The Ripon Recycling Center is now accepting bed mattresses.

The City of Ripon recently made that announcement in the summer newsletter.

The local recycling center entered into a partnership with Bye Bye Mattress, accepting mattresses, box springs, and futon mattresses.

“This program non only helps conserve resources but also reduces illegal dumping,” the City said.

Drop-offs can be made at the Recycling Center at 178 S. Industrial Ave., from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

The City of Ripon indicated that recycled mattresses are carefully dismantled – by that, the layers are separated, sorted, and given a new life – with the soft materials resembling that of foam and fiber being compressed and reused in products such as carpet padding.

The steel coils from box springs are sent to scrap recyclers and repurposed for construction.

The wooden frames are shredded and used as landscaping mulch or fuel.

In all, 75 percent of a mattress component can be recycled.

Meanwhile, the recycling center will not accept air mattresses, bed frames, car beds, futon frames, crib mattresses, mattress toppers, sofa beds, water beds, bed bugs, bedding, and wet / soiled mattresses.

For more information, call 209.599.2151.