Sec. 21-109. Collection vehicles; registration; license fee

All solid waste shall be transported over any public highway or street of the County only in vehicles equipped with covered watertight, leak-proof bodies, or in metal containers with tight-fitting covers. The Health Officer shall have the power and authority to establish standards for and inspect the vehicles that are used for the purpose of hauling solid waste. All collection vehicles shall be kept clean so as to minimize odor and prevent insect breeding and rodent feeding.

For each vehicle used in the collection or transportation of solid waste or recyclable material by a collection licensee, there shall be issued a registration card by the Department of the Environment which shall contain the name of the vehicle owner, the description and serial number of the vehicle and a refuse collection vehicle license number.

No solid waste collection vehicle shall be registered until inspected by the Health Officer and found to be in compliance with the requirements of this Subtitle.

Any vehicle found to be in an unsafe physical, mechanical, or sanitary condition is subject to the suspension or revocation of its registration in accordance with Sections 21-110 and 21-111. The Health Officer shall have the power and authority to establish additional standards for the inspection of vehicles used for the collection or transportation of solid waste, and the failure of a vehicle to satisfy such standards may result in the revocation or suspension of its registration in accordance with Sections 21-110 and 21-111.

The owner of each collection or transportation vehicle registered under this Section shall pay an annual registration and inspection fee established by regulation of the Department of the Environment from time to time for each vehicle registered.

No person may collect or transport solid waste or recyclable material in any vehicle that has not been registered in accordance with this Section, provided that an individual may transport his or her own household solid waste or recyclable material to an approved recycling facility or an approved solid waste acceptance facility in a vehicle equipped with a covered, water-tight, leak-proof body or in leak-proof plastic bags.

Any person subject to an order issued pursuant to Section 21-103.01 or 21-146 who transports solid waste or recyclable material to any facility for the acceptance or disposal of such material in violation of any order issued pursuant to Section 21-103.01 or 21-146 is subject to suspension or revocation of the registration of all vehicles owned or operated by such person in accordance with the revocation and suspension procedures set forth in Sections 21-110 and 21-111.

Vehicle registrations issued under this Section shall be valid for one (1) year and issued on a schedule established by the Director of the Department of the Environment.