Bernalillo County, NM Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to state max
- Each day
- Counted as separate offense
- Enforcement
- County manager issues notice of violation
- Cleanup
- County can clean site, lien property
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only, not Albuquerque
Summary
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.
(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 person without permission.(b)Unauthorized accumulation. It shall be unlawful to allow any solid waste to collect or accumulate on any lot or other premises within the county.
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
The county code bans dumping solid waste anywhere outdoors except at times and places set for that person's own collection service, and bars dumping waste in someone else's container without permission. Waste scattered or left to accumulate on a lot is a nuisance. Violators get a notice of violation; if they miss the deadline, the county sends in a crew, bills the owner, and can lien the property. A conviction is a misdemeanor punishable up to the maximum state-statute penalty, with each day of continuing violation counted as a separate offense. This applies only in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Albuquerque enforces its own code.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor conviction under Sec. 70-44, penalty up to the maximum state-statute amount; each day of continued dumping or unremedied accumulation counts as a separate offense, plus cleanup costs and a property lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is illegal dumping a crime in Bernalillo County?
What happens if I don't clean up dumped waste after a notice?
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
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