Trash & Recycling in Bernalillo County, NM (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Unincorporated Bernalillo County sets exact curbside hours: containers out no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before and by 7 a.m. on collection day, removed by 7 p.m.
Bernalillo County Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-36(f)(2)
Residential solid waste, when served by roadside collection, shall be placed out for collection no later than 7:00 a.m. on the regularly scheduled day but no sooner than 5:00 p.m. the evening prior to collection, unless otherwise specified by the county manager. Solid waste containers shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Bin Placement Rules
Unincorporated Bernalillo County residents must set trash carts out between 5 p.m. the evening before collection and 7 a.m. on collection day, keep them clear of obstructions at the roadway, and store them out of view the rest of the week.
Bernalillo County Trash Cart Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-36(f)
Residential solid waste, when served by roadside collection, shall be placed out for collection no later than 7:00 a.m. on the regularly scheduled day but no sooner than 5:00 p.m. the evening prior to collection, unless otherwise specified by the county manager. Solid waste containers shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection. ... Except for collection day, containers should be sto...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping solid waste anywhere outside approved collection times and places is unlawful in unincorporated Bernalillo County, and allowing waste to accumulate on a lot is declared a public nuisance.
Bernalillo County Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-42
(a)Dumping. No person shall discard solid waste anywhere outdoors within the boundaries of the county except at a time and place approved for collection of that person's solid waste under the terms of this article and regulations authorized by said sections or other provisions of this Code or ordinances of the county. No person shall place solid waste in the solid waste receptacle of another pe...
Yard Waste Collection
Bernalillo County requires tree trimmings and yard waste bundled to no more than four feet long and two feet wide for curbside pickup, with heavier debris needing county-approved containers instead of bags.
Bernalillo County Yard Waste Bundling Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-36(f)(1)
Tree trimmings and similar solid waste suitable for bundling will be tied in bundles not to exceed four feet in length and two feet in diameter.
Dumpster Rules
Commercial dumpster and roll-off placement in unincorporated Bernalillo County requires county manager site-plan approval, a paved concrete apron, and a sight shield screening containers within 80 feet of a public street.
Bernalillo County Dumpster Placement & Screening Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-38
At every commercial collection point which is within 80 feet of a public street, solid waste containers shall be properly maintained and largely shielded from view from such public street by wall, fence, earth berm, or evergreen trees or shrubs forming an appropriate sight barrier, which shall be termed a sight shield, as approved by the county manager.
Collection Schedule
Bernalillo County runs mandatory roadside trash collection in designated unincorporated service areas. Residents must set containers out no sooner than 5:00 p.m. the evening before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day, then pull them back in by 7:00 p.m.
Bernalillo County Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-36(f)(2)
Residential solid waste, when served by roadside collection, shall be placed out for collection no later than 7:00 a.m. on the regularly scheduled day but no sooner than 5:00 p.m. the evening prior to collection, unless otherwise specified by the county manager. Solid waste containers shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Recycling Rules
In unincorporated Bernalillo County, anyone who sets up a recyclable-materials collection point must keep it off the public right-of-way, screen it from view, and register it with the New Mexico Environment Department as a recycling facility.
Bernalillo County Recycling Collection Point Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 70-42(f)
(f)Accumulation for recycling. Notwithstanding other provisions of this article, any person may accumulate and collect recyclable materials for the purpose of recycling it, provided that any collection point:(1)Conforms to zoning articles and regulations;(2)Is not on public right-of-way;(3)Is constructed so that the rubbish is contained at the collection point in compliance with subsection (c) ...
Trash & Recycling by City in Bernalillo County
1 cities in Bernalillo County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Bernalillo County ordinances
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