Las Cruces, NM Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Sec. 25-143 governs what happens on the compliance side of the recycling program. A residential customer who chooses not to participate doesn't receive or retain a recycling container, but the program cost is still assessed monthly regardless. For customers who do have a container, SCSWA polices what goes in it: placing anything other than approved residential recyclable materials, or placing dangerous or hazardous waste, in a recycling container counts as a violation the authority can act on. When SCSWA determines a violation has occurred, it notifies the residential customer in writing.

After a minimum of two such written notifications for the same household, SCSWA is authorized to physically remove the recycling container and may assess additional charges on top of the standard fee. This two-strike removal process sits alongside the collection rules in Sec. 25-141 and 25-142, which require SCSWA or its designated contractor to be the only entity handling residential recyclables and set the every-other-week minimum pickup frequency; a removed container doesn't excuse a resident from the underlying program charge that continues regardless of participation status.