Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 13 Recycling Facilities

The following provisions establish standards and procedures for the sitting and operation of various types and sizes of commercial recycling facilities.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13.)

Any recycling facility intending to operate in the city shall comply with all of the following provisions:

a. Permit requirements. Recycling facilities are subject to permit review in all commercial and industrial zoning districts according to the following schedule:

Table 36.30-1

b. Development and operating standards. All recycling facilities shall comply with the following specific standards:

1. Reverse vending machines and small collection. Reverse vending machine(s) located within a commercial or industrial location shall not require additional parking spaces for recycling customers, and may be permitted in all commercial and industrial zoning districts, subject to a conditional use permit and compliance with the following standards:

(a) Shall be installed as an accessory use in full compliance with all applicable provisions of this chapter and the City Code;

(b) Shall not occupy parking spaces required by the primary use, and shall be constructed of durable waterproof and rustproof material;

(c) Reverse vending machines shall occupy no more than fifty (50) square feet for each installation, including any protective enclosure, and shall be no more than eight (8) feet in height;

(d) Small collection facilities shall be no larger than three hundred fifty (350) square feet;

(e) Shall have operating hours which are consistent with the operating hours of the primary use;

(f) Shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

(g) Shall not be located within fifty (50) feet of any parcel zoned or planned for residential use, nor shall it exceed noise standards as established in the general plan's noise acceptability guidelines.

(h) Collection containers, site fencing and signs shall be of a color and design so as to be both compatible and harmonious with the surrounding uses and neighborhood; and

(i) Shall be subject to landscaping and/or screening as determined through development review.

2. Large collection facilities. A large collection facility which is larger than three hundred fifty (350) square feet, or on a separate parcel not accessory to a "primary" use, which has a permanent structure is allowed in industrial zoning districts, subject to a conditional use permit, and the following standards:

(a) The facility does not abut a parcel zoned or planned for residential use;

(b) The facility shall be screened from the public rights-of-way, within an enclosed structure, or behind fences, walls or screen planting;

(c) Structure setbacks and landscape requirements shall be those provided for the zoning district in which the facility is located;

(d) All exterior storage of material should be in sturdy containers which are secured and maintained in good condition at all times. No storage, excluding truck trailers, shall be visible above the height of the wall;

(e) The site shall be maintained clean, sanitary and free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and will be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis;

(f) Any containers provided for "after hours" donation of recyclable materials shall be permanently located at least one hundred (100) feet from any residential zoning district, constructed of sturdy, rustproof materials, with sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected, and secured from unauthorized entry or removal of materials; and

(g) No dust, fumes, odor, smoke or vibration above ambient levels shall be detectable from adjacent parcels.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13.)