8.12 — SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING

The words and phrases contained in this chapter shall have the meaning commonly associated with them unless special meaning is ascribed to them by the California Public Resources Code or the California Code of Regulations (as either may be amended from time to time) in which case such meaning shall apply; except that the following words shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be defined as follows:

"AB 341" means Assembly Bill 341 from the 2011-2012 Regular Session of the California Legislature (Chapter 476, Statutes 2011).

"AB 939" means that State Legislation commonly known as the California Integrated Waste Management Act (Chapter 1095, Statutes 1989, as amended) as codified in Public Resources Code Section 40000, et seq.

"Agreement" means the non-exclusive franchise agreement between City and franchisee for collection, transfer, transportation, recycling, processing and disposal of commercial and industrial and/or solid waste, including all exhibits and attachments, and any amendments thereto.

"Bins" means a container, commonly referred to as dumpsters, including compactors and any similar such devices, with a capacity of under 10 cubic yards.

"Cart" means a plastic container provided by a franchisee for collection, with a hinged lid and wheels serviced by an automated process, as opposed to a manual process of lifting and dumping, having a capacity of under 150 gallons.

"City Administrator" means the City Administrator of the City of Vernon or duly authorized representative or designee. Unless otherwise directed by City Administrator, the Director of Health and Environmental Control shall be the City Administrator's designee.

"City" means the City of Vernon.

"Collect" or "collection" or "collecting" means to take physical possession of, transport, and remove solid waste from a premises.

"Commercial premises" means premises upon which business activity is conducted, including, but not limited to, retail sales, services, wholesale operations, manufacturing and industrial operations, but excluding residential premises upon which business activities are conducted when such activities are permitted under applicable zoning regulations and are not the primary use of the property.

"Container" means any and all types of solid waste receptacles, including carts, bins, and rolloff boxes.

"Designee" means a person authorized by the Director of Health and Environmental Control or City Administrator to act on their behalf for purposes of enforcement.

"Franchisee" means a person, persons, firm or corporation that has been issued a non-exclusive franchise by City to provide solid waste handling services related to solid waste generated within the City.

"Harborage" means any condition which provides shelter, protection, or a breeding place for vectors, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence.

"Hazardous waste" means all substances defined as hazardous waste, acutely hazardous waste, or extremely hazardous waste by the State of California in Health and Safety Code Sections 25110.02, 25115 and 25117, or in the future amendments to or re-codifications of such statutes, or identified and listed as hazardous waste by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), all future amendments thereto, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

"Health Department" or "Department" means the City's Health and Environmental Control Department.

"Health Officer" means the Director of Health and Environmental Control, or duly authorized representative. The duties of Health Officer are those set forth in the Health and Safety Code of the State. Whenever a power is granted to or a duty imposed upon Health Officer in this chapter, the power may be exercised or the duty performed by a duly authorized representative of Health Officer, unless this chapter expressly provides otherwise.

"Large residential premises" means all premises with five or more dwelling units.

"Liquid waste pumping vehicle" means any vehicle used in whole or in part for the transportation of liquid waste.

"Liquid waste" means all those materials which are liquid or mostly liquid and which the generator no longer considers of sufficient value to retain, including, but not limited to, sewage, industrial by-products, waste water, and the cleanings from septic tanks, cesspools, chemical toilets, sewage seepage pits, sewage clarifiers, sumps and from similar sewage interceptors.

"Offal vehicle" means any vehicle used in whole or in part for the transportation of offal, tankage, blood, feathers, bones, hides, pelts and similar animal, fish or fowl by- products.

"Person" means any individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, corporation, group or other entity.

"Premises" means any land, building and/or structure within the City limits where solid waste is generated or accumulated.

"Recyclable material" or "recyclables" means that solid waste capable of being recycled, including, but not limited to, green waste, glass, newsprint, newspaper, aluminum, cardboard, certain plastics or metal.

"Recycle" or "recycling" means the process of collecting, sorting, cleaning, treating and reconstituting materials that would otherwise become solid waste and returning these materials to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials for new, reused or reconstituted products which meet the quality standards used in the marketplace.

"Rendering materials" means carcasses of animals or fowl, dead animals or fowl, fish, blood, offal, bones, meat, animal or vegetable fat, feathers, food scraps or waste, and other animal, fowl, or fish byproducts.

"Rendering plant" means an establishment where one or more rendering materials are cooked, melted down, extracted, clarified, or otherwise processed to produce oil, tallow, grease, fertilizer, or animal feed. A rendering plant shall not include an establishment exclusively producing fats, oils, lard, or similar products for human consumption; nor any similar process in connection with, and incidental to, a slaughterhouse, abattoir, packing plant, or similar establishment producing food for human consumption.

"Residential premises" means all premises upon which dwelling units exist.

"Rodent" means rats, mice, and other rodents which may serve as hosts of diseases communicable to man, or which, by their filthy characteristics, are offensive to man.

"Rolloff box" means solid waste collection containers of 10 cubic yards or larger, including compactors.

"Self-haul permit" means a permit issued by the City to self-hauler under this chapter.

