Santa Fe, NM — 16+ Unit Multifamily Waste & Recycling Compliance + BuRRT, Glass, E-Waste, Bulk & HHW Resources
Santa Fe multifamily property managers:
City Code Chapter XXI defines
“multi-family residential” as 16 or more dwelling units on one lot
and treats those properties as
nonresidential/commercial solid-waste and recycling generators
for purposes of the City's Environmental Services rules.
[1]
Santa Fe does not use an Albuquerque-style rule requiring every apartment property above a stated threshold
to maintain a separate all-material onsite recycling program.
However, qualifying 16+ unit properties are subject to
commercial/multifamily container, collection-point, enclosure, service and recycling rules,
and Santa Fe Code separately provides that
food and beverage glass shall be recycled at designated drop-off locations.
[1]
The
Buckman Road Recycling & Transfer Station (BuRRT)
is an important Santa Fe County recycling, e-waste, bulk and hazardous-waste resource,
but it should not be characterized as a substitute for a property's own Chapter 21 service and enclosure responsibilities.
[2]
Property Manager Compliance Shortcut — Santa Fe
- 16+ units on one lot: Santa Fe classifies the property as multi-family residential and treats its solid waste and recyclables as nonresidential/commercial streams. [1]
- Service setup: commercial/multifamily service requests specify container size/type and collection frequency. [1]
- Container location: non-curbside containers and placement are subject to City approval. [1]
- Enclosures: keep collection enclosures free of obstruction and use them only for solid-waste or recycling containers. [1]
- Glass: never place food/beverage glass in the blue mixed-recycling cart. [1][3]
- Commercial recycling: property-managed 16+ unit recycling should use the applicable City commercial-recycling or authorized downstream pathway; do not route commercial/property loads to a residential-only drop-off center.
- HHW: resident household hazardous waste and property/business-generated hazardous waste have different eligibility requirements. [4][5]
Santa Fe Multifamily Rule — 16+ Units Are Nonresidential for Chapter 21
Santa Fe Chapter XXI defines
multi-family residential
as
16 or more dwelling units on one lot.
[1]
The Code also defines
nonresidential solid waste
and
nonresidential/commercial recyclables
to include material generated by multi-family residential units.
[1]
Property-manager implication:
a 16+ unit Santa Fe apartment community should not automatically be managed under the City's
single-family residential curbside rules.
The commercial/multifamily service provisions of Chapter 21 must be reviewed for the property's
actual refuse and recycling configuration.
Commercial & Multifamily Service — Container Size, Frequency & Enclosures
Santa Fe §21-4.6 establishes conditions of service for
commercial and multi-family residential properties.
[1]
The property service request must identify:
• the size of the container;
• the type of container; and
• the frequency of service.
The specific refuse-container site and enclosure must conform to the
City's incorporated solid-waste facility standards.
Enclosures and containers must remain free from blockage or obstruction.
Collection enclosures must be used
exclusively for storing solid-waste or recycling containers
rather than as general apartment-maintenance storage.
[1]
Non-City Containers — Approval + Owner Maintenance
Santa Fe §21-4.5 provides that
containers not owned by the City must be approved by the City before use
and their placement must also be approved before use.
[1]
Maintenance of a container not owned by the City is the
sole responsibility of the container owner.
Property-manager action:
before replacing, relocating or materially changing a private dumpster,
recycling bin or collection configuration,
confirm that the container and location remain compatible with the applicable City approval.
Development & Remodeling — Solid-Waste / Recycling Facility Design
Santa Fe Chapter XXI incorporates
Solid Waste Management Facility Design Standards
for the design and construction of enclosures and other facilities associated with
solid-waste and recycling containers.
[1]
These standards are relevant during new development,
redevelopment and applicable remodeling/building-permit review.
Property-manager / developer action:
verify access, slab, enclosure, vehicle-clearance and container-location standards
during site planning rather than attempting to correct an incompatible waste enclosure after construction.
Santa Fe Recycling — Commercial / Multifamily Operating Rules
Santa Fe's Code establishes a commercial recycling service class for
nonresidential establishments,
which includes the City's defined multi-family residential class.
[1]
Where commercial recycling collection service is used,
acceptable recyclables may be commingled in the appropriate rolling cart or recycling dumpster,
except food and beverage glass
and other materials excluded from the City's mixed-recycling program.
