Pittsburgh Councilman Bruce Kraus said today that he will propose legislation compelling city landlords to prove they have told their tenants about the city's trash collection policies.

The legislation, which he will introduce next week, is a response to complaints he's received about tenants who do not properly put out their trash.

"Probably more than any other complaint I've received since I've come into office, is this: 'These people place their trash out too early,' " or too late, or in flimsy bags that break, he said.

The legislation would tie into a coming requirement that landlords register with the city, and pay a $12-per-unit annual fee that would cover increased inspections.

Mr. Kraus' bill would require that registering landlords take forms detailing city trash rules to all occupied units. They would be initialed by tenant and landlord alike, and turned in with the registration forms.

The proposed form indicates that trash must be in plastic bags, which can be in trash cans, can be no larger than 35 gallons and must be put out between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. It details the rules for recycling, yard debris, tires, and other materials.

Council today gave final approval to legislation giving the city until Dec. 1 to put in place a system by which landlords can register their units, and then until April 1 for owners of an estimated 62,000 rental units to register and pay. The city missed an earlier set of deadlines to implement a licensing and registration ordinance passed by council in December.

At this time, the city is not ready to receive landlord registrations.