"Self-haul vehicle" means a vehicle that is registered with the City for the purpose of transporting solid waste from the property where the waste is generated to the designated disposal location.

"Self-hauler" means any person that, pursuant to a permit obtained in accordance with Section 8.12.060H of this chapter, hauls solid waste, organic waste, or recyclable material that person generated directly to the appropriate facility, as required by this chapter and Chapter 8.14 of this Code.

"Solid waste" means and includes all solid waste as defined in Public Resources Code Section 40191, as it may be amended from time to time. Solid waste does not include hazardous waste (Class I), low-level radioactive waste, untreated medical waste, or special wastes as defined herein.

"Special wastes" means wastes other than solid waste, including sewage, sludge, industrial sludge, asbestos, auto bodies, tires, used motor oil, hazardous waste, animal waste, explosive substances, radioactive materials, acids, solvents and other materials which may not be disposed of at a Class III landfill or which requires special handling.

"Vector" includes rodents, fleas, flies, bedbugs, cockroaches, lice, mosquitoes, ticks, or other vermin which could transmit pathogens.

"Yard waste" means all leaves, grass cuttings and shrubs that accompany routine household or property maintenance functions.

(Prior code § 12.1; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

In addition to any other legal remedy, whether civil or criminal, a violation of the provision of this chapter is a public nuisance and may be enjoined and abated as such. (Prior code § 12.2; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

Offal vehicles, truck beds, tanks, barrels, and other containers used for transporting offal and other renderings intended for a rendering plant shall be: (a) made of durable materials; (b) watertight; (c) constructed so that the rendering materials transported cannot fall, drip, seep, drain, or splash from the conveyance during transportation; (d) covered during transport or storage of rendering materials; (e) constructed in such a manner as to permit thorough cleaning; and (f) thoroughly cleaned each time following delivery a load of rendering materials to a rendering plant. Any metal joints and seams shall be welded. Offal vehicles shall be maintained in good repair and in a sanitary condition. The name, address, and telephone number of the owner operator, permittee, or business name shall be legible, clearly visible, and permanently indicated on at least two sides of the exterior of the vehicle.

(Prior code § 12.3; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

• A. Sanitation of Premises. The premises of all rendering plants shall be cleaned at least once each day by scraping, brushing, or washing paved areas where required, and all such areas shall be kept free of refuse, trash, or accumulated rendering materials.

• B. Sanitation of Equipment. All cooking equipment, barrels, bins, presses, conveyors, grinders, hogs, tanks, and other equipment which is used to convey, hold, or process rendering materials shall be thoroughly cleaned at least weekly. All other equipment shall be cleaned as often as necessary to maintain it in a sanitary condition and to prevent a nuisance from odors.

• C. Floors, Paved Areas, and Drains. Rendering plant floors, rendering material storage areas, processed material storage areas, truck washing areas, driveways, and truck parking and maneuvering areas shall be constructed of concrete or other hard paving material impervious to water. All such paved areas shall be sloped to drains which are connected to an approved clarifier which, in turn, is connected to the sewer. Drains in uncovered areas and those drains which may receive excessive runoff of flood waters during rainstorms shall be connected to the clarifier through an approved rain-diversion valve. Liquid waste runoff from rendering plant paved areas shall be contained on the plant premises by the use of curbing, slopes, troughs, driveway entrance drains or other methods which will effectively prevent such liquid waste from running onto public sidewalks, streets, or other public or private property.

• D. Rendering Material Storage.

  1. Area. All rendering materials shall be delivered to and stored only in a designated rendering material storage area. The rendering material storage area shall be paved, curbed, and sloped or roughed to prevent liquid waste from the rendering materials seeping or flowing to surrounding areas.

  2. Time Limitation.

     • a. All rendering materials shall be processed within a 48-hour period after arrival at the rendering plant. If, for any reason, any rendering materials cannot be processed within the foregoing time limitation, the rendering plant operator shall notify the Vernon Health Department. The Health Department, after investigating the reasons for delay, may permit the rendering materials to be stored for additional time or may direct the rendering plant operator to dispose of all such material until such time as the rendering plant can again properly process rendering materials within the designated storage time period.

     • b. Until such time as the rendering plant is again placed in normal operation and the Health Department has approved the resumption of rendering material deliveries, all rendering material deliveries to the rendering plant shall be immediately discontinued and no future rendering material deliveries shall be made.

• c. Any rendering materials remaining on site beyond the 48- hour time limitation with the approval of the Health Department shall be treated with a suitable chemical which will retard decay and mask odor emanating from such material.

• E. Equipment Breakdown. If a delay in the normal processing of rendering materials is due to a major breakdown of equipment and such delay may be in excess of 72 hours, all cookers shall be immediately emptied and all existing rendering materials, both raw and partially cooked, shall be removed from the rendering plant property and shall be disposed of by legal means. All rendering material deliveries to the rendering plant shall be immediately discontinued and no future rendering material deliveries shall be made until such time as the rendering plant is again placed in normal operation and the Health Department has approved the resumption of rendering material deliveries.

