The Merced City Council is making it easier for residents to beautify their city and get rid of large unwanted items such as old couches, mattresses, and appliances.

On Monday, the council expanded the days of operation for the bulky item drop-off site at Highway 59 and Yosemite Avenue. The site now will be open the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. to noon. That’s in addition to the site’s customary noon to 3 p.m. hours Tuesday through Friday.

The city opened the site in late 2019 to help curb illegal dumping.

Merced Recycling Coordinator Monique Gama said that staff analyzed illegal dumpsites. “A lot of it was sofas, chairs, tires, or random things they couldn’t put in their containers at home, and they didn’t want to take it to the landfill,” she said.

The site also accepts electronic items.

Two Forms of ID Needed

To take advantage of the service, residents need to provide two forms of identification indicating that they live in the city. These include a driver’s license, state identification card, or a monthly bill or statement with a city of Merced address.

On Monday, the council also directed staff to develop a Community Cleanup Program partnering with neighborhoods, volunteer groups, and nonprofits that want to help clean up specific areas. Mayor Matt Serratto initiated the program.

Groups can post their cleanup event on MercedCommunityCalendar.org and coordinate services through the Public Works Department.