Bernalillo County, NM Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Bundle limit
- 4 ft long, 2 ft diameter max
- Container weight cap
- 150 lbs when full
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Open burning
- Prohibited without fire marshal permit
- Enforced by
- County Manager / Solid Waste Division
Summary
Bernalillo County requires tree trimmings and yard waste bundled to no more than four feet long and two feet wide for curbside pickup, with heavier debris needing county-approved containers instead of bags.
Tree trimmings and similar solid waste suitable for bundling will be tied in bundles not to exceed four feet in length and two feet in diameter.
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
Bernalillo County's mandatory solid waste program covers only the unincorporated county. Albuquerque, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and Tijeras run separate yard-waste programs. Under the residential collection rules, tree trimmings and similar yard waste must be bundled no longer than four feet and no wider than two feet in diameter to go out with regular collection. Loose grass clippings, leaves and small trimmings can go in a secured solid waste container, capped at 150 pounds full. Sharp or oversized yard debris needs a county-manager-approved container instead of a bag, and open burning of yard refuse is banned without a fire marshal permit.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant bundles or overweight containers can have collection denied; residents must then store the yard waste until the next scheduled pickup or haul it to a county convenience center themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply if I live in Albuquerque?
Can I burn yard trimmings instead of bundling them?
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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