MORGANTOWN — Morgantown City Council intends to take up an amendment to city code that would make leaving used needles on public or private property a misdemeanor punishable by fine and/or jail time.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council agreed to look at a number of changes pertaining mainly to code sections 539 (litter) and 1139 (solid waste collection).
As mentioned, one of the additions to section 1139 would be the inclusion of “infectious medical waste” which includes a number of items and materials including blood and blood products and sharps, or needles.
“The police department has also requested that medical waste and infectious medical waste be defined and included as littering and, in doing so, the police department also requested adding an additional penalty for this type of violation including an optional term of imprisonment,” Development Services Director Rickie Yeager explained.
Depositing hazardous waste or infectious waste in any public place without a valid permit would be a misdemeanor punishable with a fine of no more than $500 or up to 30 days in jail, or both.
The penalty for litter not including hazardous or infectious waste is a fine of no more than $500.
The changes also stipulate that hazardous and infectious waste as well as construction materials are not permitted in public trash cans.
“It also makes it clear that littering includes leaving litter outside of public waste containers, putting improper materials in them and improperly using or storing private waste containers in public spaces,” Yeager said.
Under the amendments included for section 523, Yeager would actually be authorized to perform the duties of a Special Litter Prevention Officer as would the city’s building official and deputy building official, the employees of the Morgantown Parking Authority and the fire marshal and deputy fire marshal.
These individuals would have the authority to issue citations, issue summonses and sign complaints, but only if they “display a badge or other sign of authority issued by the city.”
It is anticipated that council could take up the code changes for first reading as early as its Sept. 5 meeting.
