Currently, cities and counties are required to divert fifty percent of all solid waste by January 1, 2000, through source reduction, recycling and composting activities. This diversion of solid waste requires the cooperation of the residential, commercial, industrial and public sectors.

The California Solid Waste Reuse and Recycling Access Act of 1991 (ACT) identified lack of adequate areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials that are compatible with surrounding land uses as a significant impediment to diverting solid waste, and constitutes an urgent need for state and local agencies to address access to solid waste for source reduction, recycling and composting activities. The act further required each local agency to adopt an ordinance relating to adequate areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials in development projects. This chapter has been developed to meet that requirement.

Any new development project for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after September 1, 1994, shall include adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials.

Any improvements for areas of a public facility used for collecting and loading solid waste shall include adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials.

Any existing development project for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after September 1, 1994, for a single alteration which is subsequently performed that adds thirty percent or more to the existing floor area of the development project shall provide adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials.

Any existing development project for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after September 1, 1994, for multiple alterations which are conducted within a twelve-month period which collectively add thirty percent or more to the existing floor area of the development project shall provide adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials.

Any existing development project for which multiple applications for building permits are submitted within a twelve-month period beginning on or after September 1, 1994, for multiple alterations which are subsequently performed that collectively add thirty percent or more to the existing floor area of the development project shall provide adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials.

Any existing development project occupied by multiple tenants, one of which submits on or after September 1, 1994, an application for a building permit for a single alteration which is subsequently performed that adds thirty percent or more to the existing floor area or that portion of the development project which said tenant leases, shall provide adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials. Such recycling areas shall at a minimum be sufficient in capacity, number and distribution to serve that portion of the development project which said tenant leases.

Any existing development project occupied by multiple tenants, one of which submits on or after September 1, 1994, an application for a building permit for multiple alterations which are conducted within a twelve-month period which collectively add thirty percent or more to the existing floor area of that portion of the development project which said tenant leases, shall provide adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials. Such recycling areas shall at a minimum be sufficient in capacity, number and distribution to serve that portion of the development project which said tenant leases.

Any existing development project occupied by multiple tenants, one of which submits within a twelve-month period beginning on or after September 1, 1994, multiple applications for building permits for multiple alterations which are subsequently performed that collectively add thirty percent or more to the existing floor area of that portion of the development project which said tenant leases, shall provide adequate, accessible and convenient areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials. Such recycling areas shall at a minimum be sufficient in capacity, number and distribution to serve that portion of the development project which said tenant leases.

Any costs associated with adding recycling space to existing development projects shall be the responsibility of the party or parties who are responsible for financing the alterations.

Recycling areas should be designed to be architecturally compatible with adjacent structures and with the existing topography and vegetation, subject to approval by the zoning administrator. Recycling enclosure should include landscape screening where practical.

The design and construction of recycling areas may be of such a manner to prevent the theft of recyclable materials. However, no barbed wire or similar material to be utilized.

The design, construction and location of recycling areas shall not be in conflict with any applicable federal, state or local laws relating to fire, building, zoning, access, transportation, circulation or safety.

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

Driveways and/or access aisles shall, at a minimum, conform to local zoning and building code requirements for access and clearance. Driveways or access aisles should provide unobstructed access for collection vehicles and personnel.

Signage for Exterior Recycling Enclosures.

Development and transportation corridors adjacent to recycling areas shall be adequately protected for any adverse impacts such as noise, odor, vectors or glare through measures including, but not limited to, maintaining an adequate enclosure, separation, fencing and landscaping, subject to zoning administrator approval.

Areas for recycling shall be adequate in capacity, number and distribution to serve the development project.

Dimensions of the recycling area shall accommodate receptacles sufficient to meet the recycling needs of the development project.

An adequate number of bins or containers to allow for the collection and loading of recyclable materials generated by the development project should be located within the recycling area.

Recycling areas shall at a minimum be sufficient in capacity, number and distribution to serve that portion of the development project leased by the tenant(s) who submitted an application or applications resulting in the need to provide recycling area(s) pursuant to Section 18.43.030 of this chapter.

Dimensions of recycling areas shall accommodate an adequate number of bins or containers to allow for the collection and loading of recyclable materials generated by that portion of the development project leased by the tenant(s) who submitted an application resulting in the need to provide recycling area(s) pursuant to Section 18.43.030 of this chapter.

Recycling areas shall not be located in any area required to be constructed or maintained as unencumbered, according to any applicable federal, state or local laws relating to fire, access, building, zoning, transportation, circulation or safety.

Any and all recycling area(s) shall be located so they are at least as convenient for those persons who deposit, collect and load the recyclable materials placed therein as the location(s) where solid waste is collected and loaded. Whenever feasible, areas for collecting and loading recyclable materials shall be adjacent to the solid waste collection areas.

Recycling areas to be screened from off-site view, subject to zoning administrator review and approval.