Can I put glass in the recycling cart in Albuquerque?

No. Glass must not be placed in the blue recycling cart. Take glass to one of the City's 11 drop-off sites with yellow glass bins or Eagle Rock Convenience Center. Use the Recycle Coach app to find the nearest location.

Where can I drop off hazardous waste in Albuquerque?

The HHWCC operated by Safety-Kleen is at 2720 Girard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Phone: (505) 884-2277. Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Free for City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County residents. Accepts paints, pesticides, automotive fluids, batteries, bulbs, and more.

What are the cart placement rules in Albuquerque?

Place carts in the street (not the sidewalk) with wheels and handles toward the curb, out by 7:00 a.m. At least 5 feet from obstacles. Lids fully closed. All trash must be in plastic bags. Remove carts within 24 hours after collection.

How do I report a missed pickup in Albuquerque?

Report within 24 hours via ABQ311 app, at cabq.gov/311/abq311, or by calling 311. SWMD will make pickup within 24 hours or the next business day.

Albuquerque Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Large Item 2026

Q: What day is trash pickup in Albuquerque?

Your collection day depends on your specific address. Look up your day at cabq.gov/solidwaste/trash-collection, use the ABQ311 app, or call 311. Trash and recycling are collected on the same day every week.

Q: What holidays affect trash collection in Albuquerque?

Only three holidays cause a one-day delay: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. All other federal holidays — MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veterans' Day — are fully normal service days in Albuquerque.

Q: How do I schedule large item pickup in Albuquerque?

Large item pickup is free for residential customers. Request via ABQ311 app, at cabq.gov/311/abq311, or by calling 311 at least 24 hours before your regular collection day. Up to 4 tires per appointment are accepted. Alternatively, take large items to a Convenience Center for $5.25 per load.

Find your Albuquerque Solid Waste collection day, recycling rules, large item pickup, and hazardous waste drop-off options.

City of Albuquerque · Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) · Updated April 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Albuquerque Collection Day

Select your trash pickup day to instantly see your full schedule — garbage, recycling, and large item pickup rules for Albuquerque residents.

👈 Select your day above to see your complete Albuquerque collection schedule.

⚠ Don’t know your day yet? Look up your exact address at cabq.gov/solidwaste, use the ABQ311 app, or call 311 (505-768-2000). All contact options ↓

At a Glance

Albuquerque Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides curbside trash and recycling to residential customers within city limits. Every home receives one 96-gallon black trash cart and one 96-gallon blue recycling cart, both collected weekly on the same day. Albuquerque does not have a mandatory curbside organics/composting program — yard waste and food scraps go in the black trash cart unless taken to a Convenience Center.

🗑

Garbage

Weekly

96-gal black cart, by address

♻

Recycling

Weekly

96-gal blue cart, single-stream

📦

Large Items

Free, on request

Schedule via 311 or ABQ311 app

⚠

HHW Drop-Off

Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat

Safety-Kleen HHWCC, free

🕐

Set-Out Time

By 7:00 a.m.

5 ft from all obstacles

⚠ City of Albuquerque limits only. SWMD serves properties within Albuquerque city limits. Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Lunas, and unincorporated Bernalillo County are not served by the City. Check cabq.gov/solidwaste or call 311 to confirm your address is in the service area.

🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how trash collection works across the US? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)

Two-Cart System

Albuquerque’s Two Carts — What Goes Where

Every SWMD-served home receives two 96-gallon color-coded carts, both collected on the same weekday every week. Unlike some cities, Albuquerque collects recycling weekly — no A/B week alternation. Note that glass does not go in the blue cart; it must be taken to a designated yellow-bin drop-off location.

♻

Blue Cart — Recycling

Paper, cardboard, cans, rigid plastic (#1–#7), cartons. Loose, never bagged. No glass — glass goes to yellow-bin drop-off sites. Weekly.

Weekly • Single-Stream • No Glass

🗑

Black Cart — Garbage

All household waste, yard waste, food scraps, plastic bags, diapers, pet waste, Styrofoam. All trash must be placed in plastic bags inside the cart.

Weekly • Rate-based

⚠ No curbside glass recycling in Albuquerque. Glass bottles and jars must NOT be placed in the blue recycling cart. Drop glass at one of the City’s 11 recycling drop-off sites equipped with yellow glass bins. Find the nearest location at cabq.gov/solidwaste/recycling or via the Recycle Coach app.

