The intent and purpose of these regulations is to meet the requirements of the State Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986 thereby reducing the consumption of limited resources; to meet community recycling needs; and to ensure the compatibility of recycling facilities with surrounding uses for the protection of the health, safety and general welfare of the city and its residents.
(Ord. 831-97 § 11)
"Bulk reverse vending machine"
is a reverse vending machine that accepts several containers at once and usually pays by weight. Typically a bulk reverse vending machine is substantially larger than a reverse vending machine.
"Collection facility"
means a center for the acceptance by donation, redemption or purchase, of recyclable materials from the public. Such a facility does not use power-driven processing equipment except as indicated below. Collection facilities may include small collection facilities or large collection facilities.
"Host site"
means the existing properties that form a connected and contiguous commercial or industrial center that provides some type of a recycling facility.
"Kiosk-type unit"
means a small collection facility located within one of the primary tenants at the host site location. All kiosk-type units must be operated inside of a primary tenant at the host site location. A kiosk-type unit that does not contain permanent structures and is smaller than eight square feet is not considered a small collection facility for purposes of this chapter.
"Mobile recycling unit"
means an automobile, truck, trailer or van, licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is used for the collection of recyclable materials. A "mobile recycling unit" also means the bins, boxes or containers transported by trucks, vans or trailers, that are used for the collection of recyclable materials.
"Recycling facility"
is a center for the collection and/or processing of recyclable materials. A "certified recycling facility" or "certified processor" means a recycling facility certified by the California Department of Conservation as meeting the requirements of the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986. A recycling facility does not include storage containers or processing activities located on the premises of a residential, commercial or manufacturing use that are used solely for the recycling of materials generated by that residential, business or manufacturing property. Recycling facilities may include small collection facilities, large collection facilities or processing facilities.
"Recyclable material"
means reusable material including, but not limited to, metals, glass, plastic and paper, which are intended for reuse, remanufacture or reconstitution for the purpose of using the altered form. Recyclable material does not include refuse or hazardous materials. Recyclable material may include used motor oil collected and transported in accordance with Sections 25250.11 and 25143.2(b)(4) of the California Health and Safety Code.
"Reverse vending machine"
is a device that accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers and issues a cash refund or redeemable coupon. Some reverse vending machines will also dispense promotional materials.
"Small collection facility"
means any facility which occupies an area of not more than five hundred square feet, and may include: a mobile recycling unit, reverse vending machines, bulk reverse vending machines, kiosk-type units if they include permanent structures; and unattended containers placed for the donation of recyclable materials.
(Ord. 831-97 § 11)
No person shall permit the placement, construction or operation of any recycling facility without first obtaining a permit pursuant to the provisions set forth in this section and being certified by the State Department of Conservation. Table 17.96A sets forth the type of permit required and the zones permitted for the various types of recycling facilities.
Table 17.96A
Type of Facility
Zones Permitted/ Permit Required
Approval Required
Small collection facility
C-1, C-2, C-3,C-4, C-M. M-1
Administratively by the community development director
 
Administrative recycling facilities permit
 
(Ord. 831-97 § 11)
Those recycling facilities permitted with an administrative permit shall meet all of the applicable criteria and standards set forth in this chapter as well as any additional applicable criteria and standards determined by the community development director as an exercise of discretion upon a finding that such modifications are reasonably necessary in order to implement the general intent of this section and the purposes of this chapter. The determination of the community development director may be appealed to the planning commission.
A. 
Small Collection Facilities. Small collection facilities are permitted in the C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-M and M-1 zones with the issuance of an administrative recycling facilities permit from the community development director or his or her designee, provided the proposed small collection facility has been certified by the State Department of Conservation and provided that the proposed facility complies with the standards and regulations below. The administrative permit for small collection facilities shall be renewed annually:
1. 
Shall be established in conjunction with an existing commercial use which is in compliance with the zoning, building and fire codes of the city;
2. 
Shall not be larger than five hundred square feet;
3. 
Shall not reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number that is required for the primary host use;
4. 
Shall be set back at least ten feet from any street line and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;
5. 
Shall accept only glass, metals, plastic containers, papers and reusable items;
6. 
Shall not use any power-driven processing equipment except for small electric-driven devices required for some compacting necessary in some types of reverse vending machines and bulk reverse vending machines. In no event shall the noise standards stipulated in this section be exceeded by any electric driven compaction equipment;
7. 
Shall use containers that are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material, covered when the site is not attended, secured from unauthorized entry or removal of material, and shall be of a capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected for the time period between the identified transport of materials;
8. 
The time period between the identified transport of materials must be at least once per week;
9. 
Shall be of a color that is neutral and consistent with the primary colors of the existing permanent structures on the host site;
10. 
Shall store all recyclable materials in containers or in the mobile unit vehicle, and shall not leave materials outside of containers under any circumstances;
11. 
Shall be maintained free of litter, liquid residue and any other undesirable materials, and mobile facilities shall be swept at the end of each collection day;
12. 
Shall not exceed noise levels of fifty-five dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, otherwise shall not exceed sixty dBA at the nearest property line adjacent to the host site;
13. 
Attended facilities located within ten feet of a property zoned for residential use shall operate only during the hours between nine a.m. and seven p.m.;
14. 
Unattended containers for the twenty-four hour donation of materials shall be at least one hundred feet from any property zoned for residential use;
15. 
Signage Regulations.
a. 
Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material which may be deposited,
b. 
The facility shall also clearly identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation,
c. 
The facility shall also display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers under any circumstance,
d. 
Identification signs are allowed a maximum of twenty percent per side or sixteen square feet per side, whichever is smaller. In the case of a wheeled facility, the side will be measured from the pavement to the top of the container,
e. 
Off-site facility auxiliary directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed on the host site with the approval of the administrative permit issued by the community development director or his or her designee, if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation, or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way,
f. 
All the required information per this section must be in Spanish and English except the directional signs provided on the host site;
16. 
The facility shall not encroach upon or impair the landscaping areas that are required for the host site;
17. 
No additional parking spaces will be required for customers of a small collection facility located at the established parking lot of a host use. One space will be provided for the attendant, if needed;
18. 
If the permit expires without renewal, the collection facility shall be removed from the site on the date following permit expiration.
(Ord. 831-97 § 11)