was unable to copy-paste the article with all the necessary formatting, so here is a link to view Article 18 - https://www.winchester.us/DocumentCenter/View/12799/2025-Fall-Town-Meeting-Warrant
COGR had some work left over from spring town meeting, including our proposed updates to Chapter 11 (Anti-Litter). We approved a set of changes that will appear as an article for fall town meeting. It is important to note that these changes were developed in cooperation with, and have the full support of, the Board of Health. While we chose to strike and replace the chapter, changes include new terms; re-ordering terms and section numbers; clarifying the definition of litter; and, making the language around prohibitions to be consistent.
Below please find a summary of the proposed updates.
Section 1 – Definitions
o Updating definition of “aircraft” to include language that would cover manned or unmanned craft
o Striking the definition of “Private Receptacle” and moving it to section 1.9 under an expanded definition of “Receptacles”
o Including the term “Noncommercial Handbill” under section 1.2
o Removing the definition of “Garbage” and moving it to section 1.3 under an expanded definition of “Litter”
o Rewriting the definition of “Litter” to include “Garbage”, “Refuse”, and “Rubbish” and defining each term
o Rewriting the definition of “Newspaper” to remove outdated terminology and establish a definition that is more concise and descriptive
o Striking the definition of “Noncommercial Handbill” (moved to section 1.2)
o Updating the definition of “Park” by removing the word park from the definition
o Updating the definition of “Private Premises” by adding the words “or commercial”
o Rewriting the definition of “Public Place” to clearly identify it means “property owned or operated by the town”
o Adding a new definition of “Receptacles”, which includes definitions for private and public receptacles
o Striking the terms “Refuse” (moved), “Rubbish” (moved) and “Vehicle”
Section 2 – Litter in Public Places
o Adding the word “Prohibited” to the tile
o Striking text, the revised title is self-explanatory
Section 3 – Placement of Litter in Receptacles to Prevent Scattering
o Striking the words “street, sidewalk or other” and relying on the catch-all phrases up public place and private property
Section 4 – Sweeping Litter into Gutters Prohibited
o Striking unnecessary, descriptive language
o Adding “or blow, as with a leaf blower”
Section 5 – Merchants Duty to Keep Sidewalks Free of Litter
o Adding “within the town” to clarify the application of the section
o Striking unnecessary, descriptive language
Section 6 - Litter Thrown by Persons in Vehicles – no changes
Section 7 – Truck Loads Causing Litter
o Striking the words “Truck Loads” from the title and replacing with “Vehicles”
o Adding the word “Prohibited” to the end of the title
o Adding “or otherwise covered” to provide flexibility in ways to prevent litter from being blown off a vehicle
Section 8 – Litter in Parks
o Striking duplicative and unnecessary descriptive language
Section 9 – Litter in Lakes and Fountains – no changes
Section 10 – Throwing or Distributing Commercial or Noncommercial Handbills in Public Places
o Adding the word “Prohibited” to the end of the title
o Striking duplicative and unnecessary language
Section 11 – Placing Commercial and Noncommercial Handbills in Public Places
o Adding the word “Prohibited” to the end of the title
o Striking overly descriptive language
o Replacing with clear and direct language that the practice is prohibited
o Adding language that allows handbills to be given to willing vehicle occupants
Section 12 – Depositing Commercial and Noncommercial Handbills on Uninhabited or Vacant Private Premises
o Adding the word “Prohibited” to the end of the title
Section 13 – Distribution of Handbills on Private Premises Prohibited Where Properly Posted
o Rewriting to make the intent clearer and more concise – no substantive changes
Section 14 – Distributing Commercial and Noncommercial Handbills at Inhabited Private Premises
o Rewriting to make the intent clearer and more concise – no substantive changes
Section 15 – Dropping Litter from Aircraft
o Adding the words “or operating” to capture unmanned aircraft
Section 16 – Posting Notices Prohibited – no changes
Section 17 – Litter on Occupied Private Property
o Striking the word “Occupied” from the title
o Striking the word “Property” from the title and replacing it with “Premises”
o Striking the word “property” from the body and replacing it with “premises”
Section 18 – Owner to Maintain Premises Free of Litter
o Striking a comma and replacing with and semi-colon
o Striking a capital “P” and replacing with a lowercase “p”
o Striking the word “structures” and replacing with “containers”
Section 19. Litter on Vacant Lots
o Striking the word “property” and replacing it with “premises”
Section 20. Clearing of Litter from Open Private Property by the Town
o Striking the words “General Laws, Chapter 111” in 20.1 and replacing with “M.G.L. c. 111”
o Addin the words “or its designated agent” in 20.2 to allow the board of health to select a designee for these duties
Section 21 Penalties
o Striking the words “Chapter 40, Section 21D of the General Laws,” in 21.1 and replacing with “M.G.L. c. 40, § 21D”