• F. Vector Control. All rendering plants shall continually maintain an effective vector control program within the plant and on the premises. Such control program shall include: (1) a thorough inspection of the plant and premises at least once each week to detect vector activity; and (2) use of rodenticides, insecticides, and other effective means to eliminate vectors and to prevent vector harborage.

• G. Bird Control. All rendering plants shall continually maintain an effective bird control program. Such control program shall prevent bird access to raw or processed rendering materials, and eliminate bird nesting and roosting sites.

(Prior code §§ 12.4—12.11; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

• A. Vehicle Construction and Maintenance. Liquid waste pumping vehicles shall comply with the following specifications:

  1. All bodies and tanks shall be constructed of metal. All joints and seams shall be welded and the tank shall be leakproof.

  2. All valves, couplings, hoses, and other appurtenances used to transfer material to and from the vehicle storage tank shall be so constructed, maintained, and stored as to preclude any dripping, draining, spilling, or splashing of pumped material during transfer or while the truck is traveling between places of collection and place of transfer or disposal.

  3. The name, address, and telephone number of the owner operator, permittee, or business name shall be legible, clearly visible, and permanently indicated on at least two sides of the exterior of the vehicle.

  4. Each vehicle shall be kept clean, sanitary, well painted, and in good repair at all times.

• B. Dumping Prohibited. No person operating or in charge of a liquid waste pumping vehicle shall pump, transfer, discharge, deposit, drain, or place any liquid waste from said vehicle directly or indirectly onto the surface of the ground or into any storm drain channel, natural or artificial drain, watercourse, gutter, river or tributary within the City of Vernon or into any public or private sewer, sump, tank, or clarifier in the City of Vernon without the proper permits. Industrial by-products transported in liquid waste pumping vehicles may be transferred to receiving tanks at rendering plants, oil refineries, reprocessors, and similar industrial establishments.

• C. Registration Required. All liquid waste pumping vehicles pumping or removing material from a location in the City of Vernon or delivering pumped material to a location in the City of Vernon shall comply with the provisions of Sections 117405 to 117450 of the California Health and Safety Code and shall register and obtain a permit from the Health Officer. Said registration shall be in addition to any other registration, permit, or license required by the City of Vernon or other governmental entity. The Health Officer shall register any liquid waste pumping vehicle which complies with the provisions of this section and shall issue a permit. A permit decal or plate shall be affixed in a conspicuous place on the rear of the vehicle or tank. If the Health Officer cancels or revokes the Health Department registration for such vehicle pursuant to Section 117445 of the California Health and Safety Code, the permit decal or plate shall be removed or effaced.

• D. Records Required. Each operator of a liquid waste pumping vehicle in the City of Vernon shall maintain accurate records giving the date and listing each and every one of the premises by name and address where a septic tank, cesspool, sewage seepage pit, clarifier, chemical toilet, sump, or other receptacle was cleaned or pumped by said operator or its employees or others on its behalf, and said records shall also describe in precise terms the date and place where the cleanings or material were disposed and by whom. These records, or an exact copy, shall be furnished to the Health Officer on demand (Section 117435, California Health and Safety Code). Said record shall be maintained by each operator for at least one year.

(Prior code §§ 12.12—12.15; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

• A. Authority to Grant Non-Exclusive Franchises. The City Council may, by resolution, grant one or more franchise(s) for solid waste handling services related to solid waste generated within the City. Any grant of a franchise by the City Council may be subject to such terms, conditions, rules, regulations, restrictions, and limitations as the City Council deems necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare.

• B. Subscription to Collection Service or Self-Hauling.

  1. Arrangements for Removal of Solid Waste Mandatory. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the owner, property manager, tenant and/or person in charge or control of each residential premises and each commercial premises in the City shall either: (a) subscribe to solid waste collection services with a franchisee for said premises; or (b) register as a self-hauler and obtain a self-hauler permit as set forth in this chapter in connection with said premises.

  2. Exception—Vacant Premises. The above requirement to arrange for solid waste collection services shall not apply in connection with any residential premises at which all dwelling units are vacant, or commercial premises that are vacant, for a period of 45 days or more, provided this exception shall only apply during the period of vacancy. Any person seeking to avail himself/herself of the exception provided herein shall bear the burden of providing reasonable evidence to City, pursuant to such regulations or guidelines as the City Administrator, or designee, is hereby authorized to develop, demonstrating vacancy of the premises for the period in question.

• C. Public Nuisance.

  1. It is unlawful, and a public nuisance, for any person to occupy or inhabit any premises within the City for which arrangements have not been made and kept in full force and effect for solid waste collection services in a manner consistent with the provisions hereof.

  2. The keeping of solid waste in containers other than those prescribed by this chapter, or the keeping upon premises of solid waste which is offensive, obnoxious or unsanitary, is unlawful, constitutes a public nuisance, and may be abated in the manner provided by law for the abatement of nuisances. It is unlawful to throw, place, scatter, allow to accumulate or bury any garbage, waste, combustible or noncombustible rubbish, or contaminated dirt, in, upon or below the surface of any premises, highway, public street, public place, or catch basin in the City or on the premises of another.

