High Country Recycling, an all-volunteer organization under Sustainable Ways, is proud of its accomplishments and ongoing recycling efforts:
HCR restored local glass recycling in February 2024 and continues to manage it with the help of area volunteers monitoring ‘Big Blue’ in the Altitude Community Fitness parking lot in Silver Cliff. In 2025, over 61 tons of glass were recycled and kept out of the county landfill. This could not have been done without the financial support of generous donors.
HCR’s 2024 Trailer Art Project involved FFA high school students refurbishing and painting the Custer County Recycles trailers. Then, under the volunteer direction of artist Kim Townsend, many other local youth and adults painted attractive, eye-catching, and unique murals.
HCR’s 55-gallon blue barrels were refurbished in 2024 by local youth and adults painting attractive and colorful artistic murals. They are available for aluminum can recycling collection use at public and private events. Some of the aluminum can collection barrels brighten up the Main Street sidewalks in Westcliffe.
HCR established the Joanie Liebman Recycling Center (JLRC) at the landfill in 2022, which provides for aluminum, steel, cardboard, and mixed paper recycling. Additional drop-off sites are available at Dundee Dog Park, Lake DeWeese Recycle Roundup, and the Custer County Courthouse. Volunteers assist staff by hauling and emptying the trailers at the JLRC, sorting out contamination, and baling cardboard weekly.
HCR recycling information brochures are available at the Welcome Center, the West Custer County Library, the courthouse, and both town halls. More information is available at highcountryrecycling.com.
Donations to High Country Recycling will continue to cover glass recycling costs through 2027.