14 Complaint Record 2012 BOARD OF HEALTH
CITY HALL
COMPLAINT RECORD
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Name of Complainant:To - -Ross
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NATURE OF COMPLAINT:
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Taken by: 5, I Date of Inspection:
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Date of Final Inspection: Lf
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BOARD OF HEAL L FH
MEMBERS
DONNA C.SALLOOM.CIIAIR
JOANNE LEVIN,M.D.
SUZANNE SMI Ili,M.D.
STAFF
Daniel Wasiak.Interim Director
Jennifer Brown.R N.,Public Health Nurse
Edmund Smith.Health Inspector
I leather McBride.Clerk
August20, 2012
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
Sophie Hodniki, Joseph Hodniki, Michael Hodniki, Catherine O'Brien
22 Straw Avenue
Florence MA 01062
212 MAIN STREET
NORTHAMPTON,MA 01060
413-5871214
To the owners of 22 Straw Avenue, Florence MA:
This department has received a complaint about waste disposal practices at your address The concerns are about food
waste, including vegetable trimmings and meat bones, being added to yard clippings without additional cover material to
hasten decomposition, limit odors, and decrease attractiveness to wild and domesticated animals in the neighborhood. It
has been reported that garbage from your yard is being scattered by animals. The attraction of animals, especially wild
animals, to residential yards in Northampton is a special concern of this Department.
We would advise you to always cover any new additions to your composting pile with fresh soil, and to periodically turn
the pile to spread the microbes and the material being composted throughout the pile. The addition of soil will also help
It is imperative that you do take steps to properly handle waste materials on your property. Here are some excerpts from
the State Sanitary Code(105 CMR 410.000: MINIMUM STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR HUMAN HABITATION that
apply to this situation:
410.602: Maintenance of Areas Free from Garbage and Rubbish
(A) Land. The owner of any parcel of land, vacant or otherwise, shall be responsible for maintaining such
parcel of land in a clean and sanitary condition and free from garbage, rubbish or other refuse. The owner of
such parcel of land shall correct any condition caused by or on such parcel or its appurtenance which affects
the health or safety, and well-being of the occupants of any dwelling or of the general public.
(B) Dwelling Units. The occupant of any dwelling unit shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and
sanitary condition and free of garbage, rubbish, other filth or causes of sickness that part of the dwelling which
he exclusively occupies or controls.
(C) Dwellings Containing Less than Three Dwelling Units. In a dwelling that contains less than three
dwelling units, the occupant shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition, free of
garbage, rubbish, other filth or causes of sickness the stairs or stairways leading to his dwelling unit and the
landing adjacent to his dwelling unit if the stairs, stairways or landing are not used by another occupant.
(D) Common Areas In any dwelling, the owner shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary
condition free of garbage, rubbish, other filth or causes of sickness that part of the dwelling which is used in
common by the occupants and which is not occupied or controlled by one occupant exclusively.
The owner of any dwelling abutting a private passageway or right-of-way owned or used in common with
other dwellings or which the owner or occupants under his control have the right to use or are in fact using
shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition free of garbage, rubbish, other filth or
causes of sickness that part of the passageway or right-of-way which abuts his property and which he or the
occupants under his control have the right to use, or are in fact using, or which he owns.
And also:
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410.nl20: Definitions
Composting means a process of accelerated biodegradation and stabilization of organic material under
controlled conditions yielding a product which can safely be used, as those terms are or may be defined by
310 CMR 19.00: Solid Waste Management.
Compostable Material means an organic material excluding waste water treatment residuals which has the
potential to be composted and which is pre-sorted and is not contaminated by significant amounts of toxic
substances, as those terms are or may be defined by 310 CMR 19.00: Solid Waste Management.
I will attach some information from the Commonwealth about composting that you may find useful. If you have any
questions do not hesitate to call this Department.
Sincerely,
/
Edmund Smith, Health Inspector
Northampton Health Department
1
build air passages into the pile to keep your compost pile aerobic and odor-free. Or use a
compost bin that allows air to penetrate the pile.
In about three months,the material will start to turn to compost. The material at the
bottom of the pile will be ready first. As more time goes by,the level of compost in the pile
will rise until it is easy to access just below the surface. You will know your compost is
ready to use-when it looks like rich, brown soil and no longer resembles the original
materials.