Commercial recycling containers must be clearly distinguishable from refuse containers,
and storage of recyclables may not create a nuisance or public-health condition.
[1]
The City provides and maintains applicable commercial recycling bins/carts under its rate structure
and approves the placement site for City commercial recycling containers.
[1]
Contamination — Commercial Recycling Can Trigger Added Service Charges
Santa Fe's incorporated refuse and recycling rate schedule includes
additional per-service charges when a commercial recycling cart contains more than 10% non-recyclable material.
[1]
Because the City's rate schedule contains service/container-specific charges and can be amended,
verify the
current applicable contamination fee
before publishing a permanent dollar amount or budgeting the charge.
Property-manager action:
clear resident instructions, contamination monitoring and corrective notices can reduce both
recycling rejection and avoidable service charges.
Glass — Keep Food & Beverage Glass Out of Mixed Recycling
Santa Fe Code §21-6.2 states:
food and beverage glass is to be recycled at designated drop-off locations.
[1]
The City's current public recycling guidance likewise states:
glass is not accepted in the blue recycling cart.
[3]
Accepted mixed-recycling loads therefore should not contain food/beverage glass.
Current resident guidance:
the City's glass FAQ also says that if an individual resident cannot transport glass to a drop-off site,
that resident may place the glass in the green trash cart.
[3]
Because the Code and resident-facing FAQ use different formulations,
property managers should use
designated glass recycling as the compliance baseline,
never place glass in mixed blue-cart recycling,
and follow current Environmental Services guidance for resident-specific exceptions.
Current Santa Fe Recycling Drop-Off Locations
Santa Fe currently identifies these recycling drop-off locations:
[6]
3184 Jemez Road
Residential Recycling Center
Open seven days a week, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
2950 Agua Fria Street
Near Fire Station #5
2600 Buckman Road
Buckman Road Recycling & Transfer Station (BuRRT)
Open Monday–Sunday, 8:00 AM–4:45 PM
The former
4009 Lucia Lane Residential Recycling Center was relocated to 3184 Jemez Road effective April 7, 2026.
[6]
Jemez Road — Residential Recycling Only
The City expressly states that the
3184 Jemez Road facility is for residential recycling only.
[6]
Commercial recycling materials should be taken to BuRRT.
[6]
Because Santa Fe defines 16+ unit multifamily properties as nonresidential/commercial
for Chapter 21 purposes,
property-management, porter or consolidated property loads should not automatically be directed to Jemez Road.
Individual residents using a resident-facing drop-off option
and a property management company transporting a consolidated commercial/property load
are not necessarily the same type of generator or program user.
BuRRT — Santa Fe County Recycling, E-Waste, Bulk & HHW Resource
Facility:
Buckman Road Recycling & Transfer Station (BuRRT)
Address:
2600 Buckman Road, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Facility hours:
Monday–Sunday
8:00 AM–4:45 PM,
subject to posted holiday closures.
[2]
Geographic limitation:
current SFSWMA guidance states that
waste and recycling are accepted from Santa Fe County only.
[2]
Public drop-off recycling is listed by SFSWMA as no-charge,
while commercial, weighed and special-material loads may be subject to the Agency's
current posted fee schedule.
Electronics & Appliances — Current BuRRT Fees
Current SFSWMA pricing lists:
[2]
Electronic waste:
$50 per ton
Televisions and computer monitors:
$10 per unit
Scrap metal:
$15 per ton
Appliances:
$5 per unit
Appliances containing refrigerant:
use the current SFSWMA special-appliance fee shown on the posted BuRRT schedule.
Rate caution:
fees are subject to change and tax where applicable.
Confirm the current SFSWMA schedule before transporting a large apartment-turn or maintenance load.
Tires — Fees + Manifest Requirement
Current BuRRT pricing lists:
[2]
Passenger tires:
$3 per tire
Commercial truck tires:
$8 per tire
10 or more tires:
the load must be manifested.
Property-manager caution:
apartment maintenance, contractor and commercial tire loads should be handled under
the correct generator/transporter requirements rather than treating a resident tire fee as universal authorization.
Household Hazardous Waste — Friday & Saturday Only
BuRRT's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center accepts qualifying HHW
only on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 AM–4:45 PM.
