16.332 rECYCLING FACILITIES

16.332.01 PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

These provisions implement the General Plan and State law; by establishing requirements for residential and commercial recycling, which reduce the production of solid waste. More specifically, to:

A. Maximize the diversion of solid waste from disposal; B. Treat and safely process solid waste materials in a manner that protects natural resources from pollution and minimizes adverse impacts on neighboring properties; C. Provide for the eventual reuse or recycling of discarded material.

16.332.02 REQUIREMENTS

Recycling facilities are permitted subject to compliance with the applicable criteria and standards listed in this Chapter unless the Director, Planning Commission, or City Council on appeal imposes stricter standards, upon a finding that such modifications are reasonably necessary in order to implement the general intent of this Chapter and the purposes of this Title.

A. Reverse Vending Machines. Reverse vending machines, shall be located, developed, and operated in compliance with the requirements of this

Chapter subject to the Director’s approval. 1. Location. Machines shall be located within 30 feet of the entrance of the host business and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation or occupy parking spaces required by the primary use; 2. Construction and maintenance. Reverse vending machines shall be:

a. Constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material and shall be covered; b. Clearly marked to identify the type of material to be deposited, operating instructions, and the identity and phone number of the operator or responsible person to call if the machine is inoperative. c. No larger than 50 cubic feet in bulk and no more than 8 feet in height. 3. Signs. The maximum sign area on a machine is 4 square feet, exclusive of operating instructions.

Signs shall be attached to the machines. 4. Lighting. Machines shall be illuminated to ensure comfortable and safe operation if operating hours are between dawn and dusk. 5. Maintenance. The area where the machine is located shall be maintained in a clean, litter-free condition on a daily basis. A 40-gallon garbage can for nonrecyclable materials shall be located adjacent to the reverse vending machine.

B. Small Recycling Collection Facilities. Small recycling collection facilities are allowed subject to the Director’s approval and compliance with the criteria and the standards in this Section:

1. Size. Recycling collection facilities shall not exceed a building site footprint of 350 square feet or include more than 3 parking spaces (not including space periodically needed for the removal or exchange of materials or containers). 2. Equipment. No power-driven processing equipment, except for reverse vending machines, may be used. 3. Location. Facilities shall not be located within 50 feet of a residential zoning district. 4. Setback. Facilities shall be set back at least 10 feet from any street lot line and not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation. 5. Containers. Containers shall be constructed of durable waterproof and rustproof material(s) and secured from unauthorized removal of material. Capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected in the collection schedule. 6. Identification. Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of accepted material, the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation. 7. Signs. The maximum sign area shall be 20 percent of the area of the side of facility or container or 16 square feet, whichever is larger.

In the case of a wheeled facility, the side is measured from the pavement to the top of the container. The Director may authorize increases in the number, size and nature of additional signs for necessary directional or identification purposes but not for outdoor advertising.

8. Parking. Patrons and the attendant shall not reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number required for the main use unless a parking study shows available capacity during recycling facility operation. 9. Site Maintenance. Sites shall be maintained clean, sanitary, and free of litter and any other undesirable materials.

a. Containers shall be constructed and maintained with durable, waterproof and rustproof material and shall be covered; b. Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of recyclable or recyclables which may be deposited; c. The facility shall be clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator; d. Site shall be swept and maintained in a dustfree, litter-free condition on a daily basis; e. The facility shall be placed on a site so as not to obstruct on-site or off-site pedestrian or vehicular circulation; f. Noise level shall not at any time exceed 55 dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property; otherwise shall not exceed 70 dBA; g. The facility shall not include powerdriven sorting and/or consolidation equipment such as crushers or balers, except bulk reverse vending machines;

10. Signage. Signs shall be provided as follows:

a. An unattended container not over 50 cubic feet in bulk and not over eight feet in height may have a maximum sign area of 4 feet, and b. Other containers or units may have one flatmounted sign per side of container or wall of enclosure of 20 percent of the surface of the side or 6 square feet, whichever is greater.

11. Other requirements.

a. The minimum average illumination of the site shall be one-half foot candle; b. Use of the facility for collection of solid waste or hazardous waste is prohibited; c. The facility shall be removed from the site on the day following permit expiration; d. An attended facility shall be in operation only during the hours of operation of the host business; e. The facility shall conform to all development regulations for the zone in which it is located; for an attended facility, a minimum of one parking space per attendant shall be provided; f. The operator of any recycling collection facility shall, on a daily basis, remove any and all recyclable materials or solid waste which has accumulated or is deposited outside the containers, bins or enclosures intended as receptacles for such materials; g. All recyclable material shall be stored in containers or in the mobile unit vehicle; h. Containers for the 24-hour donation of materials shall be at least 30 feet from any property zoned or occupied for residential use unless there is a recognized service corridor and acoustical shielding between the containers and the residential use; i. Mobile recycling units shall have an area clearly marked to prohibit other vehicular parking during hours when the mobile unit is scheduled to be present.

C. Large Recycling Collection Facilities

1. Major Use Permit Required. When a Major

Use Permit is required in compliance with Part

II Base and Special Districts of the Zoning

Code, the permit shall contain conditions no less stringent than the performance standards set out in this Chapter. Where there is any apparent conflict between these regulations and regulations contained elsewhere in this Zoning Code or the

Vallejo Municipal Code and/or with conditions of approval, the more stringent shall govern. 2. Performance Standards. In addition to the performance standards set forth Section 16.501.08,

Solid Waste, Recycling, and Organic Waste

Storage, the following minimum performance standards shall be uniformly applied, as applicable, to all Large Recycling Collection Centers.