⏰ Set-Out Rules

All carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day (set out the evening before to be safe).
Place carts in the street with wheels and handles toward the curb.
At least 5 feet from other carts, mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked cars, low-hanging trees, and utility poles.
Keep cart lids fully closed. Do not overfill.
Remove carts from the street within 24 hours after collection.
All trash must be in plastic bags inside the black cart. Do not place loose trash in the cart.
Do not place hot ashes or coals in any cart.

📦 Shredded Paper — Special Rule

Shredded paper can go in the blue recycling cart, but it must be placed in a clear plastic bag (not a regular opaque trash bag) so it can be identified at the sorting facility. This is the one exception to the “no plastic bags in recycling” rule.

🔗 Related Guide New to the US waste system or unsure what goes in each bin? See: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)

Holiday Schedule

Albuquerque Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026

Albuquerque Solid Waste Management observes only three holidays with service suspension and a one-day delay: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. All other federal holidays are fully normal service days for Albuquerque residents. If the holiday falls on a weekend, no changes occur to the regular residential schedule.

Holiday	2026 Date	Impact	What Happens
New Year’s Day	Thu, Jan 1	1-Day Delay	Thu → Fri \| Fri (Black Friday) → Sat. Following week returns to normal.
MLK Day	Mon, Jan 19	Normal	SWMD works. All carts collected as usual.
Presidents’ Day	Mon, Feb 16	Normal	SWMD works. No delay.
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25	Normal	SWMD works. No delay.
Independence Day	Sat, Jul 4	Normal	Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact.
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7	Normal	SWMD works. No delay.
Veterans’ Day	Wed, Nov 11	Normal	SWMD works. No delay.
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26	1-Day Delay	Thu → Fri \| Fri (Black Friday) → Sat. Following week returns to normal.
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25	1-Day Delay	Fri → Sat. Mon–Thu that week are normal.

💡 Only three holidays affect Albuquerque pickup. New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day cause 1-day delays. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veterans’ Day are all fully normal service days in Albuquerque. All three Convenience Centers are also closed on these three holidays.

🔗 Related Guide Holiday delays confuse millions of US residents every year. For a national overview: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)

Recycling — Blue Cart

Albuquerque Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart

Albuquerque uses single-stream recycling collected every week in the blue cart on the same day as trash. All items must be clean, empty, and placed loose in the cart — never in plastic bags. The most important rule unique to Albuquerque: no glass in the blue cart. Use the free Recycle Coach app to look up any specific item.

✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart

Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, envelopes, office paper, paper bags, phone books
Cardboard — flattened before placing in cart
Aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans
Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and containers — #1 through #7 (rinsed)
Rigid plastic toys and small hampers
Milk cartons, juice cartons, broth cartons
Shredded paper — in a clear plastic bag only

🚫 Never in the Blue Cart

Glass bottles and jars → yellow-bin drop-off sites only
Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off
Styrofoam / polystyrene
Food waste or food-soiled items → black trash cart
Yard waste → black cart or Convenience Center
Electronics or TVs → call 311 for pickup or Eagle Rock e-waste
Batteries, paint, chemicals → HHWCC drop-off
Tanglers: hoses, cords, wire hangers, clothing
Construction or demolition debris

💡 No glass in the blue cart — ever. Glass breaks inside collection trucks and contaminates other recyclables. Albuquerque provides designated yellow glass drop-off bins at 11 locations across the city. Use the Recycle Coach app or visit cabq.gov/solidwaste/recycling to find the nearest glass drop-off site.

🔗 Related Guide Learn what the most common recycling mistakes are and how to avoid them nationwide: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)

Large Item Pickup

Albuquerque Free Large Item Pickup

SWMD offers free curbside large item pickup for all residential customers within Albuquerque city limits. There is no annual limit on free appointments. Items are collected on your regular trash collection day. Requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance, Monday through Saturday. No more than a standard pickup truck load may be collected per appointment.

📅 How to Schedule Free Large Item Pickup

Request online at cabq.gov/311/abq311/request-a-large-item-pickup, use the ABQ311 app, or call 311 (505-768-2000). Have an itemized list of items ready. Request must be made at least 24 hours before your collection day.
Place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your regular trash collection day. Do not place items out more than one day before.
Keep large items at least 5 feet from other carts, mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked cars, low-hanging trees, and utility poles.
Empty all appliances before placing them at the curb. Tape refrigerator and freezer doors shut. Do not leave food inside.
Contaminated items will not be collected. Items must be accessible and not blocked by vehicles or obstacles.

