Lancaster Municipal Code Art. VI Criteria and Standards for Recycling Facilities

The following criteria and standards set out in this article shall be applied to each type of recycling facility as appropriate whether the facility is a permitted use or use subject to director's review and approval.

(Prior zoning ord. § 710.000)

Reverse vending machine(s) located completely within a commercial or industrial building need not comply with the following criteria and standards. Reverse vending machines do not require additional parking space for recycling customers. Such machines outside of a building shall comply with the following standards regardless of the zone in which it is located:

A. Shall be established in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use or community service facility which is in compliance with this title and city building and fire codes;

B. Shall be located within 30 feet of the entrance to the commercial structure on a surfaced site and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

C. Shall not occupy parking spaces required by the primary use;

D. Shall occupy no more than 50 square feet of floor space per installation, including any protective enclosure, and shall be no more than 8 feet in height;

E. Shall be constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rust-proof material. The color of the machine shall be compatible with the colors utilized on the site upon which it is located;

F. Shall be 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;

G. Shall have a sign area of a maximum of 4 square feet per machine, exclusive of operating instructions;

H. Shall be maintained in a clean, litter-free condition on a daily basis;

I. Operating hours shall be at least the operating hours of the primary use;

J. Shall be illuminated to ensure comfortable and safe operation if operating hours are between dusk and dawn;

K. Failure to comply with any standard shall be grounds for the director to order removal of the machines.

(Prior zoning ord. § 710.010)

Small collection facilities shall comply with the following standards:

A. Shall be established in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use or community service facility which is in compliance with this title and city building and fire codes;

B. Shall be no larger than 500 square feet and occupy a surfaced site;

C. Shall be set back at least 10 feet from any street line and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

D. Shall accept only glass, metals, plastic containers, papers and reusable items. Used motor oil may be accepted with written permission of the Los Angeles County department of health services, hazardous materials control program (213-744-3223);

E. Shall use no power-driven processing equipment except for reverse vending machines;

F. Shall use containers that are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material, the color of the containers shall be compatible with the colors utilized on the site upon which they are located, covered when site is not attended, secured from unauthorized entry or removal of material, and shall be of a capacity sufficient to accommodate materials collected and collection schedule;

G. Shall store all recyclable material in containers or in the mobile unit vehicle, and shall not leave materials outside of containers when attendant is not present;

H. Shall be maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and mobile facilities, at which truck or containers are removed at the end of each collection day, shall be swept at the end of each collection day;

I. Shall not exceed noise levels of 60 dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, otherwise shall not exceed 70 dBA;

J. Attended facilities located within 100 feet of a property zoned or occupied for residential use shall operate only during the hours between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.;

K. Containers for the 24 hour donation of materials shall be at least 50 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;

L. Containers shall be clearly marked to 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 display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers;

M. Signs may be provided as follows:

1. Recycling facilities may have identification signs with a maximum of 20% per side or 16 square feet, whichever is larger, in addition to informational signs required under subsection L of this section; in the case of a wheeled facility, the side will be measured from the pavement to the top of the container.

2. Signs must be consistent with the character of the location.

3. Directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the director if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation, or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way;

N. The facility shall not impair the landscaping required by this title or any permit issued pursuant thereto;

O. No additional parking spaces will be required for customers of a small collection facility located at the established parking lot of the primary use. One space will be provided for the attendant, if needed;

P. 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;

Q. 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:

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

2. A parking study shows that existing parking capacity is not already fully utilized during the time the recycling facility is expected to be on the site.

A reduction in available parking spaces in an established parking facility may then be allowed as follows:

For a commercial/industrial primary use:

For a community facility primary use:

A maximum 5 spaces reduction will be allowed when not in conflict with parking needs of the primary use;

R. The following shall be grounds for the director to order the removal of the small collection facility:

1. Failure to comply with any standard set forth in this section,

2. A parking study shows that existing parking capacity has become fully utilized and the parking occupied by the facility is needed for the customers or clients of the primary use.

(Prior zoning ord. § 710.020)

A large collection facility is larger than 500 square feet, or is on a separate property not appurtenant to a primary use, and which may have a permanent building. Large collection facilities shall comply with the following standards:

A. Facility does not abut a property zoned or planned for residential use.

B. Facility will be screened from the public right-of-way by operating in an enclosed building or:

1. Within a surfaced area enclosed by a masonry wall at least 6 feet in height with a 10 foot landscaped strip;

2. At least 150 feet from property zoned or planned for residential use;

3. Meets all applicable noise standards in this section.

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

D. All exterior storage of material shall be in sturdy containers which are covered, secured and maintained in good condition, or may be baled or strapped to pallets. The color of the containers shall be compatible with the colors utilized on the site upon which they are located. Storage containers for flammable material shall be constructed of nonflammable material. Oil storage must be in containers approved by the fire and health departments. No storage, excluding truck trailers, overseas containers or other enclosed containers, will be visible above the height of the wall.

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

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

G. One parking space will be provided for each commercial vehicle operated by the recycling facility. Parking requirements will be as provided for in the zone.

H. Noise levels shall not exceed 60 dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned property, or otherwise shall not exceed 70 dBA.

I. If the facility is located within 500 feet of property zoned, planned or occupied for residential use, it shall not be in operation between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

J. Any containers provided for after-hours donation of recyclable materials will be at least 100 feet from any property zoned or occupied for residential use, 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.

K. 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; facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.

L. 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; and directional signs, bearing no advertising message, may be installed with the approval of the director, if necessary, to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way.

M. 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 director if noise and other standards are met.

N. Failure to comply with any standard set forth in this section shall be grounds for the director to order the closure/removal of the large collection facility.

(Prior zoning ord. § 710.030)

Light (45,000 square feet or less) and heavy (greater than 45,000 square feet) recycling processing facilities shall comply with the following standards:

A. Facility does not abut a property zoned or planned for residential use.

B. Processors will operate in a wholly enclosed building except for incidental storage, or:

1. Within a surfaced area enclosed on all sides by a masonry wall not less than 8 feet in height and landscaped on all street frontages;

2. Located at least 150 feet from property zoned or planned for residential use.

C. 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 of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials.

D. A light processing facility shall be no larger than 45,000 square feet and shall have no more than an average of 2 outbound truck shipments of material per day and may not shred, compact or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.

E. 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.

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

G. All exterior storage of material shall be in sturdy containers or enclosures which are covered, secured and 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 and health departments. No storage, excluding truck trailers and overseas containers, will be visible above the height of the fencing.

H. Site shall be maintained free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and 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.

I. 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 10 customers or the peak load, whichever is higher, except where the director determines that allowing overflow traffic is compatible with surrounding businesses and public safety.

J. One 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.

K. Noise levels shall not exceed 60 dBA as measured at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, or otherwise shall not exceed 70 dBA.

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

M. Any containers provided for after-hours donation of recyclable materials will be at least 100 feet from any property zoned or occupied for residential use; 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.

N. 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. Facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.

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

P. No dust, fumes, smoke, vibration or odor above ambient level may be detectable on neighboring properties.

Q. Failure to comply with any standard set forth in this section shall be grounds for the director to order the closure/removal of the processing facility.

(Ord. 711 § 46, 1995; prior zoning ord. § 710.040)