• D. Containers.

1. Every owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any premises within the City shall deposit or cause to be deposited all solid waste generated or accumulated on such premises, and intended for collection and disposal, in sealed, watertight bins, carts, rolloff boxes or other containers that are either: (a) provided by, or acceptable to, a franchisee; or (b) approved by City Administrator, or designee, for self-hauling purposes pursuant to this chapter. No owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any premises shall utilize a bin, cart, rolloff box or other container not in conformance with the requirements hereof for the collection, accumulation or storage of solid waste.

   2. No bin, cart, rolloff box or other container shall be placed adjacent to or in a street or public right-of-way for collection service prior to 6:00 p.m. on the evening preceding the normal collection time, and all containers so placed shall be removed from the street or right-of-way within 12 hours after collection.

   3. Container lids shall remain closed at all times that the container is unattended. If the solid waste contained within a bin, cart, rolloff box or other container exceeds the actual capacity of the container, then a larger container or multiple containers shall be utilized.

   4. It is unlawful for any person to share, place solid waste in, or to otherwise use the bin, cart, rolloff box or other container of another person or business. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the sharing of containers shall be permitted under the following conditions:

      • a. The owner, property manager or person in charge or control of a premises upon which multiple dwellings exists may arrange for containers for shared use by the occupants, tenants or persons in possession of the dwelling units on such premises.

      • b. The occupants of a single commercial building or contiguous and adjacent commercial buildings may share a container for solid waste collection services at a common location, subject to approval of the City Administrator, or designee, which approval may be delegated to a franchisee. Approval by the City Administrator, or designee, shall be based upon: (i) the type of solid waste generated by each commercial premises; and (ii) the number of containers and frequency of solid waste collection needed to protect the public health, welfare and safety.

   5. It is unlawful to use any bin, cart, rolloff box or other container furnished by a franchisee for any purpose other than the collection, accumulation and storage of solid waste; or to convert or alter such containers for other uses; or to intentionally damage or deface such containers.

2. All containers used for the collection of solid waste at residential premises shall be stored out of public view in a side or rear yard or an enclosed garage except on collection day. If the physical design of the premises does not allow for obscuring containers from public view, containers shall be stored in an area at the point furthest from the closest street or roadway.

   7. In all instances, a sufficient number of containers shall be provided to accommodate the volume of solid waste generated on the premises.

• E.

  • Frequency of Collection.

  1. Residential Premises. With the exception of vacant premises meeting the provisions of subsection B.2, not less than once per week, every owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any residential premises within the City shall remove or cause to be removed by subscription to services provided by a franchisee, or by self-hauling (as provided herein), all solid waste stored, generated, collected or accumulated on such premises.

  2. Commercial Premises. With the exception of vacant premises meeting the provisions of subsection B.2, not less than once per week, every owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any commercial premises within the City shall remove by self-hauling (as provided herein), or cause to be removed by subscription to services provided by a franchisee, all solid waste stored, generated, collected or accumulated on such premises.

  3. Modifications to Collection Frequency. The City Administrator, or designee, may provide written notice to the owner of any premises that the above minimum removal requirements are not sufficient to avoid the creation of a public nuisance due to unique circumstances at such premises. The City Administrator, or designee, may direct that solid waste shall be removed by the owner of any premises so notified on a more frequent schedule and/or that additional or larger containers shall be utilized.

• F. Unlawful and Prohibited Acts.

  1. It is unlawful for any person other than a franchisee (or its agents and employees) to collect any discarded solid waste including recyclable material, within the City. This prohibition shall not, however, apply to:

     • a. A person that obtains a self-hauler permit in accordance with this chapter;

     • b. The owner, tenant or occupant of residential or commercial premises who has subscribed for and is receiving solid waste collections services from a franchisee, when such owner, tenant or occupant is collecting materials generated at his or her own premises for delivery to a lawful disposal or recycling facility. This exemption does not permit the hiring of any person or entity, other than a franchisee, to collect solid waste from one's own premises;

     • c. Except as provided by Section 8.12.060G, the collection, transportation and disposal of construction and demolition debris by a contractor, handyperson, repairperson or other similar service provider as an incidental part of the services provided to its customers rather than as a hauling service, provided that such solid waste is not collected by a third party hired for the primary purpose of collecting said materials, and further provided that such services comply with any ordinances, conditions of approval, policies and regulations of City relating to the collection of such materials;

  • d. The collection of yard waste, green waste and related solid waste by a gardener or landscaper as an incidental part of the gardening or landscaping services provided to its customers, rather than as a franchisee, provided that such solid waste is not collected by a third party hired for the primary purpose of collecting said materials, and that such yard waste and green waste is transported and disposed of at a facility that recovers source separated organic waste;

  • e. Any person or entity collecting recyclable material sold or donated to it by the person or entity that generated such recyclable material (the "generator") provided, however, to the extent permitted by law, if the generator is required to pay monetary or non-monetary consideration for the collection, transportation, transfer or processing of recyclable material, the fact that the generator receives a reduction or discount in price therefor (or in other terms of the consideration the generator is required to pay) shall not be considered a sale or donation;

