Albuquerque, NM — 25+ Unit Multifamily Recycling Compliance + Glass, E-Waste, Bulk & HHW Resources
Albuquerque multifamily recycling compliance:
City Code §9-10-1-10 requires the responsible party for a
multiple-family dwelling containing 25 or more units
to establish and manage a recycling collection program.
[1]
For a multiple-family dwelling, the Code defines the
responsible party as the
owner, manager or agent.
[2]
Albuquerque's program includes specific requirements for
resident notification, City collection service, City-owned recycling containers,
collection-point access and multifamily recycling operations.
Eagle Rock and other City drop-off locations can provide useful resident/self-haul options,
but they should not be treated as a substitute for the required recycling program at a qualifying 25+ unit property.
Property Manager Compliance Shortcut — Albuquerque
- 25+ dwelling units: establish and manage a City-compliant multifamily recycling program. [1]
- New residents: provide required written recycling information within 15 days. [1]
- Existing residents: provide written recycling information at least biannually. [1]
- Collection agent: the City of Albuquerque is the collection agent for the §9-10-1-10 multifamily recycling program. [1]
- Collection access: recyclables must be at the City-determined collection point and accessible no later than 6:00 AM on the scheduled collection day unless otherwise specified. [1]
- City recycling containers: multifamily recycling containers are City property assigned to the property; the responsible party has maintenance and cleaning duties. [1]
- Glass: keep glass out of Albuquerque's blue recycling cart and use designated yellow glass bins. [3]
- HHW: the Girard Safety-Kleen program is a residential household hazardous waste program; apartment maintenance and other commercial/property-generated hazardous waste require the appropriate commercial pathway. [4]
25+ Unit Multifamily Recycling Mandate
Albuquerque §9-10-1-10 provides that the responsible party for each multiple-family dwelling
containing 25 units or more
shall establish and manage a recycling collection program.
[1]
This is more than an obligation merely to “offer” recycling.
It is an affirmative multifamily recycling-program requirement.
The responsible party must work with the City to determine the
appropriate level of recycling collection service,
and the City serves as the collection agent under this program.
[1]
Properties with fewer than 25 units:
the Code allows the responsible party to
work with the City to establish a recycling program.
[1]
Smaller properties that do not participate in the multifamily collection program
may also direct eligible household recyclables to current City recycling drop-off locations,
but municipal drop-off should not be presented as the only recycling option available below the 25-unit threshold.
Mandatory Resident Recycling Notice — 15 Days + Biannual
A qualifying multifamily responsible party must provide residents
written notice that participation in the recycling program is mandatory.
[1]
New residents:
notice must be provided within
15 days after occupancy begins.
Existing residents:
written recycling information must be provided
at least biannually.
The notice must address the operational information residents need to participate,
including applicable:
• recyclable materials;
• preparation requirements;
• set-out requirements;
• recycling-container locations;
• contamination restrictions; and
• other program instructions.
[1]
Property-manager action:
place the 15-day new-resident notice and recurring biannual notice on the property's compliance calendar
and retain copies of the materials distributed.
City Collection Agent + 6:00 AM Accessibility Rule
Albuquerque's multifamily recycling ordinance provides that the
City will be the collection agent
for the required §9-10-1-10 program.
[1]
Recyclable material must be placed at the
collection point determined by the City
and must be accessible for collection
no later than 6:00 AM on the scheduled collection day,
unless otherwise specified by the Mayor.
[1]
If materials or containers are not properly accessible,
the property may have to retain the material until the next scheduled collection
or obtain additional service under applicable City procedures.
Property-manager action:
keep access roads, gates, enclosure doors and the approved collection point clear
so the City's collection vehicle can safely reach the recycling containers.
City-Owned Multifamily Recycling Containers
Albuquerque's multifamily recycling program uses commingled recycling containers that are
property of the City of Albuquerque and assigned to the property.
[1]
The responsible party must
maintain and clean the recycling containers.
City recycling containers may not be painted or otherwise altered.
Lost, stolen or damaged City containers may trigger replacement charges,
and using a recycling container for refuse may result in applicable collection/disposal charges.
