories and Fees. Fees for disposal tags shall be established by City Council resolution and may be amended from time to time.
The initial program shall include the following categories:
o $12 Tag: General bulky household items such as chairs, tables, rolled carpets, bicycles, large furniture, sofas, dressers, mattresses, and toilets.
o $25 Tag: Appliances and specialty items such as air conditioning units, snow blowers, and grills (excluding propane tanks).
4. Purchase and Distribution. Tags shall be available for purchase through designated City offices and online platforms as determined by the Department of Public Works and the Department of Finance.
5. Revenue Allocation. All proceeds from tag sales shall be credited to a revenue account established by the Office of the Comptroller for the Red Tag Bulk Item Disposal Service and utilized solely for program operations and sanitation-related costs.
6. Enforcement and Penalties. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute a violation subject to fines as set forth under Chapter 140 or as otherwise established by City ordinance.
Section 2. Implementation and Coordination. The Department of Public Works, in coordination with the Procurement and Purchasing Manager, shall publish public notice of this amendment and oversee the implementation and rollout of the Red Tag Bulk Item Disposal Service.
Section 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this ordinance shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof.
Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage and adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate & Contract.