Rocky Top Resources has partnered with El Paso County to provide free residential dumping of yard waste with donations to Care and Share Food Bank for more than 20 years. Since 2001, there has been more than 3.2 million pounds of food donated to Care and Share.

Due to rising costs and expanded use of the program, both Rocky Top and El Paso County can no longer provide the financial support needed to sustain this free Saturday program. Starting January 1, 2020, Rocky Top will accept yard waste from residents at a discounted rate of $5 per load on Saturdays (contractors pay normal fees). The $5 fee (cash or check only, no credit cards) will go to Rocky Top to cover the cost of running the program.

“The main purpose of this yard waste program is to divert tons of organic materials from going into our local landfills,” said Kathy Andrew, El Paso County Environmental Division Manager. “The material is grinded into mulch and reused.”

In the last 10 years, the program has served more than 174,000 people and diverted more than 670,000 cubic yards of organic debris from the landfills.

“The program has grown by 10 percent almost every year,” Andrew said. “This year was even bigger because of all the downed branches and trees from the Bomb Cyclone in March.”

Despite the new fee, Andrew said $5 is still a great bargain. “Most places charge a $25 minimum fee for dumping and the materials are put into the landfill. For only $5 you can dispose of yard waste that will be recycled and kept out of the landfills.”

The Black Forest Slash/Mulch site is open May through September and charges $2 per load.

Cash or check donations to Care and Share (in addition to the $5 fee) are still encouraged but the donations are not required. Rocky Top will no longer be accepting any food as donations.

The El Paso County sponsored program runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rocky Top Resources, 1755 E. Las Vegas Street, the same site where you can recycle your Christmas tree in January.

It is for households only, no businesses.

Accepted Organic Waste:

  • Branches (maximum size 8-foot-long, 8-inch-diameter)
  • Leaves
  • Weeds
  • Grass clippings
  • Plant prunings
  • Fruit and vegetable trimmings

Not Accepted:

  • Railroad ties
  • Treated lumber
  • Tree stumps
  • Household trash

For more information about donating to Care and Share, log on to its website at https://careandshare.org/