[4]
Do not leave hazardous materials when the HHW center is closed.
[4]
The ordinary HHW program is intended for the
residential community within Santa Fe City and County.
[5]
Apartment Maintenance / Business HHW — Preapproval Required
SFSWMA maintains a separate process for qualifying
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators
that wish to use the BuRRT HHW facility.
[5]
A qualifying business generator must:
1. Complete and submit a Generator Waste Profile;
2. Receive SFSWMA review/approval; and
3. Arrange the approved drop-off appointment.
If the generator falls outside the applicable small-quantity guidelines,
SFSWMA directs the generator to an appropriate contractor/disposal pathway.
[5]
Property-manager implication:
paint, chemicals, batteries, solvents and other hazardous waste generated by
apartment maintenance departments or contractors
should not automatically be placed into the resident household HHW stream.
Latex Paint — Current SFSWMA Guidance
SFSWMA states that
water-based latex paint may be placed in ordinary garbage once it is completely dried or solidified.
[7]
SFSWMA suggests absorbent materials such as
kitty litter, paint hardener or sawdust to help solidify remaining latex paint.
Oil-based paint, stains, varnishes, lacquers, thinners and similar materials
should use the appropriate HHW pathway.
Property/business-generated paint remains subject to the applicable generator requirements described above.
Bulk Waste — Resident Pickup vs. Property / Commercial Disposal
BuRRT accepts qualifying large-item and solid-waste loads
subject to the Agency's current weight, material and fee requirements.
[2]
Separately, the City of Santa Fe provides qualifying
residential customers
an on-call, fee-based large-item pickup program.
[8]
The City's current residential large-item program expressly excludes
commercial/industrial-generated material
as well as several special waste categories.
[8]
Property-manager implication:
apartment-turn furniture, contractor debris or property-owned equipment
should not automatically be routed through a resident-only City pickup program.
Use the property's authorized commercial/downstream disposal arrangement or an eligible BuRRT pathway.
Santa Fe Multifamily Property Manager Compliance Checklist
- ☑ Confirm unit count: 16+ dwelling units on one lot fall within Santa Fe's Chapter 21 multifamily definition.
- ☑ Confirm service class: treat qualifying 16+ unit refuse/recyclables under the applicable nonresidential/commercial provisions.
- ☑ Confirm container size/type/frequency: keep the current City service request/approval information.
- ☑ Confirm container location: non-City container use and placement require applicable City approval.
- ☑ Maintain enclosures: keep containers and enclosures unobstructed and do not use waste enclosures for general storage.
- ☑ Keep glass out of mixed recycling: food/beverage glass does not belong in the blue mixed-recycling stream.
- ☑ Review commercial recycling service: confirm the property's current City/private nonresidential recycling arrangement.
- ☑ Monitor contamination: more than 10% non-recyclable material in applicable City commercial recycling service can trigger additional charges.
- ☑ Distinguish resident vs. commercial drop-off: Jemez Road is residential-only; City guidance directs commercial recycling to BuRRT.
- ☑ Verify BuRRT eligibility: current SFSWMA guidance limits accepted waste/recycling to Santa Fe County.
- ☑ Separate household HHW: resident household hazardous waste uses the Friday/Saturday HHW program.
- ☑ Separate property-generated HHW: maintenance/business HHW requires Generator Waste Profile review/approval where applicable.
- ☑ Separate bulk / turns: do not use a resident-only large-item service for commercial/property-generated material.
- ☑ Review development changes: container and enclosure standards should be checked during new construction, redevelopment or remodeling.
- ☑ Maintain compliance-support documentation: retain container approvals, service arrangements, resident instructions, contamination notices, vendor records and corrective-action documentation.
How National Doorstep Fits the Santa Fe Compliance Workflow
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 the property's
City-authorized or privately authorized downstream solid-waste/recycling collector.
Santa Fe Chapter 21 reserves systematic routine collection of ordinary solid waste
to the City and its authorized agents,
while separately recognizing exceptions including
nonresidential recyclables, C&D debris, hazardous waste and other special streams.
[1]
Compliance Support:
National Doorstep can support resident routines,
onsite collection workflows,
source separation,
contamination monitoring and service documentation
while ownership/authorized management remains responsible for
City service arrangements,
container and enclosure approvals,
downstream recycling/disposal,
special-waste eligibility
and legal compliance.