[1]
Current City public guidance indicates that qualifying multifamily properties may receive
6-cubic-yard lift bins or 96-gallon recycling carts
depending on available space and the service configuration.
[5]
Collection Points, Enclosures & Screening
Albuquerque §9-10-1-7 regulates refuse/recycling collection points serving
commercial and multiple-family properties.
[6]
Collection, storage and pickup locations are subject to City approval/designation,
and applicable site/enclosure plans must comply with City Solid Waste requirements.
Containers located within
80 feet of a public street
are subject to screening from public view under the City's enclosure requirements.
[6]
Property-manager / developer action:
do not relocate a required multifamily recycling container or materially redesign a collection enclosure
without confirming that the location remains compatible with City access and Solid Waste requirements.
Multifamily Recycling Charge
Section 9-10-1-10 provides that the multifamily monthly recycling charge is based on the
residential recycling fee multiplied by the number of dwelling units,
regardless of occupancy.
[1]
The City's current public multifamily recycling page lists the recycling charge as
$3.58 per unit per month.
[5]
Rate-change caution:
municipal fees can change.
Confirm the current published Solid Waste rate before using the dollar amount in budgets,
resident communications or underwriting.
Albuquerque Solid Waste Enforcement — Up to $500 + 90 Days
Violations of Albuquerque's Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance are subject to the City's
misdemeanor penalty framework.
[7]
A violation may result in:
a fine up to $500;
imprisonment for up to 90 days;
or both.
[7]
Each separate violation constitutes a separate offense,
and upon conviction
each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.
[7]
Do not import the $1,000 or $2,000 penalty structures used by municipalities in other states
into an Albuquerque recycling page.
Glass — Keep It Out of the Blue Recycling Cart
Albuquerque instructs residents to
keep glass out of the blue recycling cart.
[3]
Glass bottles and jars can instead be taken to designated
yellow glass recycling bins
at City recycling drop-off locations.
[3][8]
Eagle Rock is one available City drop-off location,
but it is not Albuquerque's only glass recycling option.
The City maintains multiple recycling drop-off sites.
[8]
Property-manager action:
if a 25+ unit property's City multifamily program does not collect glass in its commingled container,
provide residents accurate instructions for the City's current yellow-bin glass program
rather than allowing glass contamination in the blue-cart/commingled stream.
Eagle Rock Convenience Center — Trash, Bulk, Recycling & Selected E-Waste Resource
Facility:
Eagle Rock Convenience Center
Address:
6301 Eagle Rock NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone:
505-768-3925
Hours:
seven days a week,
8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Vehicles arriving after
4:30 PM are not admitted.
[9]
Albuquerque currently lists a standard Convenience Center disposal charge of
$5.25 per load, including tax
for qualifying excess trash, yard waste and large-item self-haul.
[9]
Important:
do not characterize the $5.25 charge as a universal fee for ordinary recyclable-material drop-off
or every special stream.
Eagle Rock Limits — Apartment Turns & Maintenance
Current City Convenience Center guidance places limits and exclusions on self-haul material.
[9]
Current examples include:
• up to 10 mattresses;
• up to 2 appliances containing refrigerant with refrigerant intact;
• up to 5 automobile/small-truck tires per customer; and
• vehicle rated capacity must be below the City's stated two-ton limit.
Materials not accepted at the Convenience Center include categories such as:
household hazardous waste, medical/infectious waste,
construction and demolition debris, drywall, carpet,
roofing material, free liquids, fire extinguishers
and compressed-gas cylinders.
[9]
Property-manager caution:
apartment turns, contractor debris and property-generated commercial materials
should use the lawful generator-specific downstream pathway rather than assuming
that every resident-facing Convenience Center option applies to property operations.
Electronics — Eagle Rock Accepts Selected E-Waste
Albuquerque currently accepts selected electronic waste at Eagle Rock,
with applicable disposal charges.
[10]
Current listed examples include:
• computers and computer peripherals;
• laptops;
• LCD monitors;
• printers;
• servers;
• phones;
• hard drives; and
• other listed electronic equipment.
