Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
15.30.090. Recycling facilities.
   A.   Reverse vending machines shall be subject to the following provisions:
      1.   Their establishment is in conjunction with a commercial use that is in compliance with the Zoning, Building and Fire Codes of the city.
      2.   Their placement is within thirty feet of the entrance to the commercial structure, within three feet of a building and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation.
      3.   They do not occupy required parking spaces and they are not placed on the apron of the host facility when possible.
      4.   They do not occupy no more than 50 square feet of floor space per installation, including any protective enclosure, they are no more than eight feet in height, and they consist of no more than one set of machines per host facility (a set is defined as three machines).
      5.   They are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material.
      6.   They are 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.
      7.   They have a maximum sign area of four square feet per machine, exclusive of operating instructions.
      8.   They are maintained in a litter-free, dust-free condition on a daily basis.
      9.   They do not have a noise level that exceeds California Occupational Safety and Health Association standards, or the Noise Ordinance of the city.
      10.   Their operating hours are at least the operating hours of the host use.
      11.   They are illuminated to ensure safe operations if operating hours are between dusk and dawn.
   B.   A small collection facility shall be subject to the following provisions:
      1.   Its establishment is in conjunction with an existing commercial use which is in compliance with the Zoning, Building and Fire Codes of the city and is a certified recycling center as defined herein.
      2.   It is no larger than 500 square feet and occupies no more than five parking spaces, not including space that will be periodically needed for removal of materials or exchange of containers. The use of parking space by the facility and by the attendant may not reduce available parking spaces unless one of the following two conditions are met:
         a.   There exists available parking in excess of that required by the Fullerton Municipal Code. The number of parking spaces occupied by the small collection facility may not exceed the number of parking spaces available.
         b.   A parking/circulation study shows that existing parking capacity is not already fully utilized and the circulation system will not be impacted.
      3.   If one of the above two conditions exist, then a reduction in parking spaces in an established parking facility may be allowed, in relation to the total number of parking spaces available at the site, as follows:
   Total Number of Parking         Maximum Reduction
      Spaces at Site            in Parking
      0 to 25               0
      26 to 35            2
      36 to 50            3
       50 to 100            4
      100+               5
      4.   It is set back at least ten feet from any street line or building and does not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation.
      5.   It accepts only glass bottles, metals, plastic containers, papers and reusable items. Used motor oil may be accepted with permission of the local public health agency.
      6.   It does not use power-driven processing equipment except for bulk reverse vending machines.
      7.   It uses containers that are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material, covered when site is not attended, secured from unauthorized entry or removal of material and has a capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected and collection schedule.
      8.   It stores all recyclable material in containers or in the mobile center vehicle and does not leave materials outside of containers.
      9.   It is maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials and is swept at the end of each collection day.
      10.   It does not exceed a noise level of 55 dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, or otherwise, the noise level does not exceed 70 dBA.
      11.   An attended facility operates only during the hours of operation of the host use; and a facility located within 100 feet of a property zoned or occupied for residential use operates only during the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. The pick-up and drop-off of containers is conducted only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
      12.   The containers for the twenty-hour donation of materials shall be least 30 feet from any property zoned or occupied for residential uses unless there is a recognized service corridor and acoustical shielding between the containers and the residential use. The pick-up and drop-off of materials is only conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
      13.   The containers are clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited; the facility is clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the operator and the hours of operation; and the facility displays a notice stating that no material may be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers.
      14.   Signs may be provided as follows:
         a.   Recycling centers may have identification signs with a maximum of 20 percent per side or 16 square feet, whichever is smaller, in addition to required informational signs.
         b.   Signs must be consistent with the character of the location.
         c.   Directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the Director of Development Services if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation, or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way.
      15.   The facility does not impair the landscaping required for any concurrent use by this title or any permit issued pursuant thereto.
      16.   No additional parking spaces are 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.
      17.   A mobile recycling center has an area clearly marked to prohibit other vehicular parking during hours when the mobile center is scheduled to be present.
