The purpose of these requirements is to provide land use regulations, development standards and operational restrictions for the establishment of recycling operations to protect the public health, safety, general welfare, and quality of life in the city, while providing opportunities for certain recycling operations to establish in the city's commercial and industrial districts.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Community recycling collection facility" means a facility for the collection of recyclable waste materials for transport to off-site locations, including but not limited to the collection of paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and other nonferrous metals.

"Composting facility" means any facility devoted to the collection and processing of green waste, with or without the combined use of plant-based food waste, animal by-product waste, or other additives to produce organic products and soil enhancements for use in landscaping, gardening, golf course management, farming and similar operations.

"Construction and demo material recycling" means a facility where demolished building construction materials such as treated woods, concrete, asphalt, and stone are collected, further sorted and separated, then bulked or converted for transport off the premises, or for on-site reprocessing by hand or machinery.

"Material recovery facility" means a solid waste facility where mixed municipal solid waste is sorted or separated, by hand or by use of machinery, for the purpose of recovering recyclable materials.

"Neighborhood recycling center" means an accessory use up to five hundred (500) square feet that incorporates the use of bins, boxes, reverse vending machines, or transportable containers for the purpose of collecting nonhazardous household materials including cans, bottles, and paper goods for recycling purposes.

"Transfer station, small scale" means a collection and transportation facility, up to two thousand (2,000) square feet in size within an enclosed structure, used by persons and route collection vehicles to deposit collected paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and other nonferrous metals from off-site into a larger transfer vehicle for transport to a solid waste handling facility.

"Transfer station, large scale" means a collection and transportation facility, in excess of two thousand (2,000) square feet and enclosed entirely within a structure, used by persons and route collection vehicles to deposit collected paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and other nonferrous metals from off-site into a larger transfer vehicle for transport to a solid waste handling facility.

"Recycle" is the process of collecting, sorting, cleansing, treating and reconstituting materials that would otherwise become solid waste, and return them to the economic mainstream in the form of raw material for new, reused, or reconstituted products that meet the quality standards necessary to be used in the marketplace.

"Wood and green waste recycling" means a facility devoted to sawing, grinding, shredding, splitting or chopping, of clean wood and green waste for off-site delivery to end users, composting facility, or other location for further processing.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

A.

Recycling operations may be allowed in the zoning districts, subject to the administrative and discretionary reviews identified below. Additionally, the recycling facility must comply with the additional use regulations specified in Sections 17.90.040 through 17.090.090 of this chapter.

1.

Community recycling collection facilities are allowed in the M-W zoning district subject to the regulations contained in this chapter, and subject to obtaining a conditional use permit pursuant to chapter 17.74 of this code.

2.

Composting facilities are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city.

3.

Construction and demo material recycling facilities are allowed in the M-W zoning district subject to the regulations contained in this chapter, and subject to obtaining a specific plan adoption pursuant to Chapter 17.36 of this code.

4.

Material recovery facilities are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city.

5.

Neighborhood recycling centers are allowed in the C-G zoning district subject to a conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.74 of this code if located outside of a building. Collection facilities conducted entirely within an enclosed structure are allowed subject to site plan review by the planning director, pursuant to Chapter 17.72 of this code.

6.

Transfer stations, large scale are allowed in any M-W zoning district subject to the regulations of this chapter and subject to obtaining a specific plan adoption pursuant to Chapter 17.36 of this code.

7.

Transfer stations, small scale are allowed in all M-H and M-W zoning districts subject to the regulations contained in this chapter and subject to obtaining a conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.74 of this code.

8.

Wood and green waste recycling may be allowed in the M-W zone subject to the regulations of this chapter and subject to obtaining a conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.74 of this code.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

Composting operations are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city either as a primary use or as an accessory use to any permitted or conditionally permitted use in the city. Any property annexed into the City of Coachella with a legally-established composting operation under adjacent jurisdiction's ordinances in effect at the time the use was established, may continue to operate subject to the nonconforming uses provisions contained in Chapter 17.78 of this code.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

Construction and demo material recycling uses must conform to the following regulations.

1.

Site Location Criteria. The construction and demo material recycling facility shall meet the following location criteria:

a.

The facility shall be located a minimum distance of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet away from any residential zone. The distance requirement shall be measured from property boundary of the construction and demo material recycling facility to the zoning district boundary.

b.

The site shall have frontage on an improved street, adequate in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the use.

c.

The zoning of the property must be internally consistent with the city's adopted general plan.

d.