TV / CRT distinction:
TVs and CRT monitors should not be placed in the blue recycling cart,
but they should not automatically be represented as standard Eagle Rock e-waste acceptance.
Current City guidance directs residents to
call 311 for the appropriate TV/CRT collection pathway.
[10]
Property-owned, maintenance or contractor electronics should also be checked for
generator eligibility before being routed through a resident-facing City program.
Household Hazardous Waste — Safety-Kleen on Girard Blvd NE
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is operated at:
Safety-Kleen
2720 Girard Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
[4]
Current hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
[4]
HHW Eligibility — Residential Waste Only
The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County HHW program accepts
residential household hazardous waste
and is free to qualifying Albuquerque and Bernalillo County residents.
[4]
Current resident load limits are:
up to 125 pounds
and no more than
55 gallons per load.
[4]
Commercial/property-generated HHW is different.
Waste generated by businesses, public agencies, nonprofits,
apartment maintenance operations or contractors should not automatically be taken to the resident HHWCC.
Commercial hazardous waste must use an appropriate
state-permitted vendor.
[4]
Latex Paint — Use Albuquerque's Current Local Guidance
Albuquerque's own HHW guidance addresses latex paint.
[4]
Household latex paint may be taken to the HHW Collection Center.
The City also describes a household disposal option in which remaining latex paint is
evaporated or fully solidified using an absorbent material
before the hardened material is placed in ordinary trash.
Always follow the City's current instructions and the product's safety labeling
before drying, transporting or disposing of paint.
Albuquerque Multifamily Property Manager Compliance Checklist
- ☑ Confirm unit count: 25+ units trigger the mandatory §9-10-1-10 multifamily recycling program.
- ☑ Identify the responsible party: owner, manager or agent.
- ☑ Coordinate collection service with the City: the City is the collection agent for the mandatory multifamily program.
- ☑ New-resident notice: provide written recycling information within 15 days.
- ☑ Existing-resident notices: provide required recycling information at least biannually.
- ☑ Maintain City containers: keep assigned recycling containers clean and in serviceable condition; do not paint or improperly alter them.
- ☑ Keep refuse out of recycling containers: contamination can trigger operational and fee consequences.
- ☑ Maintain 6:00 AM access: City-determined collection points must be accessible on scheduled collection days.
- ☑ Confirm enclosure / collection-point approval: review City Solid Waste requirements before relocating or redesigning container areas.
- ☑ Keep glass separate: glass does not belong in the blue cart; direct residents to current yellow-bin locations.
- ☑ Separate TVs / CRTs from normal e-waste: follow the City's current 311 pathway instead of assuming Eagle Rock accepts every electronic device.
- ☑ Keep C&D separate: Eagle Rock does not accept ordinary construction/demolition debris such as drywall or carpet.
- ☑ Keep HHW separate: Safety-Kleen is a residential HHW pathway; commercial/property-generated hazardous waste requires the appropriate permitted vendor.
- ☑ Maintain compliance-support documentation: retain resident notices, service arrangements, City correspondence, container/enclosure information, contamination records and corrective-action documentation.
How National Doorstep Fits the Albuquerque Compliance Workflow
National Doorstep operates upstream from curbside and off-site hauling.
Porters move authorized resident-setout trash and recycling from apartment doors to
property-designated containers or collection points on private property
under ownership or authorized management approval.
National Doorstep does not replace Albuquerque's required downstream
City recycling collection arrangement for a qualifying 25+ unit property
and does not represent itself as an independent municipal collection agent.
Compliance Support:
National Doorstep can support onsite resident collection workflows,
separation instructions, contamination monitoring,
resident education and service documentation
while ownership/authorized management remains responsible for
the City-required multifamily recycling program,
written resident notices, City collection arrangements,
approved container/collection-point configuration and legal compliance.
Government-program boundary:
Eagle Rock, other City recycling drop-off sites,
yellow glass bins and the residential HHW Collection Center
should not be characterized as National Doorstep disposal destinations.