✅ Accepted Large Items (Free)

Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
Mattresses and box springs
Large appliances: refrigerator, freezer, AC, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer, water heater
Lawn mowers (drained of fluids), TVs and monitors
Doors, sinks, toilets, bathroom fixtures
Up to 4 tires per appointment

🚫 Not Accepted Curbside

Construction or demolition debris
Commercial or business waste
Hazardous materials → HHWCC (Safety-Kleen)
More than a standard pickup truck load per appointment
Contaminated or soiled items
Car engines or bodies

💡 Alternatively, use the Convenience Centers. Instead of scheduling curbside pickup, you can take large items directly to one of the three City Convenience Centers for a flat fee of $5.25 per load. Eagle Rock, Don Reservoir, and Montessa Park all accept large items. See the Convenience Centers section below for addresses and hours.

🔗 Related Guide Bulky pickup rules vary widely across the US. For a full national comparison: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)

HHW & Convenience Centers

Household Hazardous Waste & Convenience Centers

Albuquerque offers two types of special waste facilities: the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (HHWCC) for chemicals, paint, and electronics, and three Convenience Centers for trash drop-off and large item disposal. All are free for City of Albuquerque residents (Convenience Centers charge a small per-load fee).

⚖ Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (HHWCC) — Safety-Kleen

As of December 1, 2023, the HHWCC is operated by Safety-Kleen at a new location. Free for residents of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. No appointment needed.

Address: 2720 Girard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 • Phone: (505) 884-2277

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. • Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Accepts: paints, pesticides, insecticides, automotive fluids, solvents, cleaners, fluorescent bulbs, fire extinguishers, propane cylinders, and more. Does not accept commercial waste, radioactive materials, or ammunition.

🚩 Eagle Rock Convenience Center

6301 Eagle Rock NE (North off I-25 & Alameda to Eagle Rock)

Phone: 505-768-3925

Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (No entry after 4:30 p.m.)

Accepts recyclables. E-waste drop-off available here (disposal fees apply).

🚩 Don Reservoir Convenience Center

117 114th SW (West of 98th off West Central Ave.)

Phone: 505-768-3920

Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (No entry after 4:30 p.m.)

No recyclables accepted. Does not accept refrigerators.

🚩 Montessa Park Convenience Center

3512 Los Picaros SE (Rio Bravo West to Broadway, south to Bobby Foster Rd.)

Phone: 505-768-3930

Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat & Sun, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (No entry after 4:30 p.m.)

No recyclables accepted.

♿ E-Waste Drop-Off

TVs (flat-screen and CRT) cannot go in the blue cart. Call 311 for curbside TV pickup, or drop off at Eagle Rock Convenience Center. Disposal fees apply for e-waste at the Convenience Center.

Non-toxic small appliances with the power cord cut off may go in the blue recycling cart.

✅ Accepted at HHWCC

Paints (latex and oil-based)
Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides
Motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids
Solvents, degreasers, household chemicals
Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
Batteries (all types)
Fire extinguishers
Propane cylinders
Pool chemicals

🚫 Not Accepted at HHWCC

Commercial or business waste
Radioactive materials
Explosives or ammunition
Regular household trash or large appliances
Tires → take to Convenience Centers (up to 5)

⚠ Convenience Center fee: Trash drop-off at any Convenience Center costs $5.25 per load (residents and small commercial customers). Accepted payment: Cash, Check, Mastercard, Visa, and American Express. Vehicles must be under 2-ton rated capacity. All three Convenience Centers are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Apartments & Multi-Family

Apartments & Multi-Family Buildings in Albuquerque

Most apartment buildings in Albuquerque are served by SWMD or arrange collection through the City. Complexes with 25 or more units are part of the City’s Multi-Family Dwelling (MFD) recycling program and are required to provide recycling services to tenants. Complexes with fewer than 25 units may voluntarily participate.

🚚 Multi-Family Recycling (MFD Program)

Apartment complexes of 25+ units are required to provide recycling to residents under the City’s MFD program.
Complexes are provided with 6-yard lift bins or 96-gallon carts depending on space availability.
Contact your property management company for your building’s specific trash and recycling collection days and container locations.
For commercial trash and recycling service setup, call 505-761-8138.