The site shall be served by municipal water and sewer services.

2.

Operational and Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of the underlying base zone and any applicable overlay zone(s), the construction and demo material recycling facility shall meet the following operation and development standards:

a.

The gross land area shall not be less than fifteen (15) acres with a minimum street frontage of two hundred fifty (250) feet.

b.

A minimum landscaped front yard and corner yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required.

c.

All construction and demo material waste received may be temporarily stored outdoors provided a 10-foot high masonry wall encloses the site's outdoor storage areas and piles are no higher than eight feet in height, and completely screened from view to adjoining properties and the street.

d.

On-site truck stacking and maneuvering area shall be provided as necessary to accommodate the anticipated vehicular usage of the facility, and shall be completely screened by solid masonry walls not less than eight feet in height with appropriate landscaping and irrigation. No truck stacking and maneuvering area shall be permitted within the required front and street side yard setback.

e.

Hours of business operation may be only from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, unless otherwise specified by specific plan.

f.

On-site activities shall not result in the creation of any odors, noise, vibration, dust, or smoke detectable from anywhere within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the property boundaries.

g.

All open areas, other than landscaped areas or retention basins, shall be paved with not less than two and one-half inches of asphaltic concrete or an equivalent surfacing meeting the city's standard specifications of the engineering/public works departments.

h.

All incoming or outgoing trucks shall be completely enclosed or equipped with an impermeable cover.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

Neighborhood recycling centers must conform to the following additional land use regulations.

1.

Site Location Criteria. All neighborhood recycling centers shall meet the following location criteria:

a.

The site must be developed with an existing neighborhood shopping center of at least five acres in size, with publicly accessible, paved circulation areas throughout the parking and loading areas of the site.

b.

The site shall have frontage on an improved street, adequate in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the use.

c.

The site shall be served with municipal water and sewer services.

2.

Operational and Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of the underlying base zone and any applicable overlay zone(s), neighborhood recycling centers shall meet the following operation and development standards:

a.

All drop-off bins, reverse vending machines, and containers shall be located a minimum of fifty (50) feet from any street property line and substantially screened from view to the street.

b.

Drop-off bins and reverse vending machines shall comply with the following standards:

i.

The drop-off facility shall be no larger than five hundred (500) square feet, not including space used to remove materials or replace containers. It shall comply with the building setbacks for the district and shall not occupy parking spaces required by the primary use.

ii.

The facility shall not obstruct pedestrian, vehicular and emergency access.

iii.

The bins shall be constructed and maintained with durable waterproof and rustproof materials, covered and secured from unauthorized entry or removal of materials when the facility is closed, and shall be large enough to accommodate the materials collected and the collection schedule. Any deposit or storage of material outside of the containers is prohibited.

iv.

The facility shall be maintained free of odor, litter and other nuisances, on a daily basis. A trash receptacle shall be located adjacent to the drop-off facility for disposal of containers used to carry materials to the facility and materials unacceptable for recycling. Trash and recyclables shall be collected from the drop-off facility regularly.

v.

Facilities within one hundred (100) feet of a property zoned or occupied by residential uses shall operate only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily.

vi.

Containers shall be clearly marked to identify the type of materials which may be deposited. The facility shall be clearly identified with the name and telephone number of the operator and hours of operation, and shall display a notice that no material shall be left outside the recycling enclosure or containers. Total signage shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet and shall not be illuminated.

c.

Reverse Vending Machines. Reverse vending machines shall only be established in conjunction with an existing non-residential use which is in compliance with the zoning, building and fire codes.

i.

Machines shall be located adjacent to the main building on the site and within thirty (30) feet of the entrance to the primary use and shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular circulation.

ii.

Machines shall not occupy any parking spaces required by the primary use and shall not obstruct pedestrian, vehicular and emergency access.

iii.

Machines shall be clearly signed to identify the 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. Sign area shall be limited to four square feet per machine and shall be located flat against the surface of the reverse vending machine.

iv.

The neighborhood recycling center shall be maintained free of litter and odor at all times. A trash receptacle shall be located adjacent to the machine(s) for disposal of containers used to carry materials to the facility and materials unacceptable for recycling. Trash and recyclables shall be collected from the recycling center regularly.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

1.

Material Recovery Facilities. Material recovery facilities are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city either as a primary use or as an accessory use to any permitted or conditionally permitted use in the city. Any property annexed into the City of Coachella with a legally-established material recovery facility under the adjacent jurisdiction's ordinances in effect at the time the use was established, may continue to operate subject to the nonconforming uses provisions contained in Chapter 17.78 of this code.