  • f. The collection, transportation or disposal of solid waste by City employees in the course and scope of their employment with the City;

  • g. Containers delivered for recycling under the California Beverage Container Recycling Litter Reduction Act, California Public Resources Code Section 14500 et seq.;

  • h. By products of sewage treatment, including sludge, sludge ash, grit, and screenings;

  • i. Residue or non-processible waste from a facility with a solid waste facility permit granted by CalRecycle, including waste transfer material recovery, composting, and transformation facilities; and

  • j. The collection, transportation, or disposal of hazardous waste; universal waste; e-waste; biohazardous waste; untreated medical waste; infectious waste; animal waste (including carcasses, dead animals and/or parts or portions of dead animals, but and excluding manure); used cooking fats, oils, grease and similar waste; or other materials which do not constitute solid waste.

2. It is unlawful for any person, other than the owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any residential or commercial premises, or a person authorized by law (such as a franchisee), to remove any bin, cart, rolloff box or other container from any such premises or from any location where it was lawfully placed for collection, without the prior written approval of the owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of such premises.

3. No person shall place solid waste adjacent to a street or public right-of-way for collection by a franchisee without having first subscribed for solid waste collection services with such franchisee.

   4. No person shall burn or process any solid waste within the City, except in an approved incinerator, digestor or other device for which a permit has been issued by the Building Official and fire marshal, and which complies with all applicable local, State and/or Federal permit requirements, laws, rules and regulations.

   5. It is unlawful for any person, other than a franchisee, to take, remove or appropriate for his or her own use any solid waste, including recyclable materials, which has been placed in any street or alley for collection or removal by a franchisee, regardless of whether the solid waste is placed in a bin, cart, rolloff box or other container.

• G. Use of Containers for Solid Waste Generated During Construction and Demolition. Any person who generates solid waste in connection with the construction of a new building, a building addition, remodel, or the demolition of any structure for which a building permit is required, shall either make arrangements for solid waste collection service with the use of containers from a franchisee, be registered to self-haul such solid waste in the manner set forth herein, or make arrangements pursuant to Chapter 8.16. In addition to constituting a violation of this chapter, the failure to produce evidence of compliance with this section upon the request of a City Building Inspector, code enforcement officer or other City officer shall constitute a basis for the City Administrator, or designee, to order that all work cease until compliance with this section occurs.

• H. Self-Haulers.

  1. Permit Required. The person in charge of a single-family or commercial premises may apply for and obtain a permit to self-haul, and shall not self-haul without a valid self-haul permit issued pursuant to this section. Every person in charge of a singlefamily or commercial premises who desires to self-haul in lieu of making arrangements with the appropriate solid waste franchisee for solid waste handling services shall obtain a self-haul permit from the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or designee, prior to commencing self-hauling.

  2. Term. A permit to self-haul shall be good for one calendar year, or such part of the calendar year that is remaining after the issuance of the permit. All self-haul permits shall expire on December 31, and may be renewed annually. Application for a renewal permit must be filed at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the permit to allow adequate time for processing, inspection and verifications required to issue the permit.

  3. Issuance of Permit. An applicant for a self-haul permit shall submit a completed application, on a form approved by the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or designee, shall determine whether the application is complete within 10 working days of the receipt of the application. If the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or designee, finds the application incomplete, the applicant shall be given a list of further information needed to complete the application. After it is determined that an application for a self-haul permit is complete, the applicant shall produce the items listed in Subsections H.1.a through H.1.g below. The Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or designee, shall issue a self-haul permit within 10 working days of the production of all of the required items.

     • a. The applicant produces for inspection at City Hall the vehicle the applicant intends to use for self-hauling, and the vehicle meets the following standards:

     • i. The vehicle is capable of safely hauling a minimum of 32 gallons (4.3 cubic feet) of gray container waste, non-organic recyclables, and/or organic waste in a safe and sanitary manner so that such matter will not spill;

     • ii. If the vehicle is not fully enclosed, the applicant produces a tarp or other material that is demonstrated to completely secure the materials being selfhauled.

  • b. The applicant produces evidence that he or she owns or leases the vehicle produced for inspection or has a written agreement to use the vehicle for selfhauling with the vehicle's owner or lessor;

  • c. The applicant produces evidence that he or she has a valid California driver's license to operate the vehicle produced for inspection and that the vehicle is registered in the State of California;

  • d. The applicant provides the City with a certificate of automobile insurance for the vehicle;

  • e. The vehicle is operational and meets all applicable Vehicle Code standards;

  • f. The applicant provides the City with proof that the applicant has containers for the storage of solid waste on the applicant's premises before the materials are hauled to a disposal facility; and

• g. The applicant pays the fee for a self-haul permit authorized by resolution of the City Council. The fee shall reflect the City's reasonable costs of issuing and monitoring compliance with the permit. Permits issued between January 1 and March 31 shall pay 100% of the permit fee; permits issued between April 1 and June 30 shall pay 75% of the permit fee; permits issued between July 1 and September 30 shall pay 50% of the permit fee; permits issued between October 1 and December 31 shall pay 25% of the permit fee.