CTA:
Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Albuquerque Property
Compliance notice: This page is an operational resource for Albuquerque multifamily owners and property managers and is not legal advice or an official City determination. Ordinances, service levels, City fees, container types, collection-point requirements, accepted materials, convenience-center restrictions and HHW eligibility can change. Confirm current Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department guidance, the current Municipal Code and the property's actual City/private service arrangement before changing the property program or transporting special materials.
EEAT / AUTHORITATIVE ORDINANCE & POLICY SOURCES: [1] Albuquerque Code §9-10-1-10 — Multiple-Family Dwelling Recycling (25+ unit program; City collection; notices; 6 AM access; City containers; multifamily charge) | [2] Albuquerque Code §9-10-1-3 — Definitions (responsible party) | [3] City of Albuquerque — Acceptable Recycling Materials (no glass in blue cart; yellow-bin guidance; do-not-cart items) | [4] City of Albuquerque — Household Hazardous Waste (Safety-Kleen address/hours; residential eligibility; load limits; commercial-waste restriction; latex paint) | [5] City of Albuquerque — Commercial & Apartment Recycling (25+ unit requirement; current per-unit charge; 6-yard bins / 96-gallon carts) | [6] Albuquerque Code §9-10-1-7 — Commercial & Multiple-Family Collection Points (collection locations; access; enclosure/screening requirements) | [7] Albuquerque Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance — Penalties (misdemeanor; up to $500 / 90 days; daily offenses upon conviction) | [8] City of Albuquerque — Recycling Drop-Off Sites (multiple City recycling sites; glass drop-off availability) | [9] City of Albuquerque — Convenience Centers / Trash Drop-Off (Eagle Rock address; hours; $5.25 fee; material limits and exclusions) | [10] City of Albuquerque — Electronic Waste (Eagle Rock e-waste categories; fees; TV/CRT guidance) | [11] Albuquerque Code — Collection / Conveyance Authority (municipal collection framework and applicable exceptions)
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County apartment owners, asset managers and property managers: solid-waste and recycling obligations vary significantly by jurisdiction. The City of Albuquerque has a specific mandatory multifamily recycling program for multiple-family dwellings containing 25 or more units, while Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Tijeras and unincorporated Bernalillo County operate under different solid-waste, sanitation and local-service frameworks.
Under Albuquerque Code §9-10-1-10, the responsible party for a qualifying 25+ unit property must establish and manage a recycling collection program, coordinate the appropriate service level with the City, provide required resident notifications, maintain City-assigned recycling containers and make recyclables accessible at the approved collection point.
Jurisdiction matters: Rio Rancho and Corrales are important Albuquerque metro markets, but they are primarily in Sandoval County and should not be presented as Bernalillo County jurisdictions. They are included below only as nearby regional operating markets.
Property-manager compliance shortcut:
Inside Albuquerque + 25 or more units? Apply §9-10-1-10's mandatory multifamily recycling program, written-notice requirements, City collection arrangement, 6:00 AM accessibility rule and City-container requirements.
Inside Albuquerque + 9 or more units on one site? Also review the separate commercial-refuse-container provisions under §9-10-1-6. The refuse-container threshold is not the same as the 25+ recycling threshold.
Los Ranchos? Apply the Village solid-waste service framework. Recycling may be implemented by the Village, but the current Code does not create Albuquerque's 25+ apartment recycling mandate.
Unincorporated Bernalillo County or Tijeras? Do not import Albuquerque's 25-unit threshold. Confirm the current local solid-waste, nuisance, zoning and collection requirements applicable to the particular property.
At a Glance: Albuquerque vs. Bernalillo County Area
City of Albuquerque
- 25+ units: mandatory multifamily recycling program.
- Responsible party: owner, manager or agent.
- City serves as recycling collection agent.
- New-resident recycling notice: within 15 days.
- Existing-resident notice: at least biannually.
- Recycling accessible by 6:00 AM on scheduled collection day.
- Multifamily commingled recycling containers are City property assigned to the property.
- Current City-published recycling rate: $3.58 per unit per month, subject to future rate changes.
Bernalillo County Area
- Los Ranchos: Village solid-waste system expressly includes apartments and apartment complexes.
