Chapter 18.31
RECYCLING AND TRASH MANAGEMENT
Sections:
18.31.030 Source reduction/recycling plans.
18.31.040 Storage area and volume requirements.
18.31.050 Recycling--Implementation.
18.31.060 Enclosures--Applicability.
18.31.080 Design, construction and maintenance.
18.31.090 Location, screening and accessibility.
18.31.100 Approval and appeal.
18.31.010 Purpose and intent.
The purpose and intent of adopting these regulations is to:
A. By the year 2000, divert fifty percent of all solid waste through source reduction, recycling and composting activities in an effort to decrease the impact of citizen’s consumption of renewable and nonrenewable materials to the environment;
B. Increase the recycling of reusable materials at residential and nonresidential sites and reduce litter within the city;
C. Encourage citizens of the residential, commercial, industrial and public sectors to dispose of solid waste and recyclable materials responsibly;
D. Require property owners to provide adequate, convenient space for the collection, storage, and loading of recycled material, and to provide trash and recycling enclosures;
E. Regulate the location, height, size, design features, screening, accessibility and durability of recycling and trash enclosures;
F. Encourage the reuse of recyclable material in order to reduce our reliance on and use of virgin materials. (1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.020 Definitions.
A. “Addition” or “remodel” means any work done on a piece of property that requires a building permit.
B. “Communally serviced residence” means apartments, four-plexes, townhouse, condominiums, mobile home parks and other resident occupancies at which wastes from individual resident units are commingled in a common container or a group of containers.
C. “Curbside collection” means a method of collecting source-separated recyclable materials set out by residents on the curb of residential properties.
D. “Current assessed value” means the value listed under the improvements column in the most current edition of the county tax assessor’s roll on file in the Half Moon Bay building department.
E. “Exterior collection area” means final collection area for all recyclable materials generated on any one site.
F. “Garbage waste” means kitchen and table offal and every accumulation of animal, vegetable and other matter that attends the preparation, consumption, decay or dealing in or storage of meats, fish, fowl, fruits or vegetables. Food slops or liquids, when placed in a plastic liner within the garbage can shall be considered as garbage waste. Garbage waste shall also include cans, bottles, containers, wrappings and packaging materials soiled with foods and waste material.
G. “Improvement” means an improvement adds to the value of a facility, prolongs its useful life, or adapts it to new uses. Improvements should be distinguished from repairs. Repairs keep facilities in good operating condition, do not materially add to the value of the facility, and do not substantially extend the life of the facility.
H. “Individually serviced residence” means single-family houses, each dwelling unit of a mobile home park, condominium, multifamily structure such as a duplex or triplex, or other residence facility at which wastes are stored and made available for collection by or at each individual residence unit.
I. “Mobile trash bin” means a trash container, equipped with wheels, having a capacity of one to six cubic yards (two hundred to one thousand two hundred gallons), that is designed to be hydraulically lifted from the front or rear of a trash collection vehicle.
J. “Recyclable materials” means discards or waste materials (including magazines, newspapers, clean office paper that is not contaminated by garbage or other waste material, clean cans and bottles, cardboard and plastic beverage containers) that are collected, separated, or processed, and eventually used as raw materials for products.
K. “Recycling” means the series of activities by which materials that would otherwise remain wastes are collected, separated, or processed and used in the form of raw materials.
L. “Toter bin” means a ninety-gallon bin, equipped with wheels and a lid, provided by the local waste removal/recycling company for the collection of recyclable materials. Toter bins are used by industrial, commercial, or office uses for recycling computer office paper, glass, white paper, mixed office paper, cardboard. Toter bins are used by multifamily residential uses for newspaper, aluminum, glass, plastic, tin and cardboard.
M. “Trash and recycling enclosure” means a permanent, immobile structure, designed for the storage of a mobile trash bin and recycling containers or Toter bins.
N. “Valuation” means the total price of improvements for a specific building permit as determined by the city planning and building department. (1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.030 Source reduction/recycling plan.
New and existing development of multifamily residential uses with five or more units, and commercial, office, industrial and public/quasi-public uses in buildings over ten thousand square feet in floor area are required to submit a statement of recycling information or recycling plan to the community development director.
A. New Development. Developers of each new project shall plan adequate provision for source separation, collection, handling, storage and transportation of the principal recyclable materials.
B. Existing Development. Property owners of existing development falling into the above categories will be properly notified of the new regulations and must comply within two years after the adoption of these regulations. (Ord. C-2015-04 §1(part), 2015; 1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.040 Storage area and volume requirements.
