Santa Fe, NM Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 6:00 p.m. night before collection day
- Curbside deadline
- 7:00 a.m. day of collection
- Removal deadline
- 8:00 a.m. the day after collection
- Cart clearance
- 3 feet from any object, § 21-4.3(F)
- Recycling-to-refuse spacing
- 3 feet apart, § 21-6.2(E)
Summary
Santa Fe residents may set refuse and recycling carts at the curb starting at 6:00 p.m. the night before collection and must pull them back in by 8:00 a.m. the day after. Automated carts need three feet of clearance from any other object.
Customers shall place city provided refuse containers and recycling containers by curbside between the hours of 6:00 p.m. the night before the designated day of collection and 7:00 a.m. on the day designated for collection. Refuse containers and recycling containers shall be removed from the curbside by 8:00 a.m. the day following the designated collection day. Customers who receive automated collection shall place containers at a minimum of three (3) feet from any other object (mailboxes, walls, parked vehicles, etc.), including refuse bags, and recycling containers so that personal property or city equipment do not get damaged, or city collection personnel do not get injured.
Full Breakdown
the following day. Subsection F requires customers on automated collection to place containers at least three feet from any other object, including mailboxes, walls, parked vehicles, refuse bags and recycling containers, and to avoid overhead obstacles like trees and utility lines, so trucks can safely operate the mechanical arm without damaging property or injuring collection staff. Where no curb exists, subsection G requires containers to sit on the property side, outside the road's traffic boundaries, on a flat, level surface. 2 requires recycling containers to sit at least three feet from refuse containers and bags.
Bagged refuse left outside a container must be securely tied under subsection H, and the customer is responsible for cleaning any spillage in the public right-of-way, whether caused by improper bagging or animal entry.
Violations & Fines
Damage caused by containers placed too close to obstacles or blocking access can result in a suspended pickup and a special service fee for a return visit under Section 21-4.6(F). General chapter violations, including repeated improper placement, escalate through the administrative fee schedule in Section 21-9.1, from the monthly service rate for a first offense up to $500 for a fourth or later violation at the same address within a calendar year, with municipal court citation available for continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I put my trash cart out in Santa Fe?
How far from my mailbox or car does my cart need to sit?
Who cleans up if my trash bag spills at the curb?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Fe
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