Rio Rancho, NM Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Rio Rancho does not publish a backyard-composting ordinance, and the City's Green Waste, Compost & Mulch page provides no container requirements or restrictions for home composting - meaning residents are generally free to compost yard and kitchen waste on their own property, subject only to the City's general nuisance rules (Chapter 91) against conditions that create blight, odor, or harbor pests. For residents who do not compost at home, the City directs green waste to the Sandoval County Landfill Compost & Mulch Facility at 2708 Iris Rd. NE (505-867-0816), which accepts yard waste and produces finished compost and mulch available for purchase. Loads taken to the facility must be tarped; un-tarped loads are subject to additional charges, and the facility imposes a No Tarp Fee. The City stresses that green waste illegally dumped in open spaces constitutes illegal dumping regardless of whether the material is biodegradable, and such dumping can be reported through Report Rio Rancho. The City also bans open burning of leaves, green weeds, and nuisance vegetation within city limits, which makes composting or hauling to the county facility the proper disposal routes. Because home composting helps build soil for the xeriscape and low-water plantings the City encourages, it complements Rio Rancho's broader water-conservation goals.