2.

Transfer Station, Large Scale. Large scale transfer stations must conform to the following regulations.

a.

Site Location Criteria. A large scale transfer station facility shall meet the following location criteria:

i.

The facility shall be located a minimum distance of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet away from any residential zone. The distance requirement shall be measured from property boundary of the large scale transfer station to the zoning district boundary.

ii.

The site shall have frontage on an improved street, adequate in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the use.

iii.

The zoning of the site shall be internally consistent with the city's general plan.

iv.

The site shall be served by municipal water and sewer services.

b.

Operational and Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of the underlying base zone and any applicable overlay zone(s), the large scale transfer facility shall meet the following operation and development standards:

i.

A minimum landscaped front yard and corner yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required.

ii.

All recyclables shall be transferred from the collection trucks to the transfer trailers within an enclosed permanent structure designed to allow for collection trucks to maneuver into and out of the structure for drop-off and pick-up of recyclables. The site and building shall be maintained in a condition free of debris after the transfer of recyclables. The structure shall be located a minimum of two hundred fifty (250) feet from any street line and designed such that openings are not visible to the street.

iii.

On-site truck stacking and maneuvering area shall be provided as necessary to accommodate the anticipated vehicular usage of the facility, and shall be completely screened by solid masonry walls not less than eight feet in height with appropriate landscaping and irrigation. No truck stacking and maneuvering area shall be permitted within the required front and street side yard setback.

iv.

Hours of business operation may be only from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, unless otherwise specified by specific plan.

v.

On-site activities shall not result in the creation of any odors, noise, vibration, dust, or smoke detectable from anywhere within 250 feet of the property boundaries.

vi.

All open areas, other than landscaped areas or retention basins, shall be paved with not less than two and one-half inches of asphaltic concrete or an equivalent surfacing meeting the city's standard specifications of the engineering/public works departments.

vii.

All incoming or outgoing trucks shall be completely enclosed or equipped with an impermeable cover.

viii.

All large scale transfer stations shall be located on a site where outdoor storage uses are enclosed within an eight-foot high masonry enclosure.

ix.

All recyclable waste materials received may be temporarily stored outdoors provided a 10-foot high masonry wall encloses the site's outdoor storage areas and waste piles are not higher than eight feet in height, and completely screened from view to adjoining properties and the street.

x.

All recyclables received on the site shall be transported and completely removed from the site within seventy-two (72) hours from the time they are received on the site.

3.

Transfer Stations, Small Scale. Small scale transfer stations must conform to the following regulations.

a.

Site Location Criteria. The small scale transfer station facility shall meet the following location criteria:

i.

The site shall be developed with a primary industrial use that is in compliance with all zoning, building, and fire codes. The small scale transfer station is only allowed as an accessory use to the primary use.

ii.

The facility shall be located a minimum distance of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet away from any residential zone. The distance requirement shall be measured from property boundary of the small scale transfer station facility to the zoning district boundary.

iii.

The zoning of the site shall be internally consistent with the city's general plan.

iv.

The site shall be served by municipal water and sewer services.

b.

Operational and Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of the underlying base zone and any applicable overlay zone(s), the small scale transfer facility shall meet the following operation and development standards:

i.

The site shall have frontage on an improved street, adequate in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the use.

ii.

A minimum landscaped front yard and corner yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required.

iii.

All transferring of recyclable materials from collection trucks to travel trailers shall take place within an enclosed structure up to two thousand (2,000) square feet in size only. The site and building shall be maintained in a condition free of debris after the transfer of recyclables from the collection trucks to the transfer trailers.

iv.

The transfer trailers will be required to transfer any recyclable materials to a designated materials recovery facility on the same day that recyclable materials are transferred to the site from collection materials.

v.

The site shall be used for the transfer of recyclable materials only and shall not be utilized to transfer waste other than recyclable materials.

vi.

The site may not be used as a materials recovery facility for waste or recyclable materials.

vii.

A maximum of fifty (50) tons per day of recyclable materials is permitted to be transferred to the site.

viii.

The number of service trucks that serve the facility shall be as specified by conditional use permit, subject to review by the city engineer.

ix.

No materials shall be accepted at the site from public or private customers.

x.

Once the travel trailer is full of recyclable materials transferred from collection trucks, all external debris shall be removed prior to exiting the building.

xi.

