Lomita Municipal Code Art. 61 Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Collection and Loading Areas

Cities and counties must divert fifty (50) percent of all solid waste by January 1, 2000, through source reduction, recycling, and composting activities.

Diverting fifty (50) percent of all solid waste requires the participation of the residential, commercial, industrial, and public sectors.

The lack of adequate areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials that are compatible with surrounding land uses is a significant impediment to diverting solid waste and constitutes an urgent need for state and local agencies to address access to solid waste for source reduction, recycling, and composting activities. This ordinance has been developed to meet that need. Solid waste materials storage areas are related to the recyclable materials and, therefore, the requirements for solid waste storage are incorporated in this Article.

(Ord. No. 527, § 3, 11-21-94)

This Article shall be applicable to all projects meeting the following conditions:

(1) Any new project for which a building permit is required for a commercial, industrial, or institutional building, or residential building having five (5) or more living units, where solid waste is collected and loaded and any residential project where solid waste is collected and loaded in a location serving five (5) or more living units.

(2) Any new public facility where solid waste is collected and loaded and any improvements for areas of a public facility used for collecting and loading solid waste.

(3) Subdivisions or tracts of single-family detached homes if, within such subdivisions or tracts there is an area where solid waste is collected and loaded in a location which serves five (5) or more living units. In such instances, recycling areas as specified in this ordinance are only required to serve the needs of the living units which utilize the solid waste collection and loading area.

(4) For existing developments, recycling and solid waste storage areas shall be provided when one (1) or more of the following occurs:

(a) The existing waste collection area is being modified.

(b) Modifications to the development add thirty (30) percent or more to the existing floor area and are conducted within a twelve-month period. This provision shall not apply to single family detached homes.

(c) Recyclable materials shall not be stored outside of an enclosure.

(Ord. No. 527, § 3, 11-21-94)

(1) For multiple family developments containing less than five (5) units, solid waste and recyclable materials storage area shall be required. Location and size of said area shall be reviewed and approved by the planning director and/or the planning commission.

(2) For multiple family developments containing five (5) or more units, solid waste storage area shall be provided pursuant to the guidelines developed by the Los Angeles County Building and Safety Department. The area for storing and loading recyclable material plus the area for solid waste storage shall be one hundred fifty (150) percent of the area required for solid waste storage only.

(a) Solid waste and recyclable materials storage areas shall be screened by a six-foot-high solid masonry wall on all sides except on the side of the opening, which shall have a six-foot-high opaque gate kept in good repair. Such storage facility shall be located as not to interfere with or obstruct the visibility of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. To the extent possible, the recycling receptacles and the solid waste receptacles shall be located in the same enclosure.

(b) A sign clearly identifying all recycling and solid waste collection and loading areas, including the materials accepted shall be posted in or adjacent to the recycling and/or solid waste collection area.

(c) Location, type and placement of receptacles and enclosure shall be subject to approval by the planning director. However, they may not be located in the required parking area or the required front, side or rear setback, except as otherwise provided herein:

(i) Existing enclosures located in any minimum required setback areas may be enlarged in order to comply with the recycling requirements. The proposed addition shall not exceed thirty (30) square feet for developments of up to twelve (12) units, and fifty (50) square feet for developments of over twelve (12) units.

(ii) In order for existing developments to meet the recycling and waste storage area requirements, the development may use one (1) unenclosed parking space, subject to review and approval by the planning director and provided that there remains at least four (4) other unenclosed spaces for the development. Such converted space shall be adequately marked for storage of recycling and solid waste materials.

(iii) A variance from the above requirements may be applied for subject to Article 70 of Lomita Zoning Ordinance.

(3) Developers and property owners of all residential developments, regardless of the number of dwelling units, are encouraged to include recycling areas or systems within residences. Recommended internal storage space for individual living units for recyclable materials is three (3) cubic feet.

(4) Occupants of single family homes shall handle recyclables and trash as provided in Title V, Chapter 3 (Integrated Waste Management) of the Lomita Municipal Code unless the subdivider provides a waste storage area for five (5) or more units. Trash, recyclables and their containers shall not be stored in the front yard setback area or in the public right-of-way except as permitted in Title V, Chapter 3.

(Ord. No. 527, § 3, 11-21-94; Ord. No. 733, § 2(pt. 2), 9-7-10)

(1) For commercial and other non-residential developments, solid waste storage area shall be provided pursuant to the guidelines developed by the Los Angeles County Building and Safety Department. The area for storing and loading recyclable materials plus the area for solid waste storage shall be one hundred fifty (150) percent of the area required for solid waste storage only.

(2) Solid waste and recyclable materials storage areas shall be screened by a six-foot-high solid masonry wall on all sides except on the side of the opening which shall have a six-foot-high opaque gate kept in good repair. Such storage facility shall be located so as not to interfere with or obstruct the visibility of pedestrians and vehicular traffic. To the extent possible, the recycling receptacles and the solid waste receptacles shall be located in the same enclosure.

(3) A sign clearly identifying all recycling and solid waste collection and loading areas, including the materials accepted, shall be posted in or adjacent to the recycling and/or solid waste collection area.

(4) Location, type and placement of receptacles and enclosures shall be subject to approval by the planning director. However, they may not be located in a required parking space, required setback or landscaped areas, except as otherwise provided herein:

(a) Existing enclosures located in any required setback or landscaped areas may be enlarged in order to comply with the recycling requirements. The proposed addition shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet. If additional storage area is needed, such area shall be developed elsewhere on the lot, subject to approval by the planning director and/or planning commission.

(b) In order for existing developments to meet the recycling and waste storage area requirements, the existing development may use one (1) parking space, subject to review and approval by the planning director and provided that there remains at least seven (7) required parking spaces for the development. Such converted space shall be adequately marked for recycling and storage of waste.

(5) Developers and property owners of all non-residential developments are encouraged to include recycling areas or systems for each tenant. Recommended internal storage space for recyclable materials is three (3) cubic feet for an office use; one (1) cubic yard per five thousand (5,000) square feet for a restaurant and one (1) cubic yard per eight thousand (8,000) square feet of retail area. Internal storage space in lieu of outside recyclable storage areas may be approved by the planning director.

(6) A variance from the above requirements may be applied for subject to Article 70 of the Lomita Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 527, § 3, 11-21-94; Ord. No. 733, § 2(pt. 2), 9-7-10)