Inspectors Hit Streets to Start Enforcing Dumpster Ordinance

The City’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) takes April 1st seriously.

It’s not because they like to play pranks.

In fact, it’s nothing of the sort.

It’s the day when they hit the streets and begin enforcing the City’s strict new sanitation ordinances – and that’s no foolin’.

On Monday, April 1st, inspectors began the task of cataloging all of the dumpsters in the City and implementing the new dumpster ordinance – a measure passed last year that aims to reduce the burgeoning rodent population.

“To our surprise, we couldn’t believe how many dumpsters there are out there,” said ISD Director Nick Catinazzo. “So far, we have identified quite a few of the dumpsters and about 50 percent have paid the fee and are in compliance. We’re sure there are still more out there, and we believe we’ll have all of them identified by the end of the year.”

Catinazzo said they have found about 270 dumpsters so far, dividing them up between restaurants, offices and apartment buildings. Property owners who have a dumpster have to pay an annual fee of $50 and have to keep records detailing a cleaning program. That fee will be put into a revolving account that can only be used to fight major infestations of rodents.

“We’re not going to go around baiting people’s homes,” said Catinazzo. “That’s up to the homeowner to take care of. If there’s a problem in the parks or in a public building, we’ll be using the money for that kind of thing. However, in certain areas if there is a major problem that is growing, we’ll have some money to hire a professional to go in an try to remedy the problem before it gets way out of hand.”

The dumpster ordinance and last years’ more strict trash ordinance came about due to the fact that rodent infestation has taken off in the last three years in Revere.

Catinazzo said there are a variety of reasons, including sewer work, poor trash storage and warmer winters. He said Mayor Dan Rizzo had a summit with several other communities last summer to find out new solutions to the rodent problem, and came away with a quick hit on the dumpster ordinance.

“We’re doing  a lot of sewer work in the City right now and that’s where they live – underground,” said Catinazzo. “So when they come out from underground, they’re looking for something to eat. If we can get at the food sources, and cut them off, we can make a dent in the problem. We passed the ordinance about trash, instituting the rodent-proof bags and now we’re going to look aggressively at the dumpsters.”

And with the temperatures warming up, Catinazzo said the rodents are making a comeback.

“It’s already starting now, that’s why we’re going after this early,” he said.