Not sure if your building is enrolled? Call Solid Waste Management at 505-761-8138 or contact your property manager directly. All 11 recycling drop-off sites across the city are available to all residents including apartment dwellers.

Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Albuquerque

Confirm your collection day — look up your exact address at cabq.gov/solidwaste/trash-collection or use the ABQ311 app. Confirm your property is within Albuquerque city limits.
Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day cause 1-day delays. All other holidays are normal service days in Albuquerque.
Verify cart placement: out by 7:00 a.m., lids fully closed, in the street with handles toward the curb, at least 5 feet from all obstacles. All trash must be in plastic bags.
Report the missed pickup within 24 hours via the ABQ311 app, at cabq.gov/311/abq311, or by calling 311 (505-768-2000; outside Albuquerque: 505-768-2000).
SWMD will make pickup within 24 hours of your report, or on the next business day. For example, if you report on Friday, pickup will be made Monday.

💡 Excess trash or yard waste? If your cart is full or you have extra bags, SWMD can pick up excess residential trash for $8.87 and extra recycling for $9.04. Call 311 to arrange. Alternatively, take excess to a Convenience Center for $5.25 per load.

Local Tips

Albuquerque Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Albuquerque or Just Moved In?

To set up new trash and recycling service, call Solid Waste Management Billing at 505-761-8100. Staff will create an account and mail you an information packet. Two 96-gallon carts should be at your address within a few days. If carts are missing or damaged, the first replacement is free; call 505-761-8138. Download the Recycle Coach app to get your personalized collection calendar, reminders, and a full recycling guide for Albuquerque.

♿ Where to Recycle Glass in Albuquerque

Glass cannot go in the blue recycling cart. The City maintains 11 recycling drop-off sites across Albuquerque with yellow glass bins. Eagle Rock Convenience Center also accepts recyclables. Use the Recycle Coach app or visit cabq.gov/solidwaste/recycling for a map of all drop-off locations. Clothing and shoes can be donated to local charities rather than thrown away.

♿ Special Assistance for Elderly or Disabled Residents

SWMD provides special assistance trash and recycling pickup for elderly or disabled residents who cannot bring carts to the curb. A doctor’s certification is required. Download and complete the Residential Disability Form from cabq.gov/solidwaste and mail it to: Solid Waste Management Department, Attn: Customer Service, 4600 Edith NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

🚫 5 Common Mistakes Albuquerque Residents Make

Putting glass in the blue recycling cart — glass must go to yellow-bin drop-off sites
Forgetting that all trash must be in plastic bags inside the black cart
Placing carts on the sidewalk — they must be placed in the street with handles toward the curb
Missing that only three holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s) delay pickup — all others are normal
Not scheduling large item pickup in advance — it requires at least 24 hours’ notice via 311 or the ABQ311 app

Contact

Contact Albuquerque Solid Waste Management

Contact	Details
ABQ311 — General Solid Waste	📞 311 (within Albuquerque) or 505-768-2000 — missed pickups, large item scheduling, cart issues, all SWMD services
Billing & New Service	📞 505-761-8100 (new service setup) • 505-761-8138 (billing & account questions)
ABQ311 App & Web	cabq.gov/311/abq311 · Free iOS & Android app — large item requests, missed pickup reports, service lookup
SWMD Website	cabq.gov/solidwaste — collection day lookup, service info, recycling guidelines
Recycle Coach App	Free iOS & Android app for personalized Albuquerque collection schedule, item lookup, and recycling reminders
HHWCC (Safety-Kleen)	2720 Girard NE, Albuquerque • (505) 884-2277 • Mon/Wed/Fri 8 a.m.–2 p.m. • Sat 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Eagle Rock Convenience Center	6301 Eagle Rock NE • 505-768-3925 • 7 days, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (enter by 4:30 p.m.)
Don Reservoir Convenience Center	117 114th SW • 505-768-3920 • 7 days, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (enter by 4:30 p.m.)
Montessa Park Convenience Center	3512 Los Picaros SE • 505-768-3930 • Mon/Tue/Wed/Sat/Sun, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (enter by 4:30 p.m.)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Albuquerque Trash Pickup

Your collection day depends on your specific address. The City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department collects trash and recycling on the same day every week, but the day varies by address. Look up your day at cabq.gov/solidwaste/trash-collection, use the ABQ311 app, or call 311. You can also use the Collection Day selector at the top of this page once you know your day.

