When are my garbage and recycling pick-up days?
The curbside garbage and recycling pick-up day varies across residential areas in the city, but both services are provided on the same day. To find out the collection schedule for your neighborhood, call Residential Services at (505) 761-8100.

How do I set up refuse service for my home?
If you live within the Albuquerque city limits, call the Solid Waste Management Billing Section at (505) 761-8100 to set up refuse service. You also place a request for service using our online form.

What are Solid Waste Management's requirements for putting out my residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste?
See Residential Collection and Recycling.

How do I get a missed trash/recycling pick-up?
Call Residential Services at (505) 761-8100. Pick-up will be made within 24 hours or on the next business day. For more information on missed trash collection see Automated Trash Collection.

Why did I get a fuel surcharge on my bill?
There was not a rate increase on Solid Waste services; however, there is an approved fuel surcharge.

An ordinance was recently passed to apply a fuel surcharge to all refuse billings in order to compensate for the rising price of fuel. The surcharge goes into effect only when the cost of fuel exceeds $1.11 per gallon. The amount of the surcharge is based on the Solid Waste Department's fuel cost for each month. For further information please call (505) 761-8100.

What can I do if my trash cart is lost or damaged?
For replacement of damaged, lost, or stolen trash carts, call (505) 761-8100. Replacement will be made free of charge for the first occurrence unless a cart is lost or damaged through customer negligence. Each Additional replacement will cost $54.18. Roll-out carts have a specific number that is assigned to each address. Your cart will be delivered or repaired within 5 working days of your request.

Where do I get my trash and recycling bags?
You can redeem trash and recycling bag coupons or purchase trash and recycling bags in rolls at a variety of Albuquerque locations, including Solid Waste Management's main facility at 4600 Edith N.E. While clear plastic recycling bags are sold at these locations in rolls of thirty for a reasonable charge, any sturdy, clear plastic bag will suffice for curbside pick-up, including shopping bags. For more information, call (505) 761-8100 or see Recycling and Refuse Bags.

What do I do with large items (appliances, furniture)?
Residents can schedule a special pick-up by dialing "311" for Large Item pick up. Large item pick is free for Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department Customers ONLY.  Please note that theres is a fee to collect extra bags of garbage ($33.30 + $1/ minute loading).

Commercial customers must pay $33.30 + $1/minute loading fee. To arrange for a pick up please contact a customer service representative at (505) 761-8100. 

Where can I dispose of my old paint and other hazardous materials?
Find out how hazardous household wastes such as batteries, gasoline, paint, poisons, and cleaning agents can be disposed of safely by calling the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at (505) 345-1650. This service is provided to RESIDENTS ONLY

How do I dispose of used motor oil?
Collect your used oil in a clean, clear, dry plastic gallon jug and take it to one of the many collection points within the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County area. Many lube/oil change outlets, auto parts stores, and service stations accept used oil, as well as anti-freeze. For more information, call Albuquerque Environmental Health at (505) 768-2636 or 768-2482 TTY. Customers may also call the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at (505) 345-1650. This service is provided to residents only.

What are the dead animal pick-up procedures?
Placing dead animals in your trash cart or bag is prohibited. For information on how to dispose of dead animals, call the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, Animal Control Division at (505) 768-1975.

I am a business owner. How do I arrange to have garbage picked up at my business?
Solid Waste Management's Commercial Collections Division provides comprehensive trash collection services to commercial businesses in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. For more information, call the Solid Waste Management Department at (505) 761-8100.

What materials are collected curbside for recycling?
The Solid Waste Management Department collects aluminum, tin, aerosol cans, plastic bottles and containers with openings smaller than the base or widest part, all clean paper, including newspaper, and corrugated cardboard, including clean pizza boxes. Glass is not collected curbside, but is accepted at our recycling drop-off sites. See Recycling for more information.

Can I recycle my magazines and junk mail?
Yes. These are collected curbside along with other paper waste and accepted at our recycling drop-off sites.

I live in an apartment. How can I recycle my glass and other materials?
The Solid Waste Management Department maintains thirteen 24-hour recycling drop-off and waste disposal sites throughout the city for glass (all colors), paper, tin, aluminum, plastic bottles and containers with openings smaller than the base or widest part, and corrugated cardboard. Find the recycling drop-off site nearest you.

Where can I recycle motor oil, Styrofoam, construction materials, and other items not collected by the city?
See our guide for commercial and nonresidential recycling.

How can I recycle my phone books? 
The City of Albuquerque conducts a special phone book drop-off recycling event each year when the new phone books are delivered. More information on Telephone Book Recycling...

My office throws a lot of paper away. How can we recycle it?
Call the Solid Waste Management Department at (505) 761-8100 for information on recycling clean office paper and other materials at commercial businesses.

What type of plastics can be recycled?
All plastic bottles and containers with openings smaller than the base or widest part. These containers typically include pop bottles; milk, water, and juice jugs; cooking oil and liquor bottles; and detergent containers.

What happens to the recyclables after they are collected?
Recyclables collected curbside and at drop-off sites are transported to the Intermediate Processing Facility where they are separated, baled, and shipped off to be made into recycled products such as newspaper, building insulation, construction materials, and tin and aluminum cans.

How much does recycling cost the city and its residents?
Recycled goods sales bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year—approximately $800,000 during 2004. The balance remaining when this amount is subtracted from expenditures for the city's recycling program is covered by a small percentage of residents' monthly utility bills. The monthly charge for the city's recycling program in 1997 was $1.89.

Why should I recycle, anyway?
Recycling helps the economy and the environment by promoting economic development and employment, conserving natural resources, and reducing pollution. More information on recycling...