Otero County, NM Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Otero County has no county-wide residential recycling program; its Code of Ordinances addresses recycling only through the Tire Recycling Center at its solid waste facility, governed by Chapter 210, Tires, Disposal of, adopted by Ord. No. 98-06 in 1998. Section 210-2.A sets a fee of $1 PTE, meaning $1 per tire equivalent, charged to any commercial person, entity or corporation that uses the center. Section 210-2.B defines that use as dumping waste tires or rubber products for recycling at the Otero County facility, and § 210-2.C defines commercial use specifically as dumping more than five tires within a one-month period, so residents dropping off five tires or fewer in a month are not charged the commercial fee.

Section 210-3 spells out the collection procedure: Otero County Convenience Station personnel staff the facility gate, stop every vehicle before it enters, count the tires being dumped, quote the fee, and accept cash, a company check, or a personal check, issuing a written invoice showing the date, tire count, and amount paid. Personnel keep a copy of every invoice, secure cash and checks in a lock box balanced daily against the invoices, and the Convenience Station Manager reports the daily balances to the County Manager by the close of business each Thursday and deposits the funds with the County Treasurer every day.

Sections 210-4 and 210-5 let the Convenience Station Manager resell dumped tires and bundles to interested buyers, setting the resale price at $1 PTE for single tires and $35 per bundle, with an invoice tracking the buyer, quantity, and amounts due and received.