The City of Ripon could soon have a foam densifier and grinder.

At tonight’s monthly session, the Ripon City Council will look to accept one Matrix Poly Max 2500 densifier and a PH650 grinder from the Dart Container Corporation.

If accepted, this donation could be used at the city’s recycling center – plans call for the Greater Valley Conservation Corps staff to operate the densifier / grinder at this location.

“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 Director James Pease in his March meeting staff report.

Dart Container Corporation is a company that manufacturers food service packaging, including foam cups and containers, with a facility in Lodi that’s in the process of closing, in turn, making the foam densifier / grinder available for donation.

Pease noted that staff has already inspected the equipment and found it to be in good working order.

Plans thus far would include the donated densifier / grinder to be installed at the recycling center “once a viable outlet for Styrofoam is found,” Pease said.

He added: “If no viable outlets are found, the city can surplus the equipment at a later date to be sold at auction.”

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

Pease noted that this would reduce the number of trips necessary for transport while reduce the overall operating cost.

As for cost to the city, there’s a one-time expense of $650 to transport the foam densifier / grinder from the Dart facility in Lodi to Ripon (paid via Garbage Operating Fund) along with the installation of a shelter / cover for the equipment coupled with an electrical feed at about $15,000.

This item and others are on the agenda for the 6 p.m. open session in the Council Chamber, 259 N. Wilma Ave.

For more information, log on to www.cityofripon.org.