§ 26-88-070. Recycling collection and processing facilities.

The criteria and standards for recycling collection and processing facilities are as follows:

(a)

Permits Required.

(1)

No person shall place or permit placement, construction or operation of any recycling facility, including reverse vending machine, large or small collection facility, or light or heavy processing facility without first obtaining a use permit or design review approval pursuant to the provisions set forth in this section. Subject to the restrictions and requirements of this section, recycling collection and processing facilities may be permitted as set forth in the following table:

Type of Facility	Zones Permitted	Permit Required
Reverse vending machine	LC, C1, C2, C3, PF, RC, M1, M2, M3, PC	Administrative design review
Small collection facility	LC, C1, C2, C3, PF, RC, M1, M2, M3, PC	Administrative design review
Large collection facility	C3, M1, M2, M3	Use permit
Light processing facility	C3, M1, M2, M3	Use permit
Heavy processing facility	M2	Use permit

 

(2)

A planned community (PC) district may expressly permit or prohibit recycling facilities. Where a PC district does not specifically address such facilities but allows uses permitted in the C1, LC, RC, C2, C3, PF, M1, M2 districts, reverse vending machines and small collection facilities may be permitted with an administrative design review permit.

(3)

A single administrative design review permit may be granted to allow more than one reverse vending machine or more than one small collection facility, even if located on different sites, pursuant to the following criteria:

(i)

The operator of each of the proposed facilities is the same;

(ii)

The proposed facilities are determined by the director of planning to be similar in nature, size and intensity of activity;

(iii)

All of the applicable criteria and standards set forth in this section are complied with.

(b)

Reverse Vending Machines. Reverse vending machines shall meet the following conditions:

(1)

Shall be established in conjunction with a commercial use, industrial or public facility use, which is in compliance with all chapters of the codes of the county of Sonoma including but not limited to Sonoma County fire code, Uniform Building Code and zoning ordinance;

(2)

Shall, when associated with a commercial or industrial use, be located within thirty feet (30′) of the entrance to the primary use and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

(3)

Shall be constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material and shall be covered;

(4)

Shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material to be deposited;

(5)

Shall have a sign area of a maximum of four (4) square feet and sign(s) shall be attached to the machine;

(6)

Shall be no more than eighty (80) cubic feet in bulk and no more than eight feet (8′) in height per machine;

(7)

The operator of the reverse vending machine and the operator of the primary use, on a daily basis, shall remove any and all recyclable materials or refuse which has accumulated or is deposited outside the reverse vending machines;

(8)

Reverse vending machines located within a structure in which the primary use is located shall not require any permits under this section;

(9)

Where a reverse vending machine is located nearer than fifty feet (50′) to a residential property, structure barriers shall be provided to reduce noise impacts;

(10)

Reverse vending machine operation may be limited to the hours of operation of the host use.

(c)

Small Collection Facilities. Small collection facilities shall meet the following conditions:

(1)

Shall be established in conjunction with a commercial use, industrial use institutional or community facility public facility use which is in compliance with all chapters of the codes of the county of Sonoma including but not limited to the Sonoma County fire code, Uniform Building Code and zoning ordinance;

(2)

Containers shall be constructed and maintained with durable waterproof, rustproof and fire resistant material and shall be covered at all times when not attended;

(3)

Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of recyclable materials which may be deposited. A sign shall be displayed stating that no materials shall be left outside designated containers;

(4)

Facilities shall be clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator;

(5)

The site shall be swept and maintained in a dust-free, litter-free condition on a daily basis;

(6)

The facility shall be placed on a site so as not to obstruct on-site or off-site pedestrian or vehicular circulation, or any loading facilities;

(7)

The facility shall be set back at least twenty feet (20′) from any street or right-of-way;

(8)

The facility shall not impair the landscaping required for any concurrent use or any permit issued pursuant thereto;

(9)

The noise level for the collection facility shall not at any time exceed fifty-five (55) dBA as measured at the property line of any residentially zoned or residentially used property, and shall not exceed sixty-five (65) dBA;

(10)

The facility shall not include power-drive sorting and/or consolidation equipment such as crushers, balers or bulk reverse vending machines;

(11)

Signs may be provided as follows:

(i)

Maximum sign area shall be four (4) square feet,

(ii)

No illuminated signs, and

(iii)

Signs must be consistent with the character of the location;

(12)

Use of the facility for collection or disposal of refuse or hazardous material is prohibited;

(13)

The facility shall be removed from the site no later than the date following expiration of the zoning permit for the primary use of the property or the state certification permit, whichever expires earlier;

(14)

The facility shall be in operation only during the hours of operation of the primary use, unless permission is otherwise given by the operator of primary use;

(15)

The facility shall conform to all development regulations for the zoning district in which it is located;

(16)

The occupation of parking spaces by the facility and by the attendant may not reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number required for the primary use unless all of the following conditions exist:

(i)

The facility is located in a convenience zone or a potential convenience zone as designated by the California Department of Conservation,

(ii)

A parking study shows that existing parking capacity is not already fully utilized during the time the recycling facility will be on the site,

(iii)

The use permit or design review approval will be reconsidered at the end of eighteen (18) months.