Compost benefits all plants,and there are many different ways to use it. Add a handful of
compost to each transplant hole when planting seedlings or potted plants. Spread another
handful on the surface of the soil around the newly planted seedling,making sure that the
compost is not touching the stem or trunk of the plant. This mulch layer will help hold
moisture in the soil and add nutrients in a time-release fashion. Spread compost around
perennials,shrubs and other existing plantings. If you are planting seeds,apply one-half
to three inches of compost and mix it in with the top four inches of soil in the seedbed. To
rejuvenate lawns,screen your compost using 1" screening. The mesh trays used for
holding and transporting potted plants from nurseries work well as ready-made compost
screens. Sprinkle the screened compost on the lawn about 1/4" deep. Screened compost is
also excellent for reseeding lawns. Sprinkle it 1/2' deep over the bare spots and distribute
new grass seed on top. You can even make excellent potting soil with compost by mixing
equal parts compost,sand and loam.
More composting information,including where to get low-cost,rodent-resistant
compost bins, is available at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection's web site, www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/composti.htm. Compost
bin design sheets for building your own bin are available at
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/publications/organics/44295054.pdf.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has banned disposal of
leaves,yard waste and grass clippings with regular trash.Yard waste makes up about 18%
of typical household waste and it is more environmentally sound to recycle this material
by composting it than to dispose of it in landfills or incinerators.Grass clipping should be
left on the lawn,where they will return nutrients to the turf and improve the soil.See the
"Don't Trash Grass" brochure for more information at
http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/dtg.htm.
For residents who do not wish to compost at home,call your community's DPW or Solid
Waste/Recycling Coordinator to find out if leaf and yard waste (free of plastic,metal,
glass and other contaminants) is accepted at your local Recycling/Transfer Station.
#44
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By Ann McGovern,Consumer Waste Reduction Coordinator,
MA Department of Environmental Protection
Composting is a great way to recycle our organic"waste" into a beneficial soil amendment
for our yards and gardens. Composting at home can also help reduce methane production
at landfills. Using the compost in our landscapes helps store carbon in the soil instead of
releasing it to the atmosphere. Compost creates healthy soil,reducing or eliminating the
need for fertilizers,pesticides and irrigation. And we can reduce our trash by 50 percent or
more by composting leaves,grass clippings,garden debris,fruit peels,vegetable scraps,
tea bags,coffee grounds,egg shells,paper towels,napkins and even paper bags.
It's easy to make compost because most of the work is done by soil organisms that convert
organic material to humus. Build or purchase a compost bin. Enclosed compost piles keep
out pests,hold heat and moisture in,and a have a neat appearance. They can be made of
wire,wood,pallets,concrete blocks,metal and plastic. Place the bin in a convenient,shady
area that can be reached with your hose.
Build your compost pile using three parts"brown"material and one part"green" material.
This provides food for the compost organisms in a recipe that will not create odors.
"Brown" ingredients include leaves,straw,dried grass clippings,wood chips,sawdust,
pine needles,and paper products such as paper towels,napkins,bags,plates,coffee filters,
tissue and newspaper. "Green"materials include fresh grass clippings,weeds,fruit and
vegetable scraps,coffee grounds,tea bags,eggshells,manure,and seaweed Make sure the
materials are damp as you build the pile,especially the"browns." As you build the pile,
sprinkle on several shovelfuls of rich garden soil or finished compost after every 12" of
fresh material.
A compost pile that is about three feet square and three feet high will heat up and stay
active throughout the winter. Smaller piles may not retain heat,but will still produce
compost,though more slowly than larger piles. Once your pile is built,continue to add
fresh materials as they become available. Always bury food scraps in the center of the pile
under about 6" of leaves,where they will decompose odorlessly. If leaves are in short
supply,add plenty of paper towels,napkins and torn up paper bags to provide the
necessary carbon,and always bury your food scraps under this material. Add water to
your pile if it becomes dry to the touch The composting organisms need a damp,humid
environment to do their work A plastic cover will help your compost pile retain the
moisture you add,but remember to take the cover off when it rains so you won't need to
add water as often.
The compost critters need oxygen,just as we do. Lack of oxygen will slow down the
composting process and cause odors Turn you pile,fluff it with a hoe or turning tool,or