- Los Ranchos recycling provision says the Village may implement recycling; it is not Albuquerque's unit-triggered apartment mandate.
- Unincorporated Bernalillo County: current County Code contains solid-waste, nuisance and stormwater controls; no Albuquerque-style 25+ unit recycling threshold was verified in the current County sources reviewed.
- Tijeras: no current apartment-specific recycling threshold was verified in the municipal sources reviewed.
- Rio Rancho / Corrales: nearby metro jurisdictions primarily in Sandoval County; separate local solid-waste rules apply.
Albuquerque Multifamily Property-Manager Compliance Triggers
Swipe or scroll horizontally. The trigger column remains fixed.
| Trigger | Requirement | Property-Manager Action | Authority / Operating Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25+ Dwelling Units | Responsible party must establish and manage a multifamily recycling collection program. | Confirm enrollment/service configuration with Albuquerque Solid Waste Management. | §9-10-1-10(A) |
| Responsible Party | Multifamily duties attach to the owner, manager or agent under the applicable definition. | Assign internal responsibility for notices, container condition, access and City coordination. | Albuquerque Code definitions + §9-10-1-10 |
| New Resident | Written recycling notice required within 15 days. | Build the recycling notice into move-in workflow. | §9-10-1-10(A)(4) |
| Existing Residents | Written recycling notice no less frequently than biannually. | Calendar two resident recycling communications each year. | §9-10-1-10(A)(4) |
| Required Notice Content | Notice addresses accepted materials, preparation, set-out requirements, container locations, contamination prohibitions and other program requirements. | Keep resident-facing instructions consistent with current City program requirements. | §9-10-1-10(A)(4) |
| Collection Agent | City of Albuquerque serves as the collection agent. | Work with the City to determine appropriate collection-service level. | §9-10-1-10(A)(3) |
| Collection Day | Recyclables must be at the City-determined collection point and accessible no later than 6:00 AM. | Keep gates, drives, enclosure doors and container access unobstructed. | §9-10-1-10(B) |
| Recycling Containers | Multifamily commingled containers are City property assigned to the property. | Maintain and clean containers; do not paint or alter City recycling containers. | §9-10-1-10(B)(3) |
| Contaminated Container | Use of the recycling container for refuse may trigger a collection/disposal charge. | Train residents and monitor contamination before collection day. | §9-10-1-10(B)(4) |
| 9+ Units — Refuse | Separate from the recycling rule: nine or more multiple-family dwellings on one site fall under Albuquerque's commercial-refuse-container provision. | Do not confuse the 9+ refuse-container threshold with the 25+ recycling mandate. | §9-10-1-6(D) |
| Collection Point / Enclosure | Applicable commercial/multifamily collection locations are City designated/approved. Containers within 80 feet of a public street are subject to screening rules. | Confirm site/enclosure approval before relocating containers or materially altering the collection area. | §9-10-1-7 |
Mandatory Albuquerque resident-notice cadence:
For qualifying multifamily programs, written notice is required within 15 days for new residents and at least biannually for existing residents.
The notice must communicate what is recycled, how material is prepared, set-out requirements, recycling-container locations, contamination prohibitions and other program requirements.
Albuquerque Container & Collection-Point Operations
City Recycling Containers
Multifamily commingled recycling containers are assigned to the property but remain City of Albuquerque property.
The responsible party must maintain and clean the containers, and they may not be painted or altered.
Lost, stolen or damaged containers may result in a replacement fee.
Collection Point
Recyclables must be placed at the City-determined collection point and accessible by 6:00 AM on collection day.
Blocked or inaccessible material may have to remain until the next collection or may require additional paid service.
Enclosures / Site Design
Albuquerque §9-10-1-7 regulates commercial and multifamily collection locations.
Collection points within 80 feet of a public street are subject to screening, and applicable site/enclosure plans require City review.
Existing legacy collection sites may have different enclosure obligations; material changes to a property can trigger additional review.
Current Albuquerque program information:
The City's current Commercial and Apartment Recycling page lists the multifamily recycling rate as $3.58 per unit per month and states that qualifying properties may receive 6-yard lift bins or 96-gallon recycling carts depending on available space.
