Albuquerque, NM Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Out time
- No later than 7 a.m. on pickup day
- Earliest set-out
- No sooner than 12 hours before pickup
- Removal
- Off curb within 24 hours after pickup
- Placement
- Gutter, wheels against curb, clear of obstructions
- Cart weight cap
- Automated carts capped at 150 lbs
Summary
Albuquerque requires refuse and recycling carts out by 7 a.m. on collection day, no earlier than 12 hours prior, and removed from curbside within 24 hours after pickup, per the city's Solid Waste Management ordinance.
Residential refuse and recyclable carts shall be placed out for pick up no later than 7:00 a.m., on the regularly scheduled day but no sooner than 12 hours prior to pick up unless otherwise specified by the Mayor. ... Within 24 hours after scheduled pickup, automated collection carts shall be removed from curbside.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-95: Current through Ordinance 2026-010, passed 4-6-2026).
Full Breakdown
City code sets exact windows for curbside pickup: carts go out no sooner than 12 hours before collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day. Carts must sit in the gutter with wheels against the curb, clear of mailboxes, vehicles, and other obstructions. Miss the window, or let the truck pass because the cart was blocked, and residents must store refuse until the next regular pickup day or pay an added fee for requested curbside service. Emptied automated carts must come back off the curb within 24 hours of collection. The Solid Waste Management Department enforces these rules citywide.
Violations & Fines
Carts left out past 24 hours after pickup, set out too early, or blocked by vehicles or obstructions violate the ordinance; noncompliant residents must store waste until the next pickup or pay an added collection fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash cart out in Albuquerque?
What happens if I miss putting my cart out in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albuquerque
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