New development of multifamily residential uses with five or more units, and commercial, office, industrial and public/quasi-public uses are required to meet the requirements of Table 18.31.040A, Residential Trash Storage, Table 18.31.040B, Nonresidential Trash Storage, and Tables 18.31.040 C-1 through 18.31.040C-6, Recycling Volumes. Property owners of existing development will be properly notified of the new regulations and must comply within two years after the adoption of these regulations.
|
Number of Dwellings |
Trash Area |
Recycle Area |
Total Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2 -- 6 |
12 |
12 |
24 |
|
7 -- 15 |
24 |
24 |
48 |
|
16 -- 25 |
48 |
48 |
96 |
|
26 -- 50 |
96 |
96 |
192 |
|
51 -- 75 |
144 |
144 |
288 |
|
76 -- 100 |
192 |
192 |
384 |
|
101 -- 125 |
240 |
240 |
480 |
|
126 -- 150 |
288 |
288 |
576 |
|
151 -- 175 |
336 |
336 |
672 |
|
176 -- 200 |
384 |
384 |
768 |
|
201+ |
(a) |
(b) |
|
|
(a) |
48 sq. ft. of trash area for each additional 25 dwellings. |
|
(b) |
48 sq. ft. of recycle area for each additional 25 dwellings. |
|
Building |
Trash Area |
Recycle Area |
Total Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0 -- 5,000 |
12 |
12 |
24 |
|
5,001 -- 10,000 |
24 |
24 |
48 |
|
10,001 -- 25,000 |
48 |
48 |
96 |
|
25,001 -- 50,000 |
96 |
96 |
192 |
|
50,001 -- 75,000 |
144 |
144 |
288 |
|
75,001 -- 100,000 |
192 |
192 |
384 |
|
100,001+ |
(a) |
(b) |
|
|
(a) |
48 sq. ft. of trash area for each additional 25 sq. ft. |
|
(b) |
48 sq. ft. of recycle area for each additional 25 sq. ft. |
|
Residential |
Required |
Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Multifamily 5 or More Units |
One cu. yd. per 16 dwellings. |
Metal, plastic, glass, newsprint. |
|
Commercial |
Required |
Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Office and General Commercial |
One cu. yd. per 40,000 sq. ft. of floor area. |
Metal, plastic, glass, newsprint, office paper, computer paper, corrugated cardboard. |
|
Restaurant or Bar |
One cu. yd. per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area, 90 gal. container minimum. |
Metal, plastic, glass, corrugated cardboard. |
|
Retail Sales |
One cu. yd. per 8,000 sq. ft. of floor area, 90 gal. container minimum. |
Office paper, computer paper, corrugated cardboard. |
|
Retail Services |
One cu. yd. per 10,000 sq. ft. of floor area, 90 gal. container minimum. |
Office paper, computer paper, corrugated cardboard. |
|
Hotel, Motel, Inn or B & B |
One cu. yd. per 20 guest rooms, 90 gal. container minimum. |
Metal, plastic, glass, newsprint. |
|
Auto Repair or Service |
One cu. yd. per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area. |
Tires, motor oil, scrap metal. |
|
Industrial |
Required |
Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
All Types |
Propose volume in recycling information. |
Propose materials in recycling information. |
|
Public-Like |
Required |
Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Public/ Quasi-Public |
Propose volume in recycling information. |
Propose materials in recycling information. |
|
School |
One cu. yd. per 50 classrooms. |
Metal, plastic, glass, office paper, computer paper, corrugated cardboard. |
|
Library |
One cu. yd. per 40,000 sq. ft. of floor area. |
Office paper, computer paper. |
|
Church |
One cu. yd. per 40,000 sq. ft. of floor area. |
Office paper, computer paper. |
|
Park |
One for each garbage can. Disregard if food and drink are only served in paper containers or prohibited. |
Metal, plastic, glass. |
|
Medical |
Required |
Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Hospital/Clinic |
Only for cafeteria or vending machine locations. |
Metal, plastic, glass, corrugated cardboard. |
|
Miscellaneous |
Required |
Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
All Types |
Propose volume in recycling informa-tion. |
Propose materials in recycling information. |
(1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.050 Recycling--Implementation.
A. New and existing commercial, office and industrial development projects shall include adequate, accessible, convenient areas for the collecting and loading recyclable materials in bins and containers, in accordance with the regulations specified by this chapter. Food and drinking establishments are encouraged to use reusable soda canisters whenever possible instead of using individually packaged glass bottles and cans.
B. The following regulations apply to new and existing residential developments:
1. Tenants of individually serviced residences, when utilizing the local recycling program, shall place recyclables at curbside one day per week on the day designated by the local recycling company for pick-up of recyclable materials in each neighborhood. Recyclable materials shall be separately deposited in containers provided by, and in the manner designated by the local waste removal/recycling company.