   C.   A large collection facility shall be subject to the following provisions:
      1.   It does not abut a property zoned, planned or occupied for residential use and is at least 150 feet from property zoned, planned or occupied for residential use.
      2.   It is screened from the public right-of-way by operating in an enclosed building or within an area enclosed by an opaque fence at least six feet in height. Said fence may not encroach into the required street setbacks.
      3.   All exterior storage of material is in sturdy, nonflammable containers that are covered, secure, and maintained in good condition. Baled or palletized material may also be stored. Oil storage must be in containers approved by the Fire Marshal. No storage may be visible above the height of the fencing.
      4.   The site is maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and will be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis.
      5.   Space is provided on the site for six vehicles or the anticipated peak customer load, whichever is higher, to circulate and to deposit recyclable materials.
      6.   One parking space is provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the recycling center.
      7.   One parking space is provided for each anticipated employee.
      8.   The noise level does not exceed 55 dBA as measured at the property line with a residential zone classification or occupied property, or otherwise, the noise level does not exceed 70 dBA.
      9.   If the facility is located within 500 feet of property zoned, planned or occupied for residential use, it may not be in operation between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
      10.   Any containers provided for after-hours donation of recyclable material are of sturdy, rustproof construction, have sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected and is secured from unauthorized entry or removal of materials. Containers must be at least ten feet from any building.
      11.   Donation areas are kept free of litter and any other undesirable material and the containers are clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited; the facility must display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.
      12.   The facility is clearly marked with the name and telephone number of the operator and the hours of operation; identification and informational signs meet the standards of the zone; and directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the Director of Development Services if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way.
      13.   Power-driven processing, including aluminum foil and can compacting, baling, plastic shredding, or other light processing activities necessary for efficient temporary storage and shipment of material may be approved by Conditional Use Permit or at the discretion of the Director of Development Services if noise and other conditions are met.
   D.   A light processing facility shall be subject to the following provisions:
      1.   It does not abut a property zoned or planned for residential use or is not located within 150 feet of a residential zone or use.
      2.   Processors operate in an enclosed building except for incidental storage, or within an area enclosed on all sides by an opaque fence or wall not less than eight feet in height.
      3.   Power-driven processing may be permitted provided all noise level requirements are met and processing is limited to baling, briquetting, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials.
      4.   It is no larger than 4,500 square feet and does not have more than two outbound truck shipments of material per day and may not shred, compact or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.
      5.   It may accept used motor oil for recycling from the generator in amounts no greater than 20 gallons per shipment, and the contents of any single container must not exceed five gallons, in accordance with Section 25250.11 of the California Health and Safety Code.
      6.   All exterior storage of material is in sturdy nonflammable containers that are covered, secured and maintained in good condition. Baled or palletized material may also be stored. Oil storage must be in containers approved by the Fire Marshal. No storage is visible above the height of the fence.
      7.   The site is maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and is cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis and will be secured from unauthorized entry and removal of materials when attendants are not present.
      8.   Space is provided on the site for the anticipated peak load of customers to circulate, park and deposit recyclable materials. If the facility is open to the public, parking will be provided for a minimum of ten customers.
      9.   One parking space is provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the processing center and one for each employee.
      10.   The noise level does not exceed 55 dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, or otherwise, the noise level does not exceed 70 dBA.
      11.   If the facility is located within 500 feet of property zoned, planned or occupied for residential use, it may not be in operation between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. On-site personnel will administer the facility during the hours the center is open.
      12.   Any containers provided for after-hours donation of recyclable materials are of sturdy, rustproof construction, have sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected, and are secure from unauthorized entry or removal of materials. Containers are at least ten feet from any building. The pick-up and drop-off of any containers are between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
      13.   Donation areas are kept free of litter and any other undesirable material. The containers are clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited. The facility must display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.
      14.   No dust, fumes, smoke, vibration or odor above ambient level may be detectable on neighboring properties.
(Ord. 3066, (part), 2005: Ord. 2982, 2001)