(A) Intent: This section is intended to provide the community with regulations for the siting of recycling, redemption and processing facilities, and to ensure that recycling facilities do not create adverse impacts on the site and the surrounding community.
(B) Applicability:
1. Use Types: The provisions of this section shall apply to the following use types, as defined in this section and section 6-1-19, "Definitions", of this title:
(a) Reverse vending machines;
(b) Small collection facilities;
(c) Large collection facilities;
(d) Processing facilities.
2. Compliance: Such use types shall comply with the provisions of this section in addition to applicable standards and permit procedures of the zone district in which the use type is located.
(C) Reverse Vending Machines: Reverse vending machines shall comply with the following development standards:
1. Condition Of Machines: All machines shall be clean and not dented, bent or otherwise disfigured, or other appearance of disrepair;
2. Placement: Shall be established in conjunction with a commercial use, industrial use, or public facility which is in compliance with this title;
3. Location: Shall be located within thirty feet (30') of the entrance to the commercial or industrial structure and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;
4. Prohibited Within Parking Spaces: Shall not occupy required parking spaces;
5. Area And Height: Shall occupy no more than fifty (50) square feet of floor area per installation, including any protective enclosure, and shall be no more than eight feet (8') in height;
6. Construction: Shall be constructed and maintained with durable, waterproof, weather resistant, and rustproof material;
7. Identification: Shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material to be deposited, operating instructions, and the contact information, with phone number, of the responsible party that services the machine when inoperable or in disrepair;
8. Signage: Shall have a maximum sign area of four (4) square feet per machine, exclusive of operating instructions;
9. Maintenance: Shall be maintained in a clean, graffiti-free, and litter free condition on a daily basis; and
10. Illumination: Shall be exterior and/or interior illuminated to ensure comfortable and safe operation during early morning or evening operation.
(D) Small Collection Facilities:
1. Development Standards: Small collection facilities shall comply with the following standards:
(a) Location: Facility shall be located a minimum distance of five-hundred feet (500'), as determined by the Planning Commission, from the property line of any lot zoned or planned for residential use.
(b) Placement: Shall be established in conjunction with an existing commercial use, industrial use, or public facility which is in compliance with this title and the Building and Fire Code of the City;
(c) Area: Shall be no larger than five hundred (500) square feet and occupy no more than five (5) parking spaces, not including space that will be periodically needed for removal of materials or exchange of containers. Occupation of additional parking spaces by the facility and by the attendant may reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number required for the primary land use as follows:
Number of Parking Spaces | Maximum Reduction |
0 - 25 | 0 |
26 - 35 | 1 |
36 - 49 | 2 |
50 - 99 | 3 |
100+ | 4 |
(d) Setback: Shall be set back at least ten feet (10') from any property line and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;
(e) Items Accepted: Shall accept only glass, metal, and plastic beverage containers;
(f) Use Of Power Equipment: Shall use no power driven processing equipment, except for reverse vending machines that are sited with a small collection facility;
(g) Containers: Shall use storage containers that are:
(1) Constructed and maintained with durable waterproof, weather resistant, and rustproof material;
(2) Covered, self-enclosed, or enclosed by fencing when site is not attended and secured from unauthorized entry or removal of material; and
(3) Of a capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected in accord with a collection schedule;
(h) Storage Of Material: Shall store all recyclable material in containers or in a mobile unit vehicle, and shall not leave materials outside of containers when attendant is not present;
(i) Litter: Shall be maintained free of litter, debris, and any other undesirable materials. Mobile facilities, at which a truck or containers are removed at the end of each collection day, shall be swept and litter removed at the end of each collection day;
(j) Noise: Shall not exceed noise levels of sixty-five (65) dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, otherwise shall not exceed seventy (70) dBA in commercial areas and seventy-five (75) dBA in industrial areas;
(k) Hours: Shall operate only during the hours between nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M. Storage container delivery and pickup hours shall only be during the hours between six o'clock (6:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M.;
(l) Identification: Shall utilize clearly marked containers which identify the type of material which may be deposited; the facility shall be clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation; and shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers.
2. Signs: Signs may be provided as follows:
(a) Number, Size: Small collection facilities may have a maximum of four (4) identification signs each, a maximum of twenty percent (20%) of the surface area per side of the facility/container or sixteen (16) square feet, whichever is larger. Each side shall be measured from the pavement to the top of the container or facility;
(b) Directional Signs: Limited to six (6) square feet in size, may be installed on-site to facilitate traffic circulations and/or if the facility is not visible from a public right-of-way; and
(c) Increase: The Planning Commission may approve an increase in the number and size of signs upon finding that such an increase is compatible with adjacent businesses.
3. Reduction In Landscaping: The facility shall not be located within nor reduce existing on-site landscaping areas which may be required by this title for any concurrent use or under any permit or approval.
4. Parking:
(a) Small Collection Facility: No additional parking spaces will be required for customers of a small collection facility located in the established parking lot of a commercial or industrial use.
(b) Mobile Recycling Units: Mobile recycling units shall have an area clearly marked in the parking lot to prohibit other vehicular parking during hours when the mobile unit is scheduled to be present or operating.
(E) Large Collection Facilities: A large collection facility is one which occupies more than five hundred (500) square feet in area or is located on a separate parcel, not associated with an existing use, and may have a permanent structure or structures. Large collection facilities shall comply with the provisions of this section, in addition to the provisions of the zone district in which it is located.
1. Location: Facility shall be located a minimum distance of five-hundred feet (500'), or as determined by the Planning Commission, from the property line of any lot zoned or planned for residential use.