On-site activities shall not result in the creation of any odors, noise, vibration, dust, or smoke detectable from anywhere within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the property boundaries.

xii.

All open areas, other than landscaped areas or retention basins, shall be paved with not less than two and one-half inches of asphaltic concrete or an equivalent surfacing meeting the city's standard specifications of the engineering/public works departments.

xiii.

All recyclables received on the site shall be transported and completely removed from the site within twenty-four (24) hours from the time they are received on the site.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

Community recycling collection facilities must conform to the following regulations.

1.

Site Location Criteria. The community recycling collection facility shall meet the following location criteria:

a.

The facility shall be located a minimum distance of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet away from any residential zone, and a minimum of three hundred (300) feet from any other community recycling collection facility. The distance requirement shall be measured from property boundary of the community recycling collection facility to the zoning district boundary or site property line.

b.

The site shall have frontage on an improved street, adequate in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the use.

c.

Community recycling centers are prohibited as an accessory use to any primary use on a developed site, and are prohibited on any site used as multi-tenant outdoor industrial yard.

d.

The site shall be served by municipal water and sewer services.

2.

Operational and Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of the underlying base zone and any applicable overlay zone(s), the construction and demo material recycling facility shall meet the following operation and development standards:

a.

The site area or building area devoted to community recycling collection shall not be less than five acres with a minimum street frontage of two hundred fifty (250) feet.

b.

A minimum landscaped front yard and corner yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required.

c.

All recyclable waste material received may be temporarily stored outdoors provided an eight-foot high masonry wall encloses the outdoor storage area and piles are no higher than six feet in height, and completely screened from view to adjoining properties and the street.

d.

On-site activities shall not result in the creation of any odors, noise, vibration, dust, or smoke detectable from anywhere within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the property boundaries.

e.

All open areas, other than landscaped areas or retention basins, shall be paved with not less than two and one-half inches of asphaltic concrete or an equivalent surfacing meeting the city's standard specifications of the engineering/public works departments.

f.

All recyclable materials received on the site shall be transported and completely removed from the site within seven days from the time they are received on the site.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

Wood and green waste recycling facilities must conform to the following regulations.

1.

Site Location Criteria. The wood and green waste recycling facility shall meet the following location criteria:

a.

The facility shall be located a minimum distance of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet away from any residential zone. The distance requirement shall be measured from property boundary of the community recycling collection facility to the zoning district boundary or site property line.

b.

The site shall have frontage on an improved street, adequate in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and type of traffic generated by the use.

c.

Wood and green waste recycling facilities are prohibited as an accessory use to any primary use on a developed site, and are prohibited on any parcel used as a multi-tenant outdoor industrial yard.

d.

The site shall be served by municipal water and sewer services.

2.

Operational and Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of the underlying base zone and any applicable overlay zone(s), the wood and green waste recycling facility shall meet the following operation and development standards:

a.

The gross land area shall not be less than five acres with a minimum street frontage of two hundred fifty (250) feet.

b.

A minimum landscaped front yard and corner yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required.

c.

All wood and green waste material received may be temporarily stored outdoors provided an eight-foot high masonry wall encloses the outdoor storage area and piles are no higher than six feet in height, and completely screened from view to adjoining properties and the street.

d.

On-site activities shall not result in the creation of any odors, noise, vibration, dust, or smoke detectable from anywhere within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the property boundaries. Only non-treated wood materials and green waste shall be received on the site.

e.

All open areas, other than landscaped areas or retention basins, shall be paved with not less than two and one-half inches of asphaltic concrete or an equivalent surfacing meeting the city's standard specifications of the engineering/public works departments.

f.

All wood and green waste materials received on the site shall be transported and completely removed from the site within seventy-two (72) hours from the time they are received on the site.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)

A.

Any owner or operator of a recycling operation that violates the terms of this chapter, or violates a condition of approval imposed by the entitling conditional use permit, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable in accordance with Chapter 3.48 of this code.

B.

Civil Action/Nuisance Abatement. In addition to the above, if an owner or operator of a recycling operation violates the terms of this chapter, or violates a condition of approval imposed by the entitling conditional use permit, the city may pursue any and all civil remedies available at law or equity, including but not limited to injunctive relief or initiation of a nuisance abatement action pursuant to Title 3 of this code.

C.

Costs of Action. All costs of taking action to enforce the terms of this chapter shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator of the recycling operation.

(Ord. No. 1065, § 1, 6-11-14)