Bernalillo County, NM Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest curbside placement
- 5:00 p.m. day before
- Latest curbside placement
- 7:00 a.m. collection day
- Container removal deadline
- 7:00 p.m. collection day
- Max container weight
- 150 pounds
- Applies to
- unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated Bernalillo County sets exact curbside hours: containers out no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before and by 7 a.m. on collection day, removed by 7 p.m.
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.
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
Sec. 70-36(f)(2) fixes the roadside collection window for unincorporated county residences: waste out no sooner than 5:00 p.m. the evening before and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day, with containers pulled back in by 7:00 p.m. that same day. Containers must sit close to the roadway, clear of traffic, and unobstructed by trees, walls, or vehicles (Sec. 70-36(f)(3)). Sec. 70-39(a) lets the county designate mandatory collection areas, and Sec. 70-39(b)(3) bars collection vehicles from working within 200 feet of a school within a half hour of opening or closing. This governs only unincorporated county areas; Albuquerque residents are served by the city's own Solid Waste Management Department, not this chapter.
Violations & Fines
Residents who miss removing containers by 7 p.m. or set them out early risk denial of service under the container-condition rule (Sec. 70-36(c)); the county manager can require excess accumulation be stored until the next collection day (Sec. 70-39(c)(1)).
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cart out in unincorporated Bernalillo County?
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
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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