Guidelines for Recycling Green Waste

Please note that this program is for City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Customers only.

Green Waste is collected two times per year - once in the spring and once in the fall. Check your water bill for scheduled pick-up dates.

At other times of the year, customers may take green waste to the Convenience Centers.

During the two collection periods, please follow these guidelines:

• Residents must place their green waste (leaves, grass, and brush) in trash bags not weighing more than 40 lbs. each on the curb.
• Items must be placed 5 ft. away from the automated trash container. Branches must be cut to 4-ft. lengths and bundled securely.
• The City will not pickup dirt, construction debris, gravel, or any other landscape material.

About Green Waste

Did you know that 30% of what goes into our city landfill is green waste? Green waste, also called yard waste, consists of leaves, tree trimmings, weeds, grass and other organic materials. Many communities are discovering that green waste is a valuable resource that can be recycled for a variety of uses. Read below for more on the City of Albuquerque's green waste recycling program.

Making the Most of Green Waste

In order put Albuquerque's green waste to better use, the Solid Waste Management Department has initiated a compost program using the green waste collected from the citizens of Albuquerque.  

Except during the city's special collection events, green waste is transported to the city's Convenience Centers by homeowners and commercial landscapers. The green waste is then transferred to the City of Albuquerque's Compost Facility, located in northwest Albuquerque. Every effort is made to recover clean green waste at the convenience center year-round.

Composting at the CompostFacility

At the Compost Facility, city employees screen, grind, and mix the green waste. Then the material is placed into long piles called "windrows" to be transformed into compost. Once ready, the compost is used at city parks and other city facilities.

Using the Composted Green Waste

In the desert Southwest, the market for compost and mulch is limitless. These products maximize soil nutrient value, conserve water, and control soil erosion. With our sandy soils and low rainfall, these products are in high demand.

The City of Albuquerque's own Parks & General Services Department uses green waste compost to help keep our parks green.

As the composting program continues to grow, the city expects to reap increased benefits by saving landfill space, increasing recycling participation, and greening the desert while conserving water—all at costs commensurate with traditional landfilling.