Bernalillo County, NM Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 5:00 p.m. evening before collection
- Latest set-out
- 7:00 a.m. on collection day
- Must be back by
- 7:00 p.m. collection day evening
- Max container weight
- 150 pounds when full
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only, not Albuquerque
Summary
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.
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 stored inside a garage or other enclosure, at the side of the house, or in a convenient location such as the yard of the residence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
Bernalillo County Code § 70-36(f) governs residential solid waste containers for roadside collection in the unincorporated county. Carts must go out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the evening before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day, then come back in by 7:00 p.m. that same evening. Containers must sit as close to the roadway as possible, clear of trees, shrubbery, walls, fences and vehicles, and stay visible and accessible to the crew. On every other day the code directs residents to store the cart inside a garage or other enclosure, at the side of the house, or elsewhere in the yard. This applies only to the unincorporated county. Albuquerque runs its own solid waste collection system under separate city code.
Violations & Fines
Non-conforming containers can have collection denied under § 70-36(c); disregarding the placement, set-out, or storage rules violates the article and is a misdemeanor under § 70-44, with each day counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
Where should my cart go between pickups?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico trash & recycling overview
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