The City of Ripon along with Ripon Unified School District and American Recycling have long been involved in a concerted effort to bring extra funds to local public schools.

This joint recycling program benefits the following elementary school sites: Weston, Ripon El., Ripona, Park View, and Colony Oak.

Director of Public Works James Pease indicated in his report at the Feb. 14 Ripon City Council meeting that the city spent $6,900 to match their guaranteed $60-per-ton price to RUSD.

The program accepts mixed paper, glass, CRV beverage containers, newspaper, aluminum cans, plastic, and Styrofoam (Polystyrene #6), but it’s cardboard that generates the most revenue for RUSD, Pease noted in his report consisting mostly of the last six month.

He pointed out the price per ton of cardboard in 2022 varied in price, going from zero dollars in July, to $5 per ton in October and November, and $15 per ton in December.

“The City’s contributions (to RUSD) could increase, depending on the market for this year,” Pease said.

The Ripon Recycling Center collected 234 tons of cardboard for 2022, which varies from 2021 (272 tons), and pre-COVID 19 2019 (400 tons) and 2018 (378 tons).

The decrease of recycling contribution could be due to the limited operating hours, Pease added.

For that, he said staff could be looking to perhaps hire part-time employees to increase the operating hours at the recycling center.

While the facility located at 178 S. Industrial Ave. still accepts Styrofoam and plastic, Pease said that, too, could possibly change.

With no source currently taking both items, he noted that Styrofoam and plastic would instead go to landfill, making it no longer acceptable for local recycling.

Pease said that staff is looking find a facility that will pay out for those two items.

For more information on the Ripon Recycling Program, log on to www.cityofripon.org.