Chapter 17.97 — RECYCLING FACILITIES

§ 17.97.010. Purpose.¶

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide standards for recycling processing facilities, recycling collection facilities, and reverse vending machines that will ensure adequate areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials that are compatible with surrounding land uses, in order to encourage the diversion of solid waste by facilitating source reduction, recycling, and composting activities.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

§ 17.97.020. Development standards.¶

All recycling facilities, as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), are subject to the following general requirements:

(A) The Review Authority may specify the types and quantities of stored or processed materials.
(B) Material shall be stored inside containers or within indoor or outdoor storage areas properly screened from the public right-of-way pursuant to PMC § 17.92.120 (Outdoor storage (primary and accessory)).
(C) Recycling areas or the bins or containers placed therein must provide protection against adverse environmental conditions, including, but not limited to, rain or wind, which might render the collected materials unmarketable.
(D) The design and construction of recycling areas shall not jeopardize security of any recyclable materials placed therein.
(E) The recycling facility shall be constructed and maintained of durable waterproof and rustproof material.
(F) Collection containers, fencing, and signage shall be of such color and design which are compatible with the surrounding area.
(G) Driveways and/or travel aisles shall provide unobstructed access for collection vehicles and personnel in conformance with building code standards for garbage collection access and clearance.
(H) A sign clearly identifying all recycling and solid waste collection and loading areas and the materials accepted therein shall be posted adjacent to all points of direct access to the recycling areas.
(I) The facility and/or containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material to be deposited, operating instructions and hours, and the identity and phone number of the facility operator to call if the machine is inoperative, and shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling facility outside of regular business hours.
(J) Facilities shall meet the sign standards of the underlying zone designation as set forth in PMC Chapter 17.88 (Signs) unless otherwise specified; directional signs may be installed subject to approval of the Director.

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City of Palmdale, CA

ZONING

§ 17.97.020

§ 17.97.040

(K) The facility shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner free of litter and any other undesirable materials on a regular basis, including mobile facilities.
(L) The surrounding area and transportation corridors adjacent to recycling facilities shall be adequately protected from any adverse impacts including, but not limited to, noise, odor, vectors, or glare, through measures including, but not limited to, maintaining adequate separation, fencing, and landscaping.
(M) If the facility is located in or near an area designated or planned for residential use, the Director may require additional restrictions on the hours of operation, type of machinery used, lighting, and truck routes.
(N) Noise generated by a facility shall not exceed maximum limits established by the Noise Element of the General Plan.
(O) The facility shall meet all applicable requirements of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Health Department, and Building and Safety Division.
(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

§ 17.97.030. Recycling collection facility, large.¶

Large recycling collection facilities, as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), shall comply with the standards pursuant to PMC § 17.97.020 (Development standards) and the following:

(A) If the proposed facility shares a lot line with a residentially zoned property, the area used for the facility shall be separated by a minimum distance of 300 feet from the shared property line.
(B) The facility shall be enclosed within a structure and screened from view from the public right-of-way.
(C) Setback, landscape, screening, and lighting requirements shall be those required for the zone in which the facility is located.
(D) Containers shall be covered when the 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.
(E) Adequate refuse containers for the disposal of nonhazardous materials shall be permanently maintained on site.
(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

§ 17.97.040. Recycling collection facility, small.¶

Small recycling collection facilities, as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), shall comply with both the development standards pursuant to PMC § 17.97.020 (Development standards) and 17.97.030 and the following:

(A) Shall be installed as an accessory use to an existing use which is in full compliance with all applicable provisions of this Title;
(B) Shall be no larger than 500 square feet;

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City of Palmdale, CA § 17.97.040

PALMDALE CODE

§ 17.97.050

(C) Shall accept only glass, metal, plastic, and paper;
(D) Shall use no power-driven processing equipment except for reverse vending machines;
(E) If a mobile unit is used, all recyclable materials shall be stored in the mobile unit vehicle and shall not be left outside of the unit when the attendant is not present; mobile facilities at which trucks or containers are removed at the end of each collection day shall be cleaned of all debris at the end of each collection day;
(F) Signs may be provided as follows:
- (1) Identification signs with a maximum sign area of 15 percent per side of a structure or 16 square feet, whichever is less. In the case of a wheeled facility, the side will be measured from the ground to the top of the container;
- (2) Signs shall be consistent with the character of the surrounding development; and
- (3) Directional signs, consistent with this Title, may be installed subject to approval by the Director if found necessary to facilitate traffic or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way;
(G) No additional parking spaces shall be required for customers of a small recycling collection facility located within the established parking lot of a primary use;
(H) 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;
(I) In no event shall small recycling collection facilities reduce the parking requirements of the project;
(J) Small recycling collection facilities shall not be 24-hour operations; and
(K) The architecture of any facility shall be compatible with surrounding uses in form, materials, colors, scale, and other design elements.
(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

§ 17.97.050. Recycling processing facility, heavy.¶

Heavy recycling processing facilities, as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), shall comply with the development standards pursuant to PMC § 17.97.020 (Development Standards) and the following:

(A) If the proposed facility shares a lot line with a residential zoned property, the area used for the facility shall be separated by a minimum distance of 300 feet from the shared property line;
(B) Heavy recycling processing facilities shall operate within a completely enclosed structure;
(C) Power-driven processing shall be allowed, provided all noise level standards are met as specified within the Noise Element of the General Plan;
(D) Setbacks, screening, lighting, landscaping standards shall be those provided for the zone in which the facility is located; and
(E) Loose debris shall be collected on a daily basis and the site shall be secured from

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City of Palmdale, CA

ZONING

§ 17.97.050

§ 17.97.070

unauthorized entry and removal of materials when attendants are not present. (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

§ 17.97.060. Recycling processing facility, light.¶

Light recycling processing facilities, as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), shall comply with the development standards pursuant to PMC § 17.97.020 (Development standards) and the following:

(A) If the proposed facility shares a lot line with a residential zoned property, the area used for the facility shall be separated by a minimum distance of 300 feet from the shared property line;
(B) Light recycling processing facilities shall operate within a completely enclosed structure;
(C) Power-driven processing shall be allowed, provided all noise level standards are met as required by the Noise Element of the General Plan. Light processing facilities shall be limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding, and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials;
(D) A light recycling processing facility shall be no larger than 45,000 square feet; shall have no more than an average of two outbound truck shipments of material per day; and shall not shred, compact, or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers;
(E) Setbacks, landscaping, screening, and lighting standards shall be those provided for the zone in which the facility is located; and
(F) Loose debris shall be collected on a daily basis and the site shall be secured from unauthorized entry and removal of materials when attendants are not present.
(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

§ 17.97.070. Reverse vending machines.¶

Reverse vending machine(s), as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), shall be subject to compliance with the following standards:

(A) Shall be installed as an accessory use to a small or large recycling collection facility which is in full compliance with all applicable provisions of this Title;
(B) Shall be located a minimum of 10 feet and a maximum of 30 feet from the entrance to the structure 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 eight feet in height;
(E) Shall have a maximum sign area of four square feet per machine, exclusive of operating instructions;
(F) Operating hours shall be consistent with the operating hours of the primary use;
(G) Shall be illuminated to ensure comfortable and safe operation if operating hours include hours between dusk and dawn; and

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City of Palmdale, CA

PALMDALE CODE

§ 17.97.070

(H) No additional parking spaces shall be required for customers of a reverse vending machine. (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

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City of Palmdale, CA