4. Appeal of Denial. An applicant whose application for a self-haul permit has been denied may appeal that decision. A written appeal must be filed within five days of the date the applicant was notified of the denial. Appeals shall be heard by the City Administrator, or designee. The decision of the City Administrator, or designee, is final.

5. Operational Standards.

   • a. Self-haul permittees must dispose of solid waste weekly in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 8.14 at a licensed or permitted landfill or disposal facility, a facility that recovers recyclable materials, and/or high diversion organic waste processing facility. Self-haul permittees shall procure and retain weekly receipts from such landfill or other disposal facility. Receipts shall be submitted to the City monthly. Failure to show proof of solid waste disposal for each week that a person is permitted to self-haul shall constitute a public health and safety nuisance sufficient to permit the City to revoke the permittees' self-haul permit.

   • b. Bins, carts, rolloff boxes or other containers utilized by a self-hauler must conform to industry standards for solid waste disposal, and shall be maintained in good repair. All containers shall be maintained in a sealed, watertight condition. Self-haulers shall remove any graffiti that appears on their bins, carts, rolloff boxes or other containers within 24 hours of becoming aware of it.

   • c. Self-haul permittees must notify the City of any change in the vehicle being used to haul solid waste by the permittee. Permittees must bring the new vehicle in for an inspection and demonstrate compliance with subdivisions 1 through 5 of subsection C of this section before the new vehicle is used to haul any solid waste under the permit.

   • d. Self-haul permittees must keep on file with the City copies of the current automobile insurance and registration for the vehicle used to self-haul and the permittee's current California driver's license. Permittees must provide proof to City of renewed automobile insurance, vehicle registration, and California driver's license within five days of expiration of respective document.

   • e. Failure to show proof of disposal for each week that a person is permitted to self-haul shall constitute a public health and safety nuisance sufficient to permit City to revoke the permittees' self-haul permit.

• f. Self-haul permittees are liable for any damages and clean-up costs resulting from any solid waste spills during the course of the permittee's self-hauling activity.

  • g. Under no circumstances may a self-hauler collect, transport or dispose of solid waste generated upon premises that are not owned, operated or controlled by the self-hauler.

  • h. Self-haulers shall not be permitted to share, place solid waste in, or to otherwise use the bin, cart, rolloff box, or other container of another person or business.

6. Revocation of a Self-Haul Permit. In the event of a violation of self-haul requirements set forth in this chapter or in Chapter 8.14, Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or designee, may issue a notice of temporary revocation of the self-haul permit held by a self-hauler. The notice of temporary revocation shall detail the violation, and advise the self-hauler on the procedure to cure the violation and provide the self-hauler with not less than five working days to cure the violation (if curable). If the violation is not curable, the self-haul permit may be immediately revoked through a notice of revocation. If the self-hauler fails to cure the violation within the time set forth in the notice, the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or designee, shall issue a notice of revocation revoking the self-haul permit. If a self-haul permit is revoked, that person must subscribe to solid waste services from a franchisee within five days of revocation. Failure to subscribe to solid waste and recycling services may result in penalties prescribed in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 8.14.

7. Appeal of Notice of Revocation. A self-haul permittee whose self-haul permit has been revoked may appeal that decision. A written appeal must be filed within five days of the date of revocation of the self-haul permit. Appeals shall be heard by the City Administrator, or designee. The decision of the City Administrator, or designee, is final.

   8. Hazardous and Special Wastes. Unless lawfully and currently licensed under State, Federal and local laws, no self-hauler shall engage in the collection, transport or disposal of hazardous waste or special wastes.

• I. Violations.

  1. Unauthorized Containers. In addition to any other penalties and/or remedies as set forth in this chapter or provided for by law, any container placed within the City for the collection of solid waste in violation of subsection F (hereinafter "unauthorized container(s)") may be impounded as set forth herein.

• a. The City Administrator, or designee, may cause a notice to be placed in a conspicuous place on any unauthorized container directing that it be removed. The notice shall specify the nature of the violation and shall state that the bin, drop-off box, trailer or waste receptacle must be removed within 24 hours or it may be removed and stored by the City, and the contents disposed of, at the expense of the owner thereof. The notice shall indicate the time that it was posted and shall include the name and phone number of a person designated by the City to hear any appeal or challenge to the requirement that the container be removed; and, further, shall indicate that any appeal of the order for removal must occur within 24 hours of the posting of the notice. The posting of a notice to remove shall constitute constructive notice to the owner and user of the requirement to remove the unauthorized container, and a copy of the notice shall be provided to owner of the unauthorized container once said owners identity is ascertained by the City, and if not provided sooner, a copy of the notice shall be provided at such time as the owner of the unauthorized container seeks to retrieve any such container removed hereunder.