2. Items Accepted: Shall accept only glass, metal, and plastic beverage containers, paper and reusable items;
3. Screening; Noise: Facility shall be screened from the public right-of-way by operating in an enclosed building or within an area enclosed by an opaque fence or wall at least six feet (6') in height with landscaping and shall meet all applicable noise standards in this title.
4. Setbacks, Landscaping: Setbacks and landscape requirements shall be those provided for the zone district in which the facility is located.
5. Storage:
(a) All exterior storage of recyclable materials shall be in fully enclosed containers which are covered, secured and maintained in good condition. Uncontained piles of recyclable materials are prohibited.
(b) Facilities shall not leave recyclable materials outside of containers when attendant is not present.
(c) No storage, excluding truck trailers and overseas containers, shall be visible above the height of the fencing.
(d) Storage of flammable materials and acceptance of recyclable flammable materials is prohibited.
6. Site Litter: The site shall be maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and shall be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis.
7. Site Area And Layout: Space shall be provided on site for a queue of six (6) vehicles or the anticipated peak customer load, whichever is higher, to circulate and to deposit recyclable materials, except where the Planning Commission determines that allowing overflow traffic above six (6) vehicles is compatible with the surrounding land uses.
8. Parking: One (1) parking space shall be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the recycling facility. Parking requirements shall be as provided for in section 6-14-3, 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.
9. Noise: Noise levels shall not exceed sixty five (65) dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned property, and shall not exceed seventy-five (75) dBA at any point on the property.
10. Hours: Facilities shall operate only during the hours between seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M.
11. After Hours Containers: Large collection facilities shall not accept the donation of recyclable materials during non-operational hours.
12. Litter: Facility areas shall be kept free of litter and any other undesirable material and the containers shall 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.
13. Signs: The facility shall be clearly marked with the name and phone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation; and shall be consistent with subsection (D)2 above.
14. Power Driven Processing: 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 at the discretion of the Planning Commission if noise and other requirements are met.
(F) Processing Facilities: Processing facilities, both "light" and "heavy", as defined in section 6-1-19, "Definitions", of this title, when permitted, shall comply with the provisions and development standards of this section in addition to the applicable provisions of the zone district in which the facility is located.
1. Location: The processing facility shall be located a minimum of one thousand feet (1,000'), or as determined by the Planning Commission, from property planned, zoned or occupied for residential use. All operations shall take place within a fully enclosed building or within an area enclosed by a solid wood or masonry fence at least six feet (6') in height.
2. Setbacks: Setbacks for processing buildings from property lines shall be those provided for the zoning district in which the facility is located, but, if the setback is less than twenty five feet (25'), the facility shall be buffered by a landscape strip at least ten feet (10') wide along each property line. Containers that store recyclable materials may be placed in setback areas if said containers are regularly dropped off to and shipped off site as part of the recyclable material deliveries of the facility.
3. Hours: Hours of operation shall be between seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M. The facility shall be administered by on site personnel during the hours the facility is open.
4. Noise: Noise levels shall not exceed sixty five (65) dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, and shall not exceed seventy-five (75) dBA at any point.
5. Signage: Sign criteria shall be those specified in chapter 15, "Sign Regulations", of this title. In addition, the facility shall be clearly marked with the name and phone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation.
6. After Hours Containers: Processing facilities shall not accept the donation of recyclable materials during non-operational hours.
7. Maintenance Of Donation Areas: Donation areas shall be kept free of litter, debris, and any other undesirable material. The containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited. Facility shall display a notice that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.
8. Nuisances: No dust, fumes, smoke, vibration or odor above ambient level may be detectable on neighboring properties.
9. Power Driven Processing: Power driven processing shall be permitted, provided all noise level requirements are met. Light processing facilities are limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting or source separating recyclable materials, and repairing of reusable materials.
10. Size Of Light Processing Facility: A light processing facility shall be no larger than forty five thousand (45,000) square feet and shall have no more than an average of two (2) outbound truck shipments of material per day and may not shred, compact or bale ferrous metals, other than food and beverage containers.
11. Used Motor Oil: A processing facility may accept used motor oil for recycling from the generator in accordance with California Health and Safety Code section 25250.11.
12. Exterior Storage: All exterior storage of material shall be in sturdy containers or enclosures which are covered, secured and maintained in good condition or may be baled or placed on pallets. Storage containers for flammable material shall be constructed of nonflammable material. Oil storage shall be in containers approved by the Kern County Public Health Services Department; no storage, excluding truck trailers and overseas containers, shall be visible above the height of the fencing.
13. Litter: Site shall be maintained free of litter, debris, and any other undesirable materials, shall be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis, and shall be secured from unauthorized entry and removal of materials when attendants are not present.
14. Area: 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 shall be provided for a minimum queueing of ten (10) customers, except where the Planning Commission determines that allowing overflow traffic above ten (10) vehicles is compatible with surrounding businesses and public safety.
15. Parking: One parking space shall be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the processing center. Parking requirements shall otherwise be provided for in section 6-14-3.
(G) Site Cleanup Required: The operator of any recycling collection or processing facility shall, on a daily basis, remove any and all recyclable materials or solid wastes which have accumulated or are deposited outside the containers, bins or enclosures intended as receptacles for such materials. Upon failure to remove said materials, the City may deem them to be abandoned and may enter the site to remove the materials. The property owner of the premises and other operator of the facility shall be liable for the full cost of any such cleanup work performed by the City. (Ord. 768-08, 8-19-2008; amd. Ord. 832-18, 4-17-2018; Ord. 844-21, 11-16-2021)