HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12181984 - R.1 —s Contra
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa
FROM: RECYCLING COMMITTEE County
DATE: DECEMBER 18, 1984
SUBJECT: Recommendations from the December 12, 1984 Meeting of the Recycling
Committee
Specific Requests or Recommendations & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATION
1. That the Board of Supervisors support the efforts of the Contra Costa Community
Recycling Center and pledge approximately half an acre to the Center, preferably at or
near its present location, for at least five years, and that -the Public Works staff
prepare a contract between Contra Costa County and the Contra Costa Community Recycling
Center stating this pledge.
2. That all land use permits granted for high density residences, i .e. , condominiums,
town houses, and apartments, stipulate that the developer must provide a common area
suitable for the deposit, storage, and collection of recyclable materials delivered by
the residents. This area shall contain bins for at least newspaper, glass, and
aluminum cans. The developer will also be required to show that- he has a commitment
from a local - recycling group to collect and/or accept the recyclable materials. The
Recycling Committee also requests that staff develop further information on the
estimated capacity needed to hold the recyclable materials, as well as a County
recycling logo.
3. That any land use permit for a landfill site require the landfill owner to provide
at least two acres adjacent to the landfill for the storage of abandoned and junk
vehicles until that time that junkyards and scrap metal processors can accept them.
4. That County staff, including Planning, Public Works, and Health Services, prepare a
report to the Board of Supervisors on how an interdepartmental group could use community
block grant funds to cite and correct ordinance violations in some parts of the County.
BACKGROUND
On October 16, 1984, the Board of Supervisors referred a letter from the County Administrator
to the Recycling Committee regarding a use agreement with Contra Costa Community Recycling
Center. The letter recommended that since current planning for the Blum Road property, on
which the Recycling Center presently exists, designates the site for a Public Works corpora-
tion yard and some private light industrial use, that the Recycling Center not be granted a
contract past May 1986. Since the Recycling Committee believes it is the intention of the
Board of Supervisors to support the recycling efforts of such groups as the Contra Costa
Continued on attachment: X yes Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other:
Signa ures :
upervisor Nancy Fanden Supervisor Tom Torlakson
Action of Board on: December 18, 1984 Approved as Recommended x Other
Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
x - Unanimous (Absent j AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Absent: Abstain:
Attested / /few
Orig. Div.: Public Works (EC) PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK
cc: Recycling Committee OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY
County Administrator ADMINISTRATOR
Director of Planning
Building Inspector &4�
Health Services Director By 4s
DEPUTY CLERK
00 301
Community Recycling Center, and since the Recycling Center needs only half an acre in which
to operate and its use is compatible with the corporation yard and the light industrial
zoning, as well as the fact that there is other County property available that the Center
could relocate to, if necessary, the Committee recommends that the County enter into a
five-year agreement with Contra Costa Community Recycling Center to provide a site of at
least half an acre in size. By granting this commitment, the Recycling Center will be
eligible to receive surplus recycling equipment from the State at reduced cost.
As high density units, such as condominiums, town houses, and apartment complexes, provide
an ideal location for successful recycling, the Recycling Committee believes that the
County, through its land use permit rights, should require developers to provide an area in
these developments for recycling containers. Additionally, to ensure that the area will be
used, the developer should be required to show commitments from recycling groups that
they will collect and/or accept the materials.
The abandoned vehicle problem in Contra Costa County is very serious. In West Pittsburg
alone, there are over 150 abandoned vehicles on the streets and highways. The problem is
due to the fact that the cars must be on the road at least 72 hours before they can be
towed away, and even if they could be towed away, there is no place for them to be taken as
all the junkyards in Contra Costa County are full. Also, junkyard operators are less and
less willing to compact the cars because they are considered hazardous in the compacted
state and must be buried in a hazardous waste landfill, which is very expensive. Further-
more, those automobiles which have airbags in them are very dangerous because they are
liable to explode during the compaction process. Therefore, the Recycling Committee
recommends a provision be made that any land use permit for a landfill require the owner
to set aside a two-acre parcel to store abandoned vehicles until that time that junkyards
and scrap metal operators have room to accept them. The public should be allowed to
dispose of their cars at the landfill at minimal or no cost.
The Building Inspection Department is currently using Community Block Grant Funds to cite
housing and building ordinance violators in the West Pittsburg community. The Recycling
Committee recommends that County staff should look at how such a program can be used by an
interdepartmental group to cite and correct violations of various County ordinances in
County communities.
KTR:cI
recyc.bo.5yr.contr.t12
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