D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 626
626.1 Among the many aspects of environmental health in the District are the maintenance of sanitary conditions, the reduction of litter, and the control of disease-carrying pests. DC Health maintains numerous programs to reduce foodborne illness, ensure compliance with hygiene standards, provide for animal and welfare control, and reduce exposure to animal-transmitted diseases like rabies and West Nile Virus.
626.2 Litter and trash are probably the most visible and pervasive forms of pollution in Washington, DC. Policies and programs have been developed to address issues with litter and trash, including establishment of a $0.05 fee on disposable plastic and paper retail bags; a ban on the use of polystyrene foam take-out containers, straws, and other food service ware that is not recyclable or compostable from any entity that serves or sells food in the District; implementation of a robust street-sweeping program; stringent enforcement against littering and illegal dumping; operation of a skimmer boat fleet in the lower Anacostia River; installation of litter traps in the Anacostia River; robust rat control programs that involve cleaning up litter and trash; implementation of education and outreach programs; and funding for the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City, which provides leadership on these issues.
Continue and strengthen efforts to control rats, mice, mosquitoes, and other disease vectors and pests. A variety of related strategies should be used to support these programs, including public outreach and education, garbage control and containment, adequate trash and refuse collection services, ongoing maintenance of public space, enforcement of littering and dumping regulations, clean up of construction and demolition debris, structural controls and integrated pest management, and a reduction in the number of vacant and abandoned buildings.
Improve environmental quality through programs that promote efficient trash removal, neighborhood clean ups, and levying of fines and penalties for the abandonment of personal property (including cars) and illegal dumping.
Develop and maintain effective public education and enforcement tools to curb littering and illegal dumping, and to promote the safe disposal of solid waste (including hazardous waste, medical waste, construction debris, used oil, and scrap tires), and bulky items.
Maintain and improve existing District programs to ensure community hygiene, food and restaurant safety, animal welfare and control, and the control of disease vectors. Promote continuous coordination among District agencies to ensure healthful and sanitary conditions throughout the District.
626.7 Action E-6.5.A: Expanded Trash Collection and Street Sweeping Evaluate and implement new programs to ensure the cleanliness of vacant properties, roadsides, public spaces, parks, and District-owned lands. Continue implementation of environmental street sweeping in hot spots for trash.
626.8 Action E-6.5.B: Trash Collection in District Waterbodies Continue to install and maintain trash traps in the District's waterbodies. Explore opportunities to partner with Virginia and Maryland on capturing trash that is deposited in rivers and streams upstream of the District. Continue to implement the District's skimmer boat fleet in the lower Anacostia River.
626.9 Action E-6.5.C: Neighborhood Clean Ups Co-sponsor and participate in neighborhood and District-wide clean up activities, such as those currently held along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and around schoolyards and District parks. Encourage ANCs), local institutions, businesses, and other community groups to develop and announce clean up campaigns in conjunction with the District's bulk trash removal schedule.
626.10 Action E-6.5.D: Strengthening and Enforcing Dumping Laws Take measures to strengthen and enforce the District's littering, rodent and disease vector control, and illegal dumping laws. These measures should include:
626.11 Action E-6.5.E: Publicizing and Expanding Bulk Waste Disposal and Recycling Options Continue to sponsor and publicize options for bulk waste disposal and recycling, including information on the Fort Totten transfer station and the District's schedule for curbside bulk trash waste removal. Increase the types of materials that can be dropped off by residents, including hard-to-recycle items.
626.12 Action E-6.5.F: Single-Use Bottles
Discourage the purchase of single-use bottles, which often end up in parks and streams, by encouraging persons to carry refillable water bottles and by encouraging institutions to have working water fountains and bottle-filling stations. Consider mandating manufacturer take-back programs for beverage containers and other packaging.
626.13
Continue investigating and classifying vacant and underused properties. Continue pursuing enforcement of violations on these properties to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
See the Hazardous Materials section of this chapter for additional actions relating to hazardous waste disposal.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).