2. The property owner of communally serviced residences shall supply (through local waste removal/recycling company) and maintain adequate recycling Toter bins and/or containers for use by tenants, and shall be required to provide and maintain space on-site for bins and containers as specified by this chapter. Containers for recyclable materials shall be stored in such a manner that containers are screened from public view from the front of the property.
C. On all development sites, recycling bins and containers may remain in public view on collection days for purposes of collection, but shall otherwise be stored in a location screened from public view from the front of the property.
D. Residential developers and property owners are encouraged to include recycling space or systems within each dwelling unit, such as roll-out drawers below the sink for recycling containers; fire-proof, cleanable secure chutes from the living space to the garage containers, etc. Each dwelling unit should include an area with a minimum of five cubic feet designed for the internal storage of trash and recyclable material. (1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.060 Enclosures--Applicability.
A. Trash and recycling enclosures in conformance with the requirements contained in this chapter shall be required for the following types of projects where solid waste is collected and loaded:
1. Commercial and Industrial Structures. New construction, addition, remodel or other improvements to any existing structure, when the valuation of such improvements, or the aggregate valuation of more than one improvement in any twelve month period, exceeds ten percent of the then current assessed value of the improvements for the subject parcel.
2. Multiple-Family Residential Structures. New construction of any apartment complex, condominium project, or planned unit development when such project, or planned unit development consists of five or more units.
3. Public Facilities and Institutions. New construction of any public facility, quasi-public facility or institutional building and any additions, remodels or improvements for areas of a public facility, when the valuation of such improvement, or the aggregate valuation of more than one improvement in any twelve month period, exceeds ten percent of the then current assessed value of the improvements for the subject parcel.
B. The following regulations shall apply to all existing commercial, office, industrial development, and multifamily residential structures with five or more housing units, for which improvements, additions or remodels are proposed:
1. Any costs associated with adding recycling space to existing development shall be the responsibility of the party or parties who are responsible for financing the improvements.
2. If the development has an existing trash enclosure large enough to accommodate both trash bin(s) and recycling bins, the required recycling containers/Toter bins shall be located inside the trash enclosure. If it is not possible to locate the required recycling containers inside the trash enclosure, enclosures must be constructed pursuant to applicable provisions of this chapter.
3. If the existing development does not have an existing trash enclosure, an enclosure must be provided for trash bins and recycling containers, pursuant to the applicable provisions of this chapter. (1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.070 Exceptions.
For those developments requiring planning commission approval of discretionary permits, only the planning commission may grant exceptions to the requirement for trash and recycling enclosures, or recycling requirements. In other instances, the following requirements are applicable.
A. Requirement for Trash and Recycling Enclosures. The community development director may grant exceptions to the requirements for trash and/or recycling enclosure(s) in the following instances:
1. If it is determined that any use in the proposed structure will not generate enough trash to necessitate the use of a mobile trash bin, and if individual curbside trash and recyclables pickup can be more effectively utilized.
2. If it is determined that the design or layout of the project is not conducive to the provision of an on-site area for a mobile trash bin and recycling Toter bins, and a suitable alternative solution may be found.
B. Recycling Requirements. In cases of hardship, the planning and building department shall work with each applicant and the city’s recycling collection company to formulate an acceptable plan that allows for flexibility in the number of recycling containers/Toter bins and their location(s). The city’s primary goal is to institute an accessible recycling collection program at each development complex while minimizing undue hardships for property owner(s). The community development director or his designee shall approve trash/recycling enclosures if they are satisfied that the plan conforms to the requirements and intent of this chapter and may impose any additional conditions, or make exceptions to parking, landscape, or setback requirements where there are no other feasible placement alternatives, if deemed necessary to meet the intent of this chapter. (Ord. C-2015-04 §1(part), 2015; 1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.080 Design, construction and maintenance.
Trash/recycling enclosures required under this chapter shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with standard details shown in Table 18.31.080, Standard Details, and the following specifications and regulations:
A. Dimensions of the enclosure shall accommodate trash bins and recycling containers sufficient to meet the trash and recycling needs of the development.
B. For large projects that will utilize more than one mobile trash bin at any one location, the size of the trash enclosure must be increased to accommodate the trash bins and recycling bins. In the case of enlargement of the enclosure, the city engineer may require additional structural reinforcement when deemed necessary to ensure the safety and durability of the structure.
C. Each recycling and trash enclosure shall be designed to allow convenient access by tenants without having to open the main enclosure gates.
D. The trash and recycling enclosures shall be adequate in capacity, number, and distribution to serve the development’s trash and recycling needs.