Rates and operational configurations can change. Verify the current City rate and container configuration before budgeting or publishing a permanent dollar amount.
Albuquerque Solid-Waste / Recycling Penalty Framework
Section 9-10-1-99 makes a violation of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Ordinance a misdemeanor subject to Albuquerque's general penalty provision.
- Fine up to $500.
- Imprisonment up to 90 days.
- Or both.
- Each separate violation constitutes a separate offense.
- Upon conviction, each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.
Do not describe Albuquerque as having a general escalating civil recycling-fine ladder unless a different, specifically applicable provision establishes one.
Albuquerque §9-10-1-99 — Penalty | Albuquerque §1-1-99 — General Penalty
Bernalillo County Jurisdictions — Property Manager Operating Notes
The following table separates the actual Bernalillo County jurisdictions from neighboring Albuquerque metro markets. Albuquerque's 25+ unit recycling requirement should not be applied automatically outside Albuquerque city limits.
Swipe or scroll horizontally. The jurisdiction column remains fixed.
| Jurisdiction | Apartment / Multifamily Rule | Solid-Waste / Recycling Framework | Owner / Manager Priority | Enforcement / Risk Note | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Albuquerque |
25+ units:
mandatory multifamily recycling program under §9-10-1-10.
Less than 25 units may work with the City to participate voluntarily. |
City is the recycling collection agent.
Written notice within 15 days to new residents and at least biannually to existing residents. Recycling containers are City property and must be accessible by 6:00 AM. |
Maintain notices, container condition,
contamination controls, approved collection location
and City access.
Do not confuse the 25+ recycling threshold with the separate 9+ commercial-refuse-container rule. |
Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance violations: misdemeanor framework with up to $500 and/or 90 days; continuing days become separate offenses upon conviction. |
§9-10-1-10 Multifamily Recycling
§9-10-1-7 Collection Points §9-10-1-6 Precollection Practices |
| Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque |
The Village solid-waste definition of
premises expressly includes apartments and apartment complexes.
No Albuquerque-style 25+ apartment recycling mandate appears in §13.2.9. |
Village or authorized contractor provides the local solid-waste framework.
Solid waste is collected at least once per week. Recycling provision states that the Village may implement a recycling program and may require separation into designated receptacles. |
Keep waste in authorized containers,
prevent accumulation,
maintain regular collection
and follow the Village/contractor's current recycling instructions if a recycling program is in effect.
Bulky waste requires special arrangements with the Village contractor. |
Each day's violation may constitute a separate offense.
Unpaid solid-waste/recycling collection charges may result in assessment and lien proceedings. |
Los Ranchos Chapter 13, Article 2
§13.2.9 Recycling §13.2.12 Penalties / Liens |
| Unincorporated Bernalillo County |
No Albuquerque-style
25+ unit apartment recycling threshold
was verified in the current County Code sources reviewed.
Do not apply §9-10-1-10 outside Albuquerque city limits. |
County Code includes Chapter 70 — Solid Waste, property-nuisance controls and stormwater restrictions addressing improper waste accumulation/disposal. | Confirm the property's approved solid-waste collection arrangement, prevent overflow/illegal accumulation, keep contractor and maintenance waste out of drainage systems and review zoning/development requirements for collection areas. | County nuisance and environmental enforcement may address unlawful accumulation, dumping and waste conditions even where no Albuquerque-style recycling threshold applies. |
Bernalillo County Chapter 70 — Solid Waste
Chapter 11 — Property Nuisance Abatement |
| Village of Tijeras | No current apartment-specific recycling mandate or Albuquerque-style unit threshold was verified in the municipal sources reviewed. | Tijeras maintains its own Code of Ordinances and separately posts newly adopted ordinances that may not yet be incorporated into the codified text. | Confirm the current Village Code, current collection arrangement and any property-specific zoning/site-plan conditions before describing recycling, container or multifamily duties as mandatory. | Avoid categorical claims that Tijeras has no relevant regulation; verify current ordinances and uncodified amendments before a program change. |
Tijeras — Ordinances & Resolutions
Tijeras Code of Ordinances |
Nearby Albuquerque Metro Markets — Outside Bernalillo County
Rio Rancho and Corrales are included for regional property-management relevance, but they should not be labeled Bernalillo County jurisdictions.
