The Kaufman Trash Disposal and Recycling Center at 701 Alton Street, at the north end of the street, is an unusual arrangement: the facility is owned by the City of Kaufman but operated by Kaufman County, with day-to-day site operations run by BlackJack Disposal. It serves both city and county residents, though they buy access in different places.

Household waste, including brush, costs $10.00 per cubic yard. You cannot simply turn up and pay at the gate — the station runs on tickets bought in advance. City residents buy theirs at Kaufman City Hall, 3003 S. Washington, open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. County residents buy coupons at the Kaufman County Annex building. Coupons can be paid for by card at the county's Terrell and Kemp locations, but for the Kaufman station itself, or for any cash purchase, they must be bought by 4:30pm on the Friday before your visit. That advance-purchase rule is the thing most likely to catch out a first-time user.

Recycling is free. The site takes glass, plastic, aluminium, cardboard and newspaper at no charge, and white goods and brush are part of the station's core purpose. Free mulch is available for anyone who wants to collect it. Used oil is not taken here, but the county maintenance barn at 600 North Nash Street in Kaufman accepts it free of charge.

Commercial dumping is not permitted. The county also refuses construction debris, dump trailers, and enclosed or cattle trailers at its collection sites, so a renovation load is not a fit for this facility.

Hours need care, because the city and the county publish different schedules for the same site and neither carries an effective date. The City of Kaufman's page, which is also the page carrying the $10 per cubic yard rate, gives Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm. Kaufman County's staff directory gives Wednesday to Saturday 8am to 4pm. We cannot confirm from either source which is current, so call (972) 932-2161 before travelling — particularly if you were planning on a Tuesday.