E. Recycling and trash enclosures shall be constructed to be as inconspicuous as possible, and the contents of the enclosure shall be screened from public view. The enclosure should be compatible with the main structure, while maintaining its primary function as a trash enclosure. In residential zones, wood or masonry materials that are compatible with the main structure(s) shall be used. In commercial and industrial zones, masonry with exterior material that matches the main structure shall be used.
F. Trash/recycling enclosures shall be equipped with self-closing gates and whenever possible, the gate of the enclosure shall not open toward the street.
G. Galvanized chain link gates equipped with redwood pickets are permitted in the industrial zone, and steel gates are permitted in the commercial zones. However, a solid material, such as wood, matching the main structure may be used.
H. Enclosures designed for storage of cans and small recycling containers shall be constructed of a sturdy, nonflammable material (i.e.: concrete block, poured concrete, slump stone, split-faced block, etc.).
I. The exterior of the enclosure shall be the same color as the main structure except that any architectural accents or trim colors found on the main structure shall be deleted.
J. Provisions shall be made to protect recyclable materials from the rain by covering the storage area, or by the use of covered receptacles.
K. Maintenance of each recycling and trash enclosure and bins and containers shall be the responsibility of the property owner.
Table 18.31.080 STANDARD DETAILS
(1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.090 Location, screening and accessibility.
Trash and recycling enclosures shall be located on the property, screened from public view and made accessible as follows:
A. Location.
1. Whenever feasible, the recycling collection area and the trash collection area shall be adjacent to one another in one enclosure. If, because of space limitations, property configuration or other considerations, the bins must be in separate locations, the recycling areas must be at least as convenient as trash areas.
2. Enclosures shall not be located nearer than thirty feet to streets or sidewalks, and shall be located to the rear of a building where possible.
3. Trash and recycling enclosures shall be located more than twenty feet from any front entrance to a structure.
4. Each recycling and trash enclosure within a multifamily residential development shall be no greater than two hundred fifty feet from the nearest point of each unit.
5. Developers are encouraged to provide a space for recycling bins on each floor of multistory buildings, in addition to a main collection area accessible for pickup of recyclables.
6. Areas for recycling shall be adequate in capacity, number, and distribution to serve the development project, and an adequate number of bins or containers shall be provided for the development in recycling areas at all times.
B. Screening.
1. The perimeter of the recycling and trash enclosure shall be planted where practical with drought resistant landscaping, including a combination of shrubs and or climbing evergreen vines, wherever possible.
2. Adequate protection of adjacent developments from any adverse impacts such as noise, odor, or glare shall be provided through measures including, but not limited to maintaining adequate separation, fencing and landscaping.
C. Accessibility.
1. Enclosures shall be easily accessible to collection vehicles and collection personnel. Driveways or travel aisles shall provide unobstructed access for collection vehicles and provide a minimum vertical clearance of fifteen feet.
2. 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, access, transportation, circulation or safety.
3. Since many trash bins are mobile but they do not roll effortlessly, the area directly in front of any enclosure should be less than a two percent slope to make manipulation of the trash bin as easy as possible. A concrete apron shall be constructed in front of each enclosure, to minimize damage to the surrounding asphalt paving, and such paving shall consist of five inch aggregate base material and six inch portland cement paving.
4. The international recycling logo shall be placed on the exterior of each enclosure where recycling containers are located. General instructions about how to recycle shall be posted within the recycling and trash enclosure or near the receptacle area, and shall be visible to the enclosure/receptacle users. If placed outside the enclosure, such instructions must be limited to a sign no larger than four square feet, and signage shall be similar to or consistent with the design, materials and colors of the building. Each recycling container shall be clearly marked to identify the type of material which may be deposited in that container. (1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.100 Approval and appeal.
Location, type and placement of trash and recycling enclosures, bins and containers shall be reviewed and approved by the planning department, prior to construction or placement on any new development site. A plan shall be submitted showing the location(s) of trash and recycling enclosure(s) on a site plan and elevations of the design of the trash and recycling enclosure.
A. The applicant shall be notified in writing of the action taken by the planning department. For new development, an approved plan shall be fully implemented within six months of the issuance of certificates of occupancy. For remodels, an approved plan shall be fully implemented within six months after the approval date. Applicants shall resubmit revised plans within one month should a plan be denied.
B. Any determination of the planning department may be appealed to the planning commission in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 1.25. (Ord. C-7-08 §24, 2008; 1996 zoning code (part)).
18.31.110 Penalties.
A. Any violation or failure to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall be deemed a nuisance and shall be punishable as set forth in the municipal code.
B. The city attorney may seek legal, injunctive, or other equitable relief to enforce this chapter.
C. The remedies and penalties provided in this section are cumulative and not exclusive. (1996 zoning code (part)).