The Ripon City Council recently approved the donation of a foam and grinder for the recycling center.

“The City of Ripon recycling center previously accepted Styrofoam although finding an outlet has been a challenge over the last three years for various reasons,” said Public Works James Pease in his March 11 staff report.

No discussion was necessary as elected leaders accepted the donation from Dart CARE – this container corporation manufactures foam cups and containers and is in the process of closing its Lodi facility – for one Matrix Poly Max 2500 densifier and a PH650 grinder.

According to Pease, his public works staff inspected the equipment and found both to be in good working order.

A foam densifier / grinder has the capability of condensing seven 40-yard roll-off bins full of loose Styrofoam down to the size of a single pallet at about 8 feet in height.

This would significantly reduce the number of trips necessary for transport while reducing the overall operating cost at the recycling center.

The last full year that the city facility accepted Styrofoam was in 2023. “There were 44 trips (made),” Pease recalled, referring to the number of 40-yard roll-off bins.

That number – thanks to the use of the densifier / grinder – could reduce this part of the operation to a single trip.

There was a one-time cost of $650 – paid for via the Garbage Operating Fund – to the city in order to transport the foam densifier/ grinder from the Dart facility in Lodi to Ripon.

As part of accepting this donation, the City of Ripon, in addition, plans to install the shelter / cover along with the electrical feed at the recycling center.

Cost association with this would be brought back to Council for consideration prior to proceeding, with the estimated cost at about $15,000.