  • b. If within 24 hours after a notice to remove is posted on an unauthorized container a request for an appeal has not been received and the bin, drop-off box, trailer or waste receptacle is not removed, the City Administrator, or designee, may direct the removal and storage of the unauthorized container. In addition, if the contents of the container are either comprised of a substantial amount of putrescible solid waste or determined by the City Administrator, or designee, to create a threat to health and safety if not disposed of immediately, the City Administrator, or designee, may direct that the contents of the container be disposed of. The owner of the unauthorized container shall be responsible to reimburse the City for the actual cost of removal, storage and disposal, including any administrative costs incurred by the City. All amounts due to the City for the cost of removal, storage and disposal must be paid before the unauthorized container may be returned to the owner. Such amounts shall constitute a debt owed by the owner to the City, and the owner shall be liable to the City in an action brought by the City for the recovery of such amounts.

  • c. Between the date following the date upon which any unauthorized container is removed by the City, and the date which is five business days following its retrieval from City, the owner of the unauthorized container may request a hearing to appeal the City's determination that the container is an unauthorized container subject to removal by City as set forth herein. The City Administrator, or designee, shall establish a procedure for such a hearing and the method for requesting such a hearing shall be included on the notice to remove. If the appeal is granted, any payments due to City shall be forgiven and any amounts paid reimbursed.

• d. If the identity of the owner of an unauthorized container that has been removed by the City is known to the City, the City Administrator, or designee, shall promptly cause a copy of the notice to remove to be mailed to the owner along with a request that the owner to claim the stored property. If the unauthorized container is not claimed within 95 days after mailing of the notice to the owner, or 90 days after removal if the identity of the owner is unknown to the City, the unauthorized container and its contents shall be deemed abandoned property and may be disposed of accordingly. The notice to be posted on unauthorized containers shall specify that the foregoing procedure related to abandonment will apply.

• J. Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day, or any portion thereof, of which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued, or permitted by such person, and shall be punishable as misdemeanor or an infraction, at the discretion of the City Administrator, or designee, consistent with Chapter 1.08 of this Code.

  1. Violations Deemed to Be a Public Nuisance. In addition to any penalties otherwise imposed, any violation of the provisions of this chapter is deemed to be a public nuisance which may be abated in the manner provided by law for the abatement of nuisances.

  2. Attorneys' Fees. In addition to any civil and criminal penalties as provided by the provisions of this chapter or otherwise, the City may recover reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs other such expenses of litigation and/or prosecution as it may occur by appropriate suit at law against the person found to have violated any provisions of this chapter.

(Prior code §§ 12.16—12.24; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

• A. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to the provisions of this section:

"Development project" means any of the following:

1. A project involving development for which a building permit will be required for a commercial, industrial, or institutional building, or residential building having five or more living units, where solid waste is collected and loaded and any residential project involving development where solid waste is collected and loaded in a location servicing five or more units.

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

"Development" means the construction or addition of new building square footage which exceeds 25,000 square feet or the price of which exceeds 10% of the current assessed value for the subject parcel. All calculations shall be based on gross square footage of new buildings or of additions to existing buildings.

"Recycling areas" means space allocated for collecting and loading of recyclable materials.

• B. General Requirements. Any development project for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after September 1, 1994, shall include an adequate, accessible, and convenient recycling area.

• C. Design Standards. Recycling areas shall be adequate in capacity, number, and distribution to serve the development project.

  1. Dimensions of the recycling area shall accommodate containers consistent with current methods of collection in the area in which the development project is to be located.

  2. An adequate number of bins or containers to allow for the collection and loading of each kind of recyclable material generated by the development project shall be maintained.

  3. The design and construction of recycling areas shall be compatible with surrounding land uses.

  4. Recycling areas shall be secured to prevent the theft of recyclable materials by unauthorized persons, while allowing authorized persons access for collection and loading of materials.

  5. Recycling areas or the bins or containers placed therein must provide protection against adverse environmental conditions which might render the collected materials unmarketable.

  6. A sign clearly identifying all recycling and solid waste collection and loading areas and the materials accepted therein shall be posted and maintained adjacent to all points of access to the recycling areas.

• D. Location.

  1. A recycling area shall not be placed in any location which is required by local law or regulation to be maintained unencumbered or unoccupied in accordance with fire regulations, applicable building codes, and/or public safety laws.

  2. A recycling area shall be located so that it is at least as convenient as the location(s) where solid waste is collected and loaded. Whenever feasible, a recycling area shall be adjacent to such trash collection area.

3. Driveways or travel aisles shall provide unobstructed access for personnel and for vehicles collecting and loading recyclable materials and shall provide at least the minimum clearance required by the collection methods and vehicles utilized for other solid waste.

(Prior code §§ 12.25—12.28; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)

• A. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this subsection:

"Applicant" means any individual, firm, limited liability company, association, partnership, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, or any other entity whatsoever who applies to the City for a permit, as defined in this section, and who is, therefore, responsible for meeting the requirements of this section.

"Large event" means any large event that charges an admission price or for which an applicant seeks temporary or periodic use or occupancy in or on a public street, publicly owned site or facility or public park within the City for a civic, commercial, recreational or social event attended by more than 250 persons, including workers, per day of operation.

