Recycling Industries, Stop the Dump find middle ground to end dispute

Yuba City City Council approves of agreement outlining 60 stipulations

There’s been an ongoing dispute between a group of concerned citizens and Recycling Industries over the company’s plans to expand its facilities in south Yuba City, but the two groups recently established a middle ground, making way for the project to move forward – but with certain conditions.

Yuba City City Council members unanimously decided to move forward with the process at an appeal hearing on Tuesday night, ultimately directing staff to prepare an updated resolution that reflects the consensus agreed upon by attorneys for both Recycling Industries and the Stop the Dump group.

“During the process of appeal, the attorneys from both sides, after many hours of discussions, hammered out their differences and came to an agreement. So, what the council approved in principle is moving forward with a vote of approval based on the Planning Commission’s conditions and the agreed upon points between the two parties,” said Yuba City Mayor Shon Harris.

Recycling Industries proposed plans in 2017 to expand its facility from three acres to four acres, increase the amount of tonnage allowed into the facility per day, remove a limit on the amount of putrescible waste (organic matter that can raise an odor during decomposition) allowed into the facility, and expand its transfer and processing building from 18,000 square feet to 21,600 square feet, among other items.

At a meeting last November, the Yuba City Planning Commission approved a use permit for the project, but provided 58 conditions – most notably, keeping its allowable daily tonnage and putrescible waste the same – that Recycling Industries would have to follow in order to move forward.

Stop the Dump’s land-use attorney, Brigit Barnes, filed an appeal to the commission’s decision in December. Ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled appeal hearing, the two sides reached an agreement.

David Kuhnen, general manager of Recycling Industries, said the agreement basically builds upon the Planning Commission’s stipulations with a few modifications and additions, for a total of 60 conditions. Under the agreement, the company will be allowed to expand to four acres and increase the square footage of its transfer and processing building.

“Since we are all on the same page, the project was moved forward for a final vote,” Kuhnen said. “Pending city approval, we will then be able to start the state-approval process.”

Unless something changes drastically in the next few weeks, City Council members are likely to review and approve the project with the conditions at a meeting on Feb. 5.