As Ithaca College students prepare for on-campus housing selection in the upcoming weeks, many students will also be signing leases for off-campus residence. While doing so, students should be aware of city laws, especially those that relate to the city’s garbage policy and attached fines.

As the policy stands, the city notifies landlords of fines for uncovered or untagged trash barrels. In most cases landlords forward all fines to tenants, expecting them to take care of the costs as stated in their leases. While this is a valid practice, some do not pass on the notification to their tenants fast enough. Landlords are urged to immediately inform tenants upon receiving such notifications to avoid an unnecessary accumulation in fines for the tenant.

The current law also charges residents based on the calendar year, with each fine increasing as the number of violations rise.  If a tenant violates the garbage policy once during the spring, the tenant in the fall will be charged with a second violation fine of a higher amount, creating a skewed system.

A proposal to change this fine structure is now under way in the Common Council. Council members should make every effort to pass the proposal because it would uproot an inequitable system of fines. The council should strongly consider including a clause that would charge fines as per the academic year to accommodate Ithaca’ s substantial college population.

Tenants, in turn, are encouraged to be fully aware of and follow city laws pertaining to fines. By doing so, they will reduce their fine charges.

A change in this policy demands a collaborative effort by the landlords, tenants and Common Council. A restructuring of the law would not only benefit the city’s residents, but would create a more fair and efficient garbage disposal policy.