Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 19.385 Recycling Facilities

The purpose of regulating recycling facilities is to ensure compatibility of such uses with surrounding uses and properties and to avoid any impacts associated with such uses.

(Ord. 7331 §56, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)

Beverage container recycling facilities, mobile recycling units, indoor collection centers, reverse vending machines, bulk reverse vending machines and donation collection bins, as defined in Article X (Definitions), are permitted as set forth in Article V, Base Zones and Related Use and Development Provisions subject to the requirements contained in this chapter.

(Ord. 7331 §56, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)

A. Mobile recycling units. Mobile recycling units shall comply with the following regulations.

1. The unit shall be staffed at all times during operating hours.

2. The unit shall operate a minimum of 30 hours per week but shall be limited to the hours between 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

3. The unit shall be located on a site occupied by commercial or industrial businesses.

4. All beverage containers shall be stored in opaque enclosures so as not to be readily visible.

5. The unit shall be compatible with the building architecture of the site.

6. The unit shall be located at least 150 feet from any street or residentially zoned or occupied property. An additional setback may be required to reduce exposure of the unit to the street or adjacent property.

7. The total area occupied by the unit shall not exceed 500 square feet.

8. Exterior signage shall be limited to one unlighted identification sign and one hours-of-operation sign, each not to exceed 16 square feet per mobile recycling unit.

9. The unit shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation and shall not displace any required parking spaces.

10. The unit shall be screened from adjacent properties and streets by landscaping or other screening.

11. The unit and surrounding area shall be maintained in a clean, litter-free condition and shall be swept or pressure washed daily. Shopping carts and trash left within 100 feet of the recycling unit shall be removed at the end of the daily operating hours.

B. Reverse vending machines. Reverse vending machines shall comply with the following regulations.

1. Signage shall be limited to the surface area of the machines.

2. The machines shall be located within 30 feet of a building entry and shall abut such building.

3. The machines shall be situated at least 150 feet from any residentially zoned or occupied property.

4. The machines shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or parking.

5. Only one machine or group of machines shall be allowed per commercial or industrial property or complex.

6. Such machine(s) shall not meet the definition of Reverse Vending Machine-Bulk Type as defined in Article X (Definitions).

7. The machines shall not exceed reasonable noise limits pursuant to Title 7.

C. Indoor collection centers. Indoor collection centers shall comply with the following site location and operational regulations.

1. Exterior signage shall be limited to one unlighted identification sign and one hours-of-operation sign, each not-to-exceed six square feet.

2. Indoor collection centers shall not be located within 150 feet of a residential zone or use, as measured from property line to property line.

D. Reverse vending machine, bulk type. Bulk reverse vending machines shall comply with the following standards.

1. The machines shall be situated at least 150 feet from any residentially zoned or occupied property.

2. The machine(s) shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation or parking.

3. The machines shall not exceed reasonable noise limits pursuant to Title 7.

4. Only one machine or group of machines shall be allowed per commercial or industrial property or complex.

E. Donation collection bins. Donation collection bins shall comply with the following standards:

1. Only one unattended donation collection bin shall be allowed on each parcel or real property.

2. Any unattended donation collection bin shall not be any closer than 2,000 feet from any other unattended donation collection bin, as measured from the subject unattended donation collection bin to the nearest property line containing another unattended donation collection bin.

3. Unattended donation collection bins shall be located on a parcel of two and one-half acres in area or larger.

4. No unattended donation collection bin shall be allowed in an area required for vehicle parking, circulation, pedestrian path of travel or required landscaped area.

5. The unattended donation collection bin shall be located at least 150 feet from any street or residentially zoned or occupied property. An additional setback may be required to reduce exposure of the unit to the street or adjacent property.

6. The unattended donation collection bin shall be no more than 84 inches high, 72 inches wide and 60 inches deep.

(Ord. 7552 §15, 2021; Ord. 7487 §28, 11-5-2019; Ord. 7331 §56, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)

No modifications to the above site location, operations and development standards are permitted.

(Ord. 7331 §56, 2016)