Swipe or scroll horizontally. The municipality column remains fixed.
| Municipality | County / Classification | Property-Manager Operating Rule | Recycling Qualification | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho |
Primarily Sandoval County.
Included because it is a major Albuquerque metro multifamily market. |
Chapter 50 uses commercial solid-waste requirements for multifamily properties
above the local residential threshold.
Property managers should confirm the current commercial container, location, access and service requirements with the City/franchise provider. |
No Albuquerque-style 25+ unit mandatory multifamily recycling program was identified in the Chapter 50 provisions reviewed. Recycling should be evaluated under the current City/franchise service arrangement. |
Rio Rancho Chapter 50 — Solid Waste
City of Rio Rancho |
| Corrales |
Primarily Sandoval County.
Chapter 30 classifies apartment houses with more than two living units as commercial businesses for solid-waste purposes. |
Property owners have responsibilities for solid-waste receptacle placement
and preventing spill/blow/scatter conditions.
Bulk trash, lumber, concrete, trees, scrap metal and auto parts are handled by the owner/occupier or through a special contractor arrangement. |
No Albuquerque-style unit-triggered multifamily recycling mandate was verified in current Chapter 30. Do not represent private recycling as a statutory Albuquerque-equivalent program. | Corrales Chapter 30 — Solid Waste Management |
Legal requirement vs. portfolio best practice:
Albuquerque's 25+ unit recycling program, 15-day/biannual notices, City container rules, 6:00 AM accessibility requirement and applicable collection-point requirements are legal requirements.
A portfolio owner may voluntarily use similar signage, resident education and recycling procedures at properties in Los Ranchos, Tijeras, unincorporated Bernalillo County, Rio Rancho or Corrales. That can be a useful operating standard, but it should not be represented as the local legal requirement unless the applicable jurisdiction actually requires it.
Albuquerque & Bernalillo County Multifamily Compliance Checklist
Swipe or scroll horizontally. The task column remains fixed.
| Task | Property-Manager Action | Jurisdiction Qualification | Recommended Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction | Verify whether the property is inside Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, Tijeras, unincorporated Bernalillo County or another regional municipality. | Albuquerque's §9-10-1-10 applies only inside the City of Albuquerque. | Parcel/jurisdiction record and current municipal Code link. |
| ☑ Confirm Unit Count | Verify legal dwelling-unit count and building/site configuration. |
Albuquerque:
• 25+ units → mandatory recycling program; • 9+ multiple-family dwellings on one site → separate commercial-refuse-container rule. |
CO, rent roll and property records. |
| ☑ City Recycling Service | For Albuquerque 25+ properties, coordinate the appropriate recycling-service level with the City. | City is the collection agent under §9-10-1-10. | City service records, container assignments and correspondence. |
| ☑ New-Resident Notice | Deliver required recycling information within 15 days. | Albuquerque 25+ program. | Move-in packet, email or resident-portal record. |
| ☑ Biannual Notice | Provide current recycling information at least twice each year. | Albuquerque qualifying multifamily program. | Dated notices and distribution records. |
| ☑ Notice Content | Cover accepted materials, preparation, set-out, container location, contamination prohibitions and other required program rules. | Required by Albuquerque §9-10-1-10. | Current resident recycling guide. |
| ☑ 6:00 AM Access | Keep the approved recycling collection point accessible by 6:00 AM. | Albuquerque City collection. | Gate/access procedure and collection schedule. |
| ☑ City Containers | Maintain and clean City-assigned multifamily recycling containers. Do not paint or materially alter them. | Albuquerque §9-10-1-10. | Container inventory and condition photos. |
| ☑ Prevent Contamination | Keep ordinary refuse out of recycling containers. | Albuquerque may charge collection/disposal fees when a commingled recycling container is used for refuse. | Contamination notices and corrective-action records. |