"Large venue" means a facility that annually seats or serves an average of more than 250 individuals per day of operation, including workers, such as, but not limited to, convention centers, community centers, golf clubs, amusement parks, recreational parks, theaters and concert halls located within the City and any other facility or place that is a "venue facility" for purposes of Public Resources Code Section 42648. For purposes of this section, a site under common ownership or control that includes more than one large venue that is contiguous with other large venues in the site, is a single large venue.

"Recycling" means the process of collecting, sorting, cleansing, treating and reconstituting items that would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill.

"Waste management plan" means a plan for reducing and managing solid waste submitted to the City Administrator, or designee, for review in compliance with this chapter.

• B.

  • Purpose.

  1. The City Council declares that the purpose of this section is to reduce solid waste from large events and large venues by requiring those who operate large events and large venues to develop and implement waste management plans to reduce solid waste placed in landfills and to report diversion and recycling to the City.

  2. The following large events and large venues are subject to the requirements of this section:

     • a. All events charging an admission price or for which an applicant seeks temporary or periodic use or occupancy of a public street, publicly owned site or facility or public park within the City for a civic, commercial, recreational or social event attended by or anticipated to be attended by an average of more than 250 individuals per day of operation.

     • b. All venues that annually seat or serve an average of more than 250 individuals per day of operation, including, but not limited to, convention centers, community centers, golf clubs, amusement parks, recreational parks, theaters and concert halls located with the City.

• C. Application of Chapter to Large Events and Large Venues. Large events and large venues shall meet the requirements of and shall comply with all provisions of this chapter.

• D. Waste Management Plan Requirements.

  1. All large event applicants shall develop and submit to the City a waste management plan for reducing and recycling solid waste as part of the application for a permit. The waste management plan shall include the following information:

     • a. An estimate of the anticipated amount and type of solid waste generated and material disposed of and diverted from the event.

     • b. Proposed actions to reduce, reuse and recycle the amount of solid waste generated from the event.

     • c. Arrangements for the separation, collection and diversion from landfills of reusable and recyclable materials.

  2. All large venues shall develop and submit to the City a waste management plan on an annual basis on or before January 1 of each year. The waste management plan shall include the following:

     • a. An estimate of the amount and type of solid waste generated and material disposed and diverted from the venue.

     • b. The existing solid waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs that the operator of the large venue utilizes.

  3. All large event applicants and large venue operators shall, on or before July 1, 2015, and on or before July 1, biennially thereafter, meet with recyclers and solid waste service providers of the large event or large venue to determine the appropriate solid waste reduction programs to meet the requirements of this chapter.

• E.

  • Review of Waste Management Plan.

  1. Time for Review. A waste management plan shall be approved or rejected no later than 20 business days after a complete application is made for a large event and or a waste management plan is submitted for a large venue.

  2. Approval. The City Administrator, or designee, may approve the plan subject to conditions reasonably necessary to meet the standards of this chapter and may consult with the City's solid waste hauler concerning the viability of the waste management plan and compliance by large events and large venues with diversion requirements.

  3. Rejection. If the City Administrator, or designee, rejects the waste management plan, the grounds for rejection shall be clearly stated in writing.

• F. Waste Management Compliance Reporting. Within 30 days of receiving a written request for information from the City, the large event or large venue operator shall provide a written report to the City Administrator, or designee, containing the following documentation:

  1. A listing of solid waste reduction, reuse, recycling and diversion programs implemented for the event or venue.

  2. The type and weight of materials diverted and disposed at the event or venue.

• G. Actions by the City.

1. When issuing a permit to an operator of a large event or large venue, the City shall provide information to the operator that can be implemented to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste materials generated at the event or venue and provide contact information about where solid waste materials may be donated, recycled or composted. This information may include, but is not limited to, providing information directing the operator of the large event or large venue to the CalRecycle website or any other appropriate website.

   2. As part of the City's annual report submitted pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 41821 to CalRecycle, City shall include an estimate and description of the top 10% of its large events and large venues based upon the amount of solid waste generated at such events and venues as submitted by operators of large events and large venues. To the extent that the information is readily available to the City, the information shall include the name, location and a brief description of the event or venue, a brief description of the types of solid waste generated, types and estimated amount of materials disposed and diverted by weight, and existing solid waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs that the operator of the large event or large venue utilizes to reduce, reuse and recycle the solid waste.

   3. The City may charge and collect a fee from an operator of a large event or large venue in an amount to be established by resolution of the City Council to recover the City's estimated costs incurred in complying with this chapter.

• H. Penalty. In addition to any other available penalties and/or remedies, any event or venue identified under this section as a large event or large venue not complying with the waste management plan approved by the City Administrator, or designee, may be subject to solid waste audits by the City or its designated representatives or contractors at the expense of the operator of the large event or large venue. Based on such audits, the City may require additional processing of solid waste generated by the event or venue, at an additional cost to the operator, to meet the diversion goals of the City.

(Prior code §§ 12.29—12.36; Ord. 1306, 8/19/2025)