By Deb Risden
The Dump, owned by Richard Graham, opened May 1 at 8808 Cliff Allen Point at the intersection of Woodmen and Vollmer roads. The Dump offers a path for residents to get rid of trash and unwanted items.
Graham, who also owns 11 self-storage facilities in the region, said the idea came almost by accident.
“My primary business is self-storage, but I was always using the Monument transfer station and thought it was such a cool operation,” Graham said. “I didn’t even know what a transfer station was until then. I ended up buying that one in 2018, and after running it, I knew I wanted to build one myself — only better.”
Transfer stations are smaller and strategically placed in urban areas, making waste collection and sorting more efficient for cities.
The Black Forest facility is the only transfer station on the north side of Colorado Springs, providing a closer option than the El Paso County landfill, nearly an hour drive east of the city. Graham said zoning restrictions made the project challenging, but after almost a year and a half of county review, the site was approved.
Why name it The Dump? “When you’re thinking of getting rid of an old grill, people ask where is the nearest dump,“ Graham said. “It’s actually a transfer station but the term transfer station is not in our vernacular. We all think ‘dump.’ People place their waste in the containers and the containers are hauled off somewhere else such as the El Paso County landfill.”
“The fun thing about building one is you get to do all the things you want,” he said. “It’s been a resounding success.”
Customer service and cleanliness are the hallmarks of The Dump. Graham said the facility’s layout is designed to keep trash contained, with no smell or debris blowing around. Two employees greet each car at the scale, helping unload and offering what Graham calls “old-fashioned customer service.”
“You won’t find a piece of paper blowing anywhere,” he said. “People say, ‘This is a dump?’ They’re surprised at how clean and friendly it is.”
The Dump features nine 40-yard bins that can handle large volumes of waste. Customers pay by the pound, with rates decreasing as loads get heavier. A 30-pound load costs $7, while 1,000 pounds runs $131 and 2,000 pounds costs $176.
The station accepts nearly everything except hazardous materials such as oil, tires, batteries and televisions. Appliances, refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are accepted. They remove the Freon and the appliances can then be recycled. Steel, lawnmowers, grills and other scrap metal can be recycled for 6 cents a pound. Mattresses are also accepted for an additional flat fee.
For Graham, affordability is key. He said the station helps residents on fixed incomes who might otherwise pay higher monthly trash pickup fees. Contractors also use the site as a cost-effective alternative to renting large dumpsters.
“It’s a needed and fun service for the community,” Graham said. “We just wanted to provide a different experience in waste disposal. … And we provide dog treats for customers who bring their dogs.”
The Dump is open six days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
