Chapter 17.46

RECYCLING FACILITIES

Sections:

• 17.46.010 Purpose. 17.46.020 Definitions. 17.46.030 Development standards – Reverse vending machines.

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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• 17.46.040 Development standards – Small collection facilities.

• 17.46.050 Development standards – Large collection facilities.

• 17.46.060 Development standards – Processing facilities.

The purpose of this section is to establish reasonable and uniform limitations, safeguards and controls for the operation of recycling facilities within the city. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).

For the purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:

“Collection facility” means a center for the acceptance by donation, redemption, or purchase of recycling materials from the public.

“Collection facility – large” means a facility that occupies an area of more than five hundred square feet and/or includes permanent structures where the public may donate, redeem, or sell recyclable materials.

“Collection facility – small” means a facility that occupies an area of five hundred square feet or less where the public may donate, redeem, or sell recyclable materials and may include:

1. A mobile unit to be removed from the site on a daily basis;

2. Bulk reverse vending machines;

3. Kiosk-type units which may include permanent structures;

4. Unattended containers placed for the donation of recyclable materials.

“Convenience zone” means an area within one-half-mile radius of a supermarket.

“Mobile recycling unit” means an automobile, truck, trailer or van, licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles which is used for the collection of recyclable materials, including bins, boxes, or containers transported by trucks, vans or trailers, and used for the collection of recyclable materials.

“Processing facility” means a building or enclosed space used for the collection and processing of recyclable materials to prepare either for efficient shipment, or to an end user’s specifications by means such as bailing, briquetting, compacting, flattening, grinding, crushing, mechanical sorting, shredding, cleaning, and remanufacturing.

“Processing facility – heavy” means any processing facility other than a light processing facility.

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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“Processing facility – light” means facilities that occupy areas under forty-five thousand square feet of collection, processing and storage area, and average two outbound shipments per day. Light processing facilities are limited to bailing, briquetting, compacting, grinding, crushing, shredding and sorting of source separated recyclable materials sufficient to qualify as a certified processing facility. A light processing facility shall not shred, compact, or bale ferrous metals other than food or beverage containers.

“Recycling” or “recyclable material” means reusable domestic containers including, but not limited to metals, glass, plastic and paper which are intended for reuse, remanufacture, or reconstitution for the purpose of using in altered form. Recyclable material does not include reuse of hazardous materials.

“Recycling facility” means a center for the collection and/or processing of recyclable materials. A certified recycling facility or certified processor is certified by the California Department of Conservation as meeting the requirements of the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986. A recycling facility does not include storage containers located on a residential, commercial or manufacturing designated parcel used solely for the recycling of material generated on the parcel.

“Reverse vending machine” means an automated mechanical device which accepts at least one or more types of empty beverage containers including, but not limited to aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container’s redemption value as determined by the state. A reverse vending machine may sort and process containers mechanically; provided, that the entire process is enclosed within the machine. In order to accept and temporarily store all container types in a proportion commensurate with their relative redemption rates, and to meet the requirements of certification as a recycling facility, multiple grouping of reverse vending machines may be necessary. A bulk reverse vending machine is a reverse vending machine that is larger than fifty square feet, is designed to accept more than one container at a time and will pay by weight instead of by container.

“Supermarket” means a full-service, self-service retail store of at least twenty thousand square feet which sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and some perishable items. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).

Reverse vending machines:

A. Shall only be installed indoors as an accessory use to a commercial use which is in full compliance with all applicable provisions of this development code and the city of Wasco Municipal Code;

B. Shall be located within thirty feet of the entrance to the commercial store and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

C. Shall not occupy more than fifty square feet of floor space per installation, including any protective enclosure, and shall be no more than eight feet in height;

• D. Shall be constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material;

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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• E. Shall be clearly marked to identify type of material to be deposited, operating instructions, and the identity and phone number of the operator or responsible person to call if the machine is inoperative;

• F. Shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary and litter-free condition on a daily basis;

• G. Operating hours shall be consistent with the operating hours of the primary use;

• H. Shall maintain an adequate on-site refuse container for the disposal of nonhazardous waste. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).

A. Small collection facilities located within applicable commercial and industrial land use districts shall be allowed as an accessory use to an existing commercial use which is in full compliance with all applicable provisions of this title and the municipal code;

• B. Shall be no larger than five hundred square feet and occupy no more than five parking spaces not including space that will be periodically needed for removal of materials or exchange of containers;

• C. Shall comply with the setbacks of the base zoning designation, and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

• D. Shall accept only glass, metals, plastic containers, papers and reusable items;

• E. Shall use no power-driven processing equipment except for reverse vending machines;

F. Shall use containers that are constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof material, 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. Cargo containers are not permitted;

G. Shall store all recyclable material in the collection unit and shall not leave the materials outside the unit when the attendant is not present;

H. Shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner free of litter and any other undesirable materials, including mobile facilities;

I. Shall not exceed noise levels of sixty-five dBA as measured at the property line of adjacent residential land use districts;

• J. Attended facilities shall not be located within one hundred feet of any residential land use district;

• K. Collection containers, site fencing, and signage shall be of such color and design so as to be compatible with and to harmonize with the surrounding uses and neighborhood;

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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L. Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material which may be deposited; the facility shall be clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation and display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers;

• M. Signs may be provided as follows:

  1. Recycling facilities may have identification signs with a maximum of eight square feet. 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 their location;

  3. Directional signs consistent with Chapter 17.38, Signs, bearing no advertising message may be installed with the approval of the planning director if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation or if the facility is not visible from the public right-of-way;

