Santa Fe, NM Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

1 SFCC 1987, Refuse Collection Authority, gives the city and its authorized agents the exclusive right within the service area to collect solid waste generally, with carved-out exceptions for nonresidential recyclables, dead animals, construction and demolition debris, and hazardous waste that the city cannot legally handle. Subsection (B) goes further for curbside recycling specifically, giving the city and its authorized agents the exclusive right to collect or gather residential curbside recyclables, meaning no private hauler may run a competing residential recycling route inside city limits.

3(C) requires acceptable recyclables to go directly into the automated container, while food and beverage glass must be taken to a designated drop-off location rather than placed curbside, and a long list of non-recyclables, including ceramics, Pyrex, light bulbs, clothing, electronics, green waste, Styrofoam, food waste, and plastic bags, is barred from the cart. 2(E) requires recycling containers to sit at least three feet from refuse containers and bags at the curb. 2(G) and (H).