Waste Diversion

Resources & Programs for a Sustainable Chaffee County

As part of GARNA’s mission to boost community sustainability, we are working alongside the Regional Sustainability Contractor in collaboration with various municipalities, businesses, and community member-led groups in order to implement suitable waste diversion programs and other sustainable projects countywide.

GARNA’S Waste Diversion Hub

Sustainable waste management is essential for environmental protection and economic growth. By understanding local systems and distinguishing what belongs in the bin, we can make informed choices that reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Below, you’ll find the resources and tools needed to master the basics of recycling in Chaffee County and discover how you can take action in order to contribute to a greener, more sustainable and resilient future.

Programs Promoting Repurpose, Reuse & Recycling:

Chaffee Gear Library: Borrow outdoor equipment for free to reduce waste and make nature accessible to everyone.
Recycle Drop Off: Drop off your household recycling in our 3-yard bin located behind the GARNA office; fees apply.
Repurpose Hub: Donate unwanted items to creative upcyclers and keep cool things out of the landfill.
Terracycle Drop Off: Bring your hard-to-recycle items for free, and we will ship them to TerraCycle. We have both a Salida & Buena Vista drop off location!

Take Action Now!

Get Apex Waste Solutions no-cost residential recycling, funded by Colorado’s state Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program.

Key Details:

No Extra Cost: Packaging and paper makers fund the system, so recycling is free for residents.
Automatic Enrollment: Current trash clients are signed up automatically.
Easy Updates: Existing recycling users should see recycling fees removed from their bills.
Recycle Right: View these visual flyers to ensure you’re recycling correctly.
- YES, recycle me vs. NO, don’t recycle me
- Pro tip: make sure your items are 90% clear of food/liquid, toss loose into the can (never in a bag).

GARNA E-Waste Recycle Event: Start saving your electronics for our next recycling event on May 22, 2027; fees apply.

Why is it important to recycle your electronic waste rather than dropping it off at the landfill or tossing it in a trash bin?

Helps prevent toxic contamination entering our air and waterways.
Conserves valuable resources like gold, copper, silver and aluminum.
Reduces greenhouses gases as it takes a lot of energy to extract the raw materials compared to taking apart an object to reuse.
It keeps our landfill from filling up so quickly!

Recycling & Composting

Big changes are coming to Chaffee County that will make recycling more affordable and accessible for community members. Here’s what you need to know! It is also important to understand what is going on “behind the scenes” because the more we are informed, the better choices we can make.

Recycling: Better, Closer, Free

Producers Pay, You Save:

Thanks to Colorado’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, companies that create packaging are now paying into a statewide fund.

What this means for you: By early, to late Fall of this year (2026), these funds will begin subsidizing residential recycling costs.

The Goal: Eventually, the recycling fees you currently pay to Apex and Waste Management could be eliminated entirely. When this occurs, the waste companies and other outreach initiatives will take place to let the public know.

- Those who don’t have these curbside services already, have a chance to add it! GARNA will be happy to assist residents on how to inquire about this once EPR has been rolled out in our county.
- Those that already have curbside recycling services, should simply see a reduction in their bill once EPR has taken effect in Chaffee County.

A New Local Sorting Hub:

Currently, our recycling travels all the way to the Front Range for processing. That’s about to change!

The Project: Chaffee County is using a $4 million EPA grant to build a brand-new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at our local Chaffee County Landfill.

The Benefit: We’ll sort materials right here at home, cutting down on transportation costs and carbon emissions.

- Chaffee County Residents can also use this hub as a drop-off for their recyclables if curbside is not available.
- This sorting will help divert certain items from ending up in our landfill and instead, get them to a new life!

Timeline: The design process kicks off sometime this year, 2026.

Other Helpful Resources:

WCU Grad Students: Presentation to County Commissioners regarding Policy Options around waste diversion.
The City of Salida: Shares the Resident Survey on Household Solid Waste Report.
Program overview: Get a clear understanding as to what the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) really means under the Statewide Recycling Act for Colorado.

Get the Full Picture

Where Should It Go?: A tool for you to find where that unwanted item should go next.
Recycling is real – and it is happening now: Dive deeper into how recycling works.
The Recycle Pipeline: Educate yourself on where recycling goes once it leaves your curbside bin.
Where it Goes, the “End Buyers”: Get the full picture on ‘Market Economic Viability’ and who exactly is buying the recycling.

Additional resources:

Sustainable Chaffee: A program focused on coalescing sustainability initiatives throughout Chaffee County. This effort is lead by staff from Elements Mountain Compost in partnership with Chaffee County, the City of Salida, and GARNA.

Talk Dirt To Me!

Did you know 30% of Colorado’s landfill waste is organic? When trapped without air, these scraps produce methane- a greenhouse gas 84x more potent than CO2.

At GARNA, we walk the talk—we compost in our very own office! We’re proud to partner Elements Mountain Compost to turn local “waste” into Black Gold.

Join the Movement with Elements Mountain Compost:

Curbside Hero: Easy, scheduled pickups from your home.
Drop-off Dynamo: Use community spots whenever you’re on the go.
Business Pro: Custom solutions for shops and restaurants.