Visit cabq.gov/solidwaste/trash-collection and look up your address, download the free Recycle Coach app for a personalized schedule, use the ABQ311 app, or call 311 (505-768-2000). For billing or account questions, call 505-761-8138.

Recycling in Albuquerque is collected every week on the same day as trash — there is no A/B alternating week rotation. Both the 96-gallon black trash cart and the 96-gallon blue recycling cart are picked up weekly.

Only three holidays cause a one-day delay in Albuquerque: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If your pickup day falls on one of these holidays, collection shifts to the next day (e.g., Thursday becomes Friday, Friday becomes Saturday). All other federal holidays — MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veterans’ Day — are fully normal service days. If the holiday falls on a weekend, no changes occur.

No. Glass bottles and jars must NOT be placed in the blue recycling cart. Glass must be taken to one of the City’s 11 recycling drop-off sites equipped with yellow glass bins. Eagle Rock Convenience Center also accepts glass recyclables. Use the Recycle Coach app or visit cabq.gov/solidwaste/recycling for the nearest drop-off location.

Large item pickup is free for residential SWMD customers. Request online at cabq.gov/311/abq311/request-a-large-item-pickup, use the ABQ311 app, or call 311 at least 24 hours before your regular collection day. Place items curbside at least 5 feet from obstacles. Up to 4 tires per appointment are also accepted. No more than a standard pickup truck load per appointment. Alternatively, take large items to any Convenience Center for $5.25 per load.

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (HHWCC), operated by Safety-Kleen, is located at 2720 Girard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Phone: (505) 884-2277. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Free for City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County residents. Accepted: paints, pesticides, automotive fluids, solvents, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, fire extinguishers, and more. No appointment needed.

Place carts in the street (not the sidewalk) with wheels and handles toward the curb. Carts must be out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and removed within 24 hours after pickup. Place carts at least 5 feet from other carts, mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked cars, low-hanging trees, and utility poles. Keep lids fully closed — do not overfill. All trash must be placed in plastic bags inside the black cart.

Report missed pickups within 24 hours using the ABQ311 app, at cabq.gov/311/abq311, or by calling 311 (505-768-2000). SWMD will make the pickup within 24 hours or on the next business day. First, verify your collection day, check for holiday delays, and confirm carts were out by 7:00 a.m. with lids closed and placed in the street.

No. Albuquerque does not have a mandatory curbside organics or composting program. Food scraps and yard waste go in the black trash cart (in plastic bags). Residents can take yard waste and green materials to the City’s Convenience Centers. Some Convenience Centers accept green waste as part of the drop-off program.

Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

If the Collection Day Finder above hasn’t resolved your question, use the official City of Albuquerque resources below. Enter your address on the SWMD website or use the ABQ311 app to find your exact trash day, confirm you’re within city limits, and schedule large item pickup.

🔍 Official SWMD Lookup & Contact Options

All of the following are free and official City of Albuquerque resources for address-based schedule information:

🔍 Open SWMD Collection Day Lookup 📞 Call 311

SWMD Collection Day Lookup	cabq.gov/solidwaste/trash-collection — look up your address for exact day, service confirmation, and holiday schedule
ABQ311 Web & App	cabq.gov/311/abq311 — missed pickup reports, large item requests, cart issues. Free iOS & Android app available.
Call 311	Dial 311 within Albuquerque or 505-768-2000 from outside — open for all SWMD services, schedule questions, missed pickup reports
Billing & New Service	505-761-8100 (new service setup) • 505-761-8138 (billing and account questions)
Recycle Coach App	Free iOS & Android app — personalized collection calendar for your Albuquerque address, item lookup, and weekly reminders
SWMD Main Website	cabq.gov/solidwaste — all solid waste programs, recycling locations, HHW, Convenience Centers

You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The City of Albuquerque’s SWMD website is the most complete source for address-based schedule information.

Outside Albuquerque city limits? Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Lunas, and unincorporated Bernalillo County areas have their own waste providers. Contact Bernalillo County or your municipality directly. Rio Rancho residents should contact the City of Rio Rancho Public Works Department.

Other Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities

Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides:

🏭 San Francisco 🏭 San Jose 🏭 Sacramento 🏭 San Diego 🏭 New York City