Recycling Facilities (Gateway Industrial District)
The Gateway Industrial District allows for recycling uses, and the City of Oakland (City) pursued negotiations with two recyclers from the West Oakland neighborhood to relocate their facilities to the District; California Waste Solutions (CWS) and CASS, Inc.
CWS
(CWS) is a recycling company headquartered in West Oakland. In July 2021, the City entered into a Lease/Disposition and Development Agreement (L/DDA) with CWS to relocate its existing West Oakland recycling facility to the Gateway Industrial District.
Under the terms of the L/DDA, CWS was provided a defined period to complete the necessary steps to begin construction of the new facility.
On March 27, 2025, the City issued a cure notice to CWS identifying specific L/DDA requirements that needed to be addressed. The notice provided CWS 60 days—until May 27, 2025—to resolve the identified issues and proceed toward closing escrow, or alternatively, to pay an extension fee of $425,000 to extend the agreement term until April 21, 2026. CWS offered to buy the property(PDF, 165KB) without assurances to complete the project, however, the City Council declined to bring such an amendment.
CWS did not complete the required steps to close escrow nor elect to extend the agreement term. As a result, on May 27, 2025, the City issued a termination notice(PDF, 185KB), formally ending the CWS L/DDA.
CASS, Inc
CASS, Inc., formerly known as Custom Alloy Scrap Sales, is a metal recycling company located in West Oakland.
The City entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA)(PDF, 3MB) with CASS In 2021 pursuant to Resolution No. 88826(PDF, 124KB) for the sale of approximately 10 acres within the Gateway Industrial District and development of a new recycling center, supporting sustainable industrial operations and improved environmental practices.
CASS has completed its Community Engagement Plan (CASS CEP)(PDF, 2MB), dated August 2022, which outlines the company’s approach to public outreach and engagement during its relocation from West Oakland to the Gateway Industrial District site.
The ENA expired on December 21, 2022. To date the parties have not reached an agreement.