Bicycle Recycling Program
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FAQ for Recycle Cart Pilot Program
Materials
What items does Albuquerque accept for recycling in the blue cart?
What items does Albuquerque accept for recycling in the green cart?
Where does the yard waste go once it is collected?
Can I recycle glass at the curb?
Do I need to separate or sort the recyclables?
Why can't we recycle plastic bags?
What items cannot be recycled in the blue or green carts?
Recycling Carts
What is the size of the recycle cart?
Can I use my own recycle cart?
What I do with extra materials that won't fit in my cart?
What happens if I put trash in my recycle cart?
What if my cart is lost, stolen or broken?
I am moving. Can I take my cart with me?
What time does my cart need to be put out?
General Service Questions
What if I don't want a cart, will you still pick up bags of recyclables?
Do I have to pay any additional fees for recycling service?
Materials
What items does Albuquerque accept for recycling in the blue cart?
- All white and colored writing paper, computer paper, magazines and newspapers, including inserts.
- Junk mail
- Corrugated cardboard (the double-walled cardboard with the wiggly center)
- Tin, empty aerosol cans, and aluminum cans
- Plastic: all plastic bottles and jugs with a screw top lid or that have a neck smaller than the base, two liter bottles, plastic milk jugs, any plastic container marked on the bottom with a #1 or #2.
What items does Albuquerque accept for recycling in the green cart?
- Grass
- Leaves
- Plant trimmings
- Tree branches and prunings (must be cut to fit into cart)
- Green waste should be placed un-bagged directly into your green cart
Please remember to make sure that brances and prunings are small enough so that they won't get stuck in your cart. The lid must close with ease.
Where does the recycling go?
The recyclables are separated and sorted at the City of Albuquerque's recycling processing facility, known as the Intermediate Processing Facility. They are then baled and sold to recyclers in New Mexico and across the United States.
Where does the yard waste go once it is collected?
The yard waste (green waste) goes the the City of Albuquerque's compost facility. The material is composted and used at local parks.
Can I recycle pizza boxes?
No. Although pizza boxes are cardboard, they have food waste and grease left on them which prevents them from being recycled.
Can I recycle glass at the curb?
No. Glass can break and contaminate the rest of the recyclables in your cart. The City of Albuquerque has recycle drop-off sites conveniently located where customers may take glass for recycling.
Do I need to separate or sort the recyclables?
No. All of the acceptable household recyclables can be placed all together in the blue recycle cart.
Why can't we recycle plastic bags?
Plastic bags can get tangled around our equipment and cause damage. Please do not put plastic bags in your recycle container.
What items cannot be recycled in the blue or green carts?
Prohibited items include:
- Hazardous Waste
- Scrap metal such as metal pipe, hangers, wires or automotive parts
- Hot ashes
- Concrete rocks, gravel, wood, sod or dirt
- Pizza boxes
- Snack food bags (like chips or popcorn bags)
- Fast food containers, cups or wrappers
- No Styrofoam
- Plastic toys, furniture or plastic bags
- Plastic wrap or dry cleaning bags
- Glass
Recycling Carts
What is a recycling cart?
A recycling cart is defined as a container that is used to set out recyclable materials for the purpose of having recovered materials collected and recycled by the city. There are two available recycle carts: A blue cart for acceptable household recyclables and a green cart for acceptable yard waste.
What is the size of the recycle cart?
Both the blue and the green carts are 64 gallon.
Can I use my own recycle cart?
No. Only City-issued blue carts and City-issued green carts will be serviced for recycling.
What I do with extra materials that won't fit in my cart?
You must save the material for your next collection day.
What happens if I put trash in my recycle cart?
You will receive a warning. If you continue to put trash in your cart after the first warning, the recycle cart will be promptly removed and you will not be eligible for the program.
What if my cart is lost, stolen or broken?
Please call 311 for a replacement or repair.
I am moving, can I take my cart with me?
No. The Curbside Recycling Cart Pilot Program is only available in this specific area.
What time does my cart need to be put out?
Your cart(s) must be put out promptly at 7am every week on your regularly scheduled trash collection day.
General Service Questions
Is recycling mandatory?
Recycling is not currently mandatory.
What if I don't want a cart, will you still pick up bags of recyclables?
No. In order to get your recyclables picked up, you must have a City-issued blue recycle cart.
Do I have to pay any additional fees for recycling service?
There are no additional fees for the pilot program.
Do I have to participate?
You are not required to participate; however, we will not collect bagged recyclables set out at the curb. You must use a City-issued blue recycle cart for household recycling.