Tannersville could become the second village in the town of Hunter to ban commercial-grade dumpsters from properties with one to three residential units, as officials cite streets lined with refuse containers and growing problems with bears and other wildlife. 

The village board discussed the proposed Village of Tannersville Refuse Control Law on Aug. 20. The proposed measure is nearly identical to the law banning dumpsters passed in the village of Hunter on Aug. 17. 

The proposal would prohibit dumpsters and other exterior refuse containers used for household garbage at properties with one to three residential units. 

Mayor Lee McGunnigle said the measure was intended to “improve the character and quality of life” in Tannersville. 

“Under our current zoning, most dumpsters and garbage removal is contained in the commercial districts, and that is clearly articulated in the law,” he said. “But residential, given the uptick of short-term rentals or whatever the reason, I don’t know, many of our streets have turned into dumpster blocks.”

McGunnigle said the containers are unsightly and have attracted bears and other wildlife. 

“The bears are taking full-time residence in the village because it’s so beautiful and because they get fed all over the place,” he said. “There’s been an uptick of fisher cats and other wildlife. I’ve lived on Main Street since 1988 when I bought my house and never had this to the level that it is now.”

Under the proposal, residents would have to store household garbage inside their homes or in fully enclosed, bear-proof outbuildings until it is collected by a private carter or taken to the Hunter transfer station on Hylan Road or another approved waste facility.

Unlike in the village of Hunter, which ended municipal trash pickup in July, Tannersville hasn’t provided municipal garbage collection in more than 20 years, McGunnigle said. Residents already take their trash to the transfer station or hire private carters.

The proposal would allow dumpsters at residential properties for up to 90 days during construction with an active building permit and a temporary dumpster permit. The code enforcement officer could also authorize them for up to 90 days following a fire, flood, or natural disaster.

Businesses and residential properties with four or more units could continue using dumpsters, though the containers would have to be screened on all four sides by a structure designed to keep out animals and placed on asphalt or concrete pads. They would also have to be located as far from public roads as reasonably possible.

Violators would receive notices directing them to remove prohibited containers within 48 hours. Failure to comply would carry a $250 fine, followed by an additional $100 for each day the violation continued.

Trustees questioned whether the draft could unintentionally prohibit smaller wheeled trash bins. Although the proposal defines dumpsters and bulk refuse containers, it doesn’t separately define the term “exterior refuse container.”

“I’m concerned about the potential of micromanaging garbage management to the point where it makes it impossible for people to manage their garbage,” Trustee Rebecca Fitting said. “Not everybody has a place to store things inside their home.”

Fitting said the ban shouldn’t apply to smaller plastic containers that residents roll to the curb for private collection.

“If we restrict the ability to use them, we create a different problem for people,” she said.

The proposal could also complicate private garbage collection if carters require customers to bring containers to the roadside, Fitting said.

The board didn’t vote on the measure and plans to revise it before seeking public comment.

“At the next meeting, we would open up for comments after we come up with a final revision, we would post the final revision, and then we could move to adopt the law if we felt it was appropriate or if the board voted for it,” McGunnigle said.

Connor Greco is a staff reporter for The Overlook covering Windham, Hunter, and surrounding Greene County communities. Send correspondence to connor@theoverlooknews.com.