| ☑ Collection Point / Enclosure | Confirm City approval before relocating containers or materially changing the enclosure/site configuration. | Albuquerque §9-10-1-7; legacy sites may have different enclosure obligations. | Approved site plan, enclosure plan and City correspondence. |
| ☑ Los Ranchos Service | Confirm current Village/contractor collection and recycling instructions. | Village Code includes apartments, requires regular solid-waste service, but says the Village may implement recycling. | Village/contractor service record and current instructions. |
| ☑ Unincorporated County | Prevent unlawful waste accumulation, dumping and stormwater exposure; confirm lawful collection/disposal arrangements. | No Albuquerque 25+ recycling threshold should be imported into County jurisdiction. | Hauler agreement, enclosure inspection records and applicable County approvals. |
| ☑ Tijeras Verification | Check current codified and newly adopted Village ordinances before publishing a local mandate. | No apartment-specific recycling threshold was verified in the current sources reviewed. | Current Municode page and Clerk/Village confirmation if needed. |
| ☑ Regional Portfolio | Treat Rio Rancho and Corrales as separate Sandoval County jurisdictions. | Albuquerque rules are not automatically controlling there. | Municipality-specific solid-waste service documentation. |
| ☑ Organized Compliance-Support File | Retain notices, service documents, container/enclosure records, contamination issues and corrective actions. | Documentation supports operations but does not guarantee an inspection outcome. | Central digital compliance-support folder. |
How National Doorstep fits the Albuquerque / Bernalillo County waste system:
National Doorstep operates onsite and upstream from curbside/off-site hauling. Porters move authorized resident-setout trash and recycling from apartment doors to property-designated containers or collection points on private property under ownership or authorized management approval.
National Doorstep does not replace Albuquerque's City collection role under the 25+ unit multifamily recycling program and does not replace a property's municipality-approved or privately contracted downstream solid-waste/recycling service.
Compliance Support: National Doorstep can support resident education, onsite collection workflows, contamination monitoring and service documentation while ownership/authorized management remains responsible for required City notices, approved collection-point configuration, municipal service coordination, applicable fees and legal compliance.
Need a multifamily waste and recycling operational review in Albuquerque or the Bernalillo County market? Request a Free Compliance Support Review . We can help management review resident collection workflows, source-separation instructions, container configuration, contamination controls and organized compliance-support documentation while keeping City collection and downstream hauling responsibilities clearly separated.
EEAT / AUTHORITATIVE ORDINANCE & POLICY SOURCES:
[1] City of Albuquerque — §9-10-1-10 Multiple-Family Dwelling Recycling
(25+ unit mandate; City collection agent; 15-day/biannual notices;
6 AM access; City-owned containers; per-unit fee structure)
[2] City of Albuquerque — §9-10-1-7 Commercial & Multifamily Collection Points
(site plans; enclosures; screening; access; location approval)
[3] City of Albuquerque — §9-10-1-6 Precollection Practices
(9+ unit commercial-refuse-container rule)
[4] City of Albuquerque — Commercial & Apartment Recycling
(current $3.58/unit rate; 6-yard bins / 96-gallon carts)
[5] Albuquerque §9-10-1-99 — Solid Waste Penalty
[6] Albuquerque §1-1-99 — General Penalty
(up to $500 / 90 days; continuing-day rule upon conviction)
[7] Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque — Chapter 13, Article 2 Solid Waste
(apartments included; regular collection; containers; fees)
[8] Los Ranchos §13.2.9 — Recycling
(Village may implement recycling program)
[9] Los Ranchos §13.2.12 — Penalties, Assessments & Liens
[10] Bernalillo County — Chapter 70 Solid Waste
[11] Bernalillo County — Chapter 11 Property Nuisance Abatement
[12] Bernalillo County — Stormwater / Improper Waste Disposal Controls
[13] Village of Tijeras — Current Ordinances & Resolutions
[14] Village of Tijeras — Code of Ordinances
[15] City of Rio Rancho — Chapter 50 Solid Waste
[16] Village of Corrales — Chapter 30 Solid Waste Management
(apartment houses over two units classified as commercial businesses)
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