• N. The facility shall not impair the landscaping required by Chapter 17.34 for any concurrent use;

O. No additional parking space shall be required for customers of a small collection facility located at the established parking lot of a primary use. One space shall be required for the attendant, if determined necessary by the planning director;

• P. 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;

Q. Occupation of parking spaces by the facility and by the attendant shall not reduce available parking spaces below the minimum number required by the primary use unless all of the following conditions exist:

1. A parking study shows that existing parking capacity is not already fully utilized during the time the recycling facility will be on the site, and

2. The permit shall be reviewed at the end of eighteen months;

• R. Small collection facilities shall not operate between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;

• S. Small collection facilities shall be screened from public right-of-way view and from adjacent residential land use districts, with opaque six-foot fencing or screening, subject to planning director review and approval;

• T. Small collection facilities shall maintain adequate refuse containers for the disposal of nonhazardous waste;

U. Small recycling facilities shall not be clustered and shall be located at least one-half mile from the nearest similar facility;

V. Conditions of approval for a small recycling facility shall be clearly visible on the site for the public’s inspection at all times. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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A. Large collection facilities located within applicable commercial and industrial land use districts shall be larger than five hundred square feet and allowed on a separate parcel not accessory to a primary use. These facilities may also include a permanent structure.

• B. The facility shall not abut a parcel designated or planned for residential use.

• C. The facility shall be screened from the public right-of-way, within an enclosed structure.

• D. Structure setbacks and landscape requirements shall be those provided for in the land use district in which the facility is located.

E. All exterior storage of material shall be in sturdy containers which are covered, secured, and maintained in good condition. Outdoor storage shall be screened by a six-foot, solid decorative masonry wall. No storage excluding truck trailers shall be visible above the height of the wall. No outdoor storage shall be permitted in the land use districts which do not permit outdoor storage.

F. The site shall be maintained clean, sanitary and free of litter and any other undesirable materials, and shall be cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis.

• G. Space shall be provided on site for six vehicles to circulate and to deposit recyclable materials.

H. Parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17.36 plus one parking space for each commercial vehicle operated by the recycling facility shall be provided for on site.

I. Noise levels shall not exceed sixty-five dBA as measured at the property boundary or any area planned for residential use. It shall not be in operation between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

J. Any containers provided for after-hours donation of recyclable materials shall be at least fifty feet from any residential land use district, permanently located, of sturdy rustproof construction, and shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected and be secure from unauthorized entry or removal of materials.

K. Donation areas shall be kept litter free and free of undesirable material and the containers will be clearly marked to identify type of material that may be deposited. The facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers.

L. The facility shall be clearly marked to identify the name and telephone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation; identification and informal signs shall meet the standards of the land use district; and directional signs bearing no advertising message may be installed with the approval of the planning director, if necessary to facilitate traffic circulation.

• M. Adequate refuse containers for the disposal of nonhazardous waste shall be maintained on the site.

N. Conditions of approval for a large recycling facility shall be clearly visible on the site for the public’s inspection at all times. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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• A. Light processing facilities and large processors shall comply with the following standards:

  1. Large processing facilities shall be subject to a conditional use permit and shall be located no closer than two miles from the nearest similar facility;

  2. The facility shall not abut a residentially designated parcel;

  3. In the I-L zone, the facility shall operate in a completely enclosed structure;

  4. Power-driven processing shall be permitted provided all noise level requirements are met. Light

processing facilities are limited to bailing, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and the repairing of reusable materials;

5. A light processing facility shall be no larger than forty-five thousand square feet and 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;

6. Structure setbacks and landscaping requirements shall be those provided for in the land use district in which the facility is located;

7. All exterior storage of material shall be in sturdy containers which are covered, secured, and maintained in good condition. Storage containers for flammable materials (allowed only in the I-H zone) shall be constructed of nonflammable material. No storage, excluding truck trailers shall be visible above the height of the wall. No outdoor storage shall be permitted in the land use districts which do not permit outdoor storage;

8. The site shall be maintained clean, sanitary and free of litter and any other undesirable material(s). 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;

9. Space shall be provided on site for the anticipated peak load of customers to circulate, park, and deposit recyclable materials. If the facility is open to the public, a parking area shall be provided for a minimum of eight customers at any one time;

10. Parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17.36;

11. Noise levels shall not exceed sixty-five dBA as measured at the property boundary or any area planned for residential land use districts;

12. If the facility is located within five hundred feet of property designated or planned for residential use, it shall not be in operation between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The facility shall be administered by on-site personnel during the hours the facility is open;

13. Any containers provided for after-hours donation of recyclable materials shall be at least one hundred feet from any residential land use district permanently located, of sturdy rustproof construction, and shall

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

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have sufficient capacity to accommodate materials collected and be secure from unauthorized entry or removal of materials;

14. Donation areas shall be kept free of litter and any other undesirable material. The containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material that may be deposited. The facility shall display a notice stating that no material shall be left outside the recycling containers;

15. Conditions of approval for light processing facilities and large processors shall be clearly visible on the site for the public’s inspection at all times;

16. Signs shall be installed pursuant to Chapter 17.38, Signs. Additionally, the facility shall be clearly marked with the name and phone number of the facility operator and the hours of operation;

17. No dust, fumes, smoke, vibration, odor, or glare above ambient level shall be detectable from adjacent residentially designated parcels;

18. The facility shall maintain adequate on-site refuse containers for the disposal of nonhazardous waste. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).