Albuquerque, NM Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Bundle length limit
- 4 feet maximum
- Bundle diameter limit
- 2 feet maximum
- Bundle weight limit
- 40 pounds maximum
- Automated cart limit
- 150 pounds when full
- Curbside deadline
- Out by 7 a.m. on pickup day
Summary
Tree trimmings and other bundle-ready yard waste set out for city pickup must be tied into bundles no bigger than 4 feet long, 2 feet across, and 40 pounds each.
Tree trimmings and similar refuse suitable for bundling will be tied in bundles not to exceed four feet in length and two feet in diameter and 40 pounds in weight.
(d) Any areas served by manual collection must have recyclable materials properly bundled, packaged, and placed at the curb for collection, as determined by the Mayor.
(2) 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. Residents who put their refuse and/or recyclable carts out after the truck has been there, or have had their solid waste blocked or hidden from view by any object such as a vehicle, shall be responsible for storing their refuse and/or recyclable material until their next regular day of pick up, or pay an additional fee as determined by the Mayor for requested curbside collection service or disposing of it at an approved disposal facility unless otherwise specified by the Mayor.
(3) Residential refuse and recyclable material shall be placed in the street, against the curb but shall not be placed on the sidewalk and shall be clear of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. City issued automation collection carts containing refuse or recyclable material shall be placed in the gutter, wheels against the curb, near the right side of the driveway, or as close as
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
Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department collects yard waste as part of regular residential refuse service under Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 9-10-1-6. Tree trimmings and similar refuse suitable for bundling must be tied into bundles not exceeding four feet in length, two feet in diameter, and 40 pounds. Loose refuse placed in plastic bags for manual collection is capped at 40 pounds, while automated collection carts max out at 150 pounds when full. Bundles and carts go to the curb, wheels toward the curb, no earlier than 12 hours before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.
Violations & Fines
Violating the solid waste ordinance is a misdemeanor under § 9-10-1-99, punishable by up to a $500 fine or 90 days in jail under the general penalty section, § 1-1-99, with each day counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a brush or tree-trimming bundle be for Albuquerque pickup?
Can loose yard waste go in a plastic bag instead of being bundled?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albuquerque
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