3. Site Design and Layout. For new and expanded uses, submittal and approval of the following plans, and implementation of approved plans shall be required:

a. Site and floor plans, which shall include designated areas for separation and disposal of materials, as well as required fencing/walls, to the Planning and Building Divisions; b. Building plans to the Fire Department; c. Fire safety/emergency plan to the Fire Department.

4. Signage. For existing, new or expanded uses: identification, directional and informational signs shall be provided on site in conformance with Chapter 16.509, Signs. At a minimum, the following information shall be posted near the entrance(s) and/or perimeter of the facility:

a. Business identification including 24-hour contact information of facility operator; b. Hours of operation; c. Signage prohibiting the delivery or drop off of material to be recycled after-hours; d. Signage prohibiting illegal dumping, littering loitering or sleeping in proximity of the site’s perimeter; e. A map of authorized truck routes to the facility posted at the office or scale house (and available to customers); f. A list of accepted and/or nonaccepted materials for recycling.

5. Appearance and Design.

a. Landscaping.

i. For existing, new or expanded uses, all required planting shall be permanently maintained in good growing condition and, whenever necessary, replaced with new plant materials to ensure continued compliance with applicable landscaping requirements. All required irrigation systems shall be permanently maintained in good condition, and, whenever necessary, repaired or replaced. ii. For new or expanded uses, submittal and approval of a landscape and irrigation maintenance plan and/or street tree plan, and implementation of approved plan for new and expanded uses, shall be as required by the Director.

b. Screening. For existing, new and expanded uses, screening by a solid fences and/or walls shall be required around the entire site; c. Lighting.

i. For new or expanded uses, lighting plans in compliance with Chapter 16.506, Lighting and Glare, shall be submitted to the Planning and Building

Divisions for review and approval. ii. For existing uses, lighting shall comply with the applicable performance standards of Chapter 16.506, Lighting and Glare.

d. Noise, Vibration and Other Applicable

Health and Safety Regulations. For existing, new or expanded uses:

i. Noise and vibration levels from the activity, property, or any mechanical equipment on site shall comply with the standards and requirements of Section 16.502.10,

Noise, and Chapter 16.502, Performance

Standards. If noise or vibration levels exceed these standards, the activity causing the noise shall be abated until appropriate noise reduction measures have been installed and compliance verified by the Planning and Building Divisions; ii. The project operator/applicant shall comply with State and other regional bodies and/or applicable regulations including, but not limited to, the federal

Clean Water Act and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the

California Penal Code Section 496. (a), the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Bay Area Air Quality Management

District (BAAQMD) and Best Management

Practices (BMP) for stormwater.

e. Litter, Debris, Graffiti and Cleanliness. For existing, new or expanded uses:

i. The site shall be maintained in a clean and orderly condition, free of vectors, and free of standing water and any odoriferous waste; ii. The public right-of-way shall not be used for storage or processing of materials; iii. Graffiti shall be removed within 72 hours of application; iv. A cleanliness/litter management and control plan shall be developed, implemented and maintained, such that it is ready for inspection.

a. The plan shall include provisions for the disposal of recycling-related litter and debris in the public right-of-way within the area comprised of all streets adjacent to the premises, and the one-block extension of those streets to the north and south, and east and west, respectively. This would not include material illegally dumped that is not related to the recycling operation, including but not limited to, hazardous material, containers of paint or unidentified liquids, tree trimmings, residential, commercial and/or industrial waste or dumping of materials not accepted by the Primary Recycling Collection Center. b. In addition, the Recycling Collection Center shall produce a notice to distribute to customers that states that all illegal dumping shall be reported to City authorities.

6. Shopping Cart Management. If a Large Recycling

Collection Center accepts materials from the public brought by means of a shopping cart, it shall also comply with all of the following requirements:

a. The collection center shall be responsible for the retrieval of all shopping carts within the area comprised of all streets adjacent to the premises, and the one-block extension of those streets to the north and south, and east and west, respectively. b. The collection center shall post signage that includes contact information to report abandoned shopping carts in the vicinity of the facility; c. If called or notified by a member of the public about abandoned shopping carts located within a two-block radius of the premises, the collection center shall retrieve said carts.

7. Circulation. For new or expanded uses submittal and approval of the following plans, and implementation of approved plans are required:

a. A circulation plan that shows ingress and egress, parking both on-site and off-street, as well as includes provisions for any needed staff to monitor on-site traffic operations, shall be reviewed and approved by the Traffic Engineer; b. A plan showing rail loading and unloading within site shall be required (as applicable) submitted to the Planning Division.

8. Equipment and Facilities. All existing, new or expanded uses:

a. All equipment shall be maintained and kept in good working order; b. After business hours, all facility-owned vehicles shall be stored within the facility or at an appropriate alternative off-street location.

9. Operations. All existing, new or expanded uses:

a. Shall maintain a 24-hour “hotline” where neighbors can log complaints regarding nuisance activity associated with or emanating from the recycling facility. Complaints logs shall be maintained and made available to the City for inspection/copying upon reasonable notice; b. Shall provide staff and training for traffic operations needed on-site, as required by the Planning Division as part of any circulation plan; c. Shall develop, implement and maintain a plan for the disposal and containment of non-recoverable materials that is ready for inspection; submittal and approval of such a plan prior to operation shall be required for new or expanded uses; d. Shall keep all entrance gates closed and locked when the recycling collection facility is not open to the public; e. Shall not burn insulation from copper wire as a means to increase the material’s value or for any other purpose.