If the conditions set forth in subsections (c)(16)(i) through (iii) of this section exist, a reduction in available parking spaces in an established parking facility may then be allowed as follows:

For a priority commercial or industrial host use:

Number of Available Parking Spaces	Maximum Reduction
0-25	0
26-35	2
36-49	3
50-99	4
100+	5

 

For a primary institutional use. A maximum five (5) spaces reduction will be allowed when not in conflict with parking needs of the primary use;

(17)

The facility operator shall, on a daily basis, remove any and all recyclable materials or refuse which has accumulated or is deposited outside the containers, bins or enclosures intended as receptacles for such materials;

(18)

Small collection facilities are encouraged to accept all types of recyclable materials including, but not limited to all types of beverage and food containers made from aluminum, nonaluminum metal, glass and plastic, and in appropriate circumstances the county may require collection of all types of recyclable materials as a condition of design review approval. Small collection facilities may collect newspapers and cardboard in containers constructed of nonflammable materials.

(d)

Large Collection Facilities. Large collection facilities shall meet the following conditions:

(1)

The facility will be screened from the public right-of-way and adjacent properties zoned, planned or used for residential purposes by operating in an enclosed building or:

(i)

Will be located within an area enclosed by an opaque fence at least six feet (6′) in height with landscaping;

(ii)

Will meet all the noise standards set forth in subsection (d)(7) of this section.

(2)

Setbacks and landscape requirements shall be those provided for the zoning district in which the facility is located.

(3)

Materials stored outside shall be bailed, palletized, densified or in sturdy containers maintained in good condition. Storage containers for flammable material shall be constructed of nonflammable material. Oil storage must be in containers approved by the fire district, California Department of Forestry and the Sonoma County public health department. No storage, excluding truck trailers and overseas containers, will be visible above the height of the fencing.

(4)

The site shall be maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials and will be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis.

(5)

Space will be provided on site for six (6) vehicles or the anticipated peak customer load, whichever is higher, to circulate and to deposit recyclable materials, except where the planning director determines that allowing overflow traffic above six (6) vehicles is compatible with surrounding businesses and public safety.

(6)

In addition to the parking spaces required in subsection (d)(5) of this section, one (1) parking space will be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the recycling facility. Parking requirements will be as provided for in the zone, except that parking requirements for employees may be reduced when it can be shown that parking spaces are not necessary such as when employees are transported in a company vehicle to a work facility.

(7)

Noise levels shall not exceed fifty-five (55) dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, and shall not otherwise exceed seventy (70) dBA.

(8)

If the facility is located where it abuts property zoned, planned or occupied for residential use, it shall not be in operation between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(9)

Any containers provided for donation of recyclable materials will be adequately screened from any property zoned or occupied for residential use and shall be of sturdy, rustproof construction, shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected, and shall be secure from unauthorized entry or removal of materials.

(10)

Unattended donation areas will be kept free of litter and any other undesirable material and the containers will be clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited; the facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.

(11)

The facility will be clearly marked with the name and phone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation. Identification and informational signs will meet the standards of the zone. Directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the planning director, if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way.

(12)

Power-drive processing, including aluminum foil and can compacting, bailing, plastic shredding, or other light processing activities necessary for efficient temporary storage and shipment of material, may be approved through a use permit process where noise standards can be shown to be complied with.

(13)

Other conditions may be required in connection with the use permit process.

(e)

Light and Heavy Processing Facilities. A light or heavy processing operation shall meet the following conditions:

(1)

The facility shall be screened from the public right-of-way and adjacent properties zoned, planned or occupied for residential use.

(2)

Processors will operate in a wholly enclosed building except for incidental storage, or shall operate within an area enclosed on all sides by an opaque fence or wall not less than eight feet (8′) in height and landscaped on all street frontages.

(3)

Power-drive processing shall be permitted, provided noise level requirements of subsection (e)(11) of this section are met. Light processing facilities are limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials.

(4)

A light processing facility shall be no larger than forty-five thousand (45,000) square feet and may not shred, compact or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.

(5)

A processing facility may accept used motor oil for recycling from the generator in accordance with Section 25250.11 of the California Health and Safety Code.

(6)

Setbacks and landscaping requirements shall be those provided for the zoning district in which the facility is located.

(7)

Materials stored outside shall be baled, palletized, densified or shall be in sturdy containers maintained in good condition. Storage containers for flammable material shall be constructed of nonflammable material. Oil storage must be in containers approved by the local fire district, Department of Forestry and Department of Public Health. No storage excluding truck trailers and overseas containers will be visible above the height of the fencing.

(8)

The site shall be maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials, will be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis, and will be secured from unauthorized entry and removal of materials when attendants are not present.

(9)

Parking space shall be provided on site for the anticipated peak load of customers to circulate, park and deposit recyclable materials. If the facility is open to the public, space will be provided for a minimum of ten (10) customers except where the planning director determines that a lesser amount is surrounding business and public safety.

(10)

In addition to the parking required by subsection (e)(g) of this section, one (1) parking space will be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the processing center. Parking requirements will otherwise be as mandated by the zone in which the facility is located.

(11)

Noise levels shall not exceed fifty-five (55) dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, and shall not exceed seventy (70) dBA.

(12)

If the facility is located within five hundred feet (500′) of property zoned or planned or occupied for residential use, it shall not be in operation between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The facility will be administered by on-site personnel during the hours the facility is open.

(13)

Any containers provided for donation of recyclable materials will be adequately screened from any property zoned or occupied for residential use and shall be of sturdy, rustproof construction, shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected, and shall be secure from unauthorized entry or removal of materials.

(14)

Donation areas shall be kept free of litter and any other undesirable material. The containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited.

(15)

Sign requirements shall be those provided for the zoning district in which the facility is located. In addition, the facility will be clearly marked with the name and phone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation.

(16)

No dust, fumes, smoke, vibration or odor above ambient level shall intrude on neighboring properties.

(17)

Other conditions may be required as part of the use permit process.

(Ord. No. 4643, 1993.)