Government-program boundary:
BuRRT, Jemez Road, Agua Fria,
resident large-item pickup
and the resident HHW program
should not be characterized as National Doorstep disposal destinations.
CTA:
Request a Free Compliance Support Review for your Santa Fe Property
Compliance notice: This page is an operational resource for Santa Fe multifamily owners and property managers and is not legal advice or an official City, County, SFSWMA or State determination. Ordinances, rates, facility hours, accepted materials, generator eligibility and collection procedures can change. Confirm the current Santa Fe City Code, Environmental Services Division requirements, SFSWMA operating guidance and the property's actual downstream collection arrangement before changing the property program or transporting special materials.
EEAT / AUTHORITATIVE ORDINANCE & POLICY SOURCES: [1] City of Santa Fe — Chapter XXI Environmental Services (16+ multifamily definition; nonresidential classification; commercial/multifamily service; container approval; enclosure standards; glass rule; commercial recycling; collection authority; rate/fee schedule) | [2] Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency — BuRRT (2600 Buckman Road; 8 AM–4:45 PM daily; Santa Fe County eligibility; recycling/e-waste/tire/appliance fees) | [3] City of Santa Fe — Glass Recycling (no glass in blue cart; glass drop-off guidance; current resident FAQ) | [4] SFSWMA — Household Hazardous Waste (BuRRT HHW Friday/Saturday 8 AM–4:45 PM; no drop-off while closed) | [5] SFSWMA — Business HHW (residential-program purpose; CESQG Generator Waste Profile; approval and appointment requirements) | [6] City of Santa Fe — Recycling Drop-Off Locations (3184 Jemez Road effective April 7, 2026; Jemez residential-only; Agua Fria; BuRRT; current facility hours) | [7] SFSWMA — Oil & Paint Disposal (latex paint solidification; oil-based paint / HHW guidance) | [8] City of Santa Fe — Residential Large Item Pickup (resident fee-based service; accepted items; commercial/industrial exclusion) | [9] City of Santa Fe — Environmental Services / Trash & Recycling (2026 operating information and current recycling-center relocation)
Santa Fe apartment owners, asset managers and on-site property managers: multifamily solid-waste and recycling responsibilities differ depending on whether a property is inside the City of Santa Fe or in unincorporated Santa Fe County.
Inside the City, Santa Fe Code Chapter XXI expressly defines “multi-family residential” as 16 or more dwelling units on one lot and includes those properties within the City's nonresidential/commercial solid-waste and recycling classifications. Qualifying multifamily communities are therefore subject to specific commercial/multifamily container, service, enclosure and enforcement provisions.
In unincorporated Santa Fe County, Ordinance 2014-10 provides the broader solid-waste and recycling framework, while the County's Collection District was established by Ordinance 2016-04. Within that district, private haulers providing qualifying curbside residential trash service must also provide recycling collection at least every other week.
- City 16+ Unit Trigger: Santa Fe classifies 16+ units on one lot as multifamily residential and treats the waste/recycling stream as nonresidential/commercial.
- City Service Requirements: service requests identify container size, container type and collection frequency.
- Owner Maintenance: owners are responsible for applicable enclosures and privately owned containers.
- 15-Day Repair Rule: privately owned containers identified by the City as needing repair must be repaired within 15 days after City notice.
- Glass: food and beverage glass is kept separate from mixed recycling and routed through the applicable designated glass-recycling pathway.
- County Collection District: established under Ordinance 2016-04—not Ordinance 2014-10.
- County Convenience Centers: resident permits are personal and nontransferable; do not treat them as apartment-property or porter disposal permits.
- Compliance Support: National Doorstep can support onsite workflows and documentation, while ownership/authorized management remains responsible for the applicable City/County service arrangement and legal compliance.
Property-manager compliance shortcut:
Inside Santa Fe City limits with 16+ units on one lot? Review Chapter XXI's commercial/multifamily service rules, enclosure standards, container maintenance, commercial recycling configuration, glass separation and enforcement procedures.
In unincorporated Santa Fe County? Determine whether the property is inside the 2016-04 Collection District, identify its actual private-hauler arrangement and do not assume a residential County convenience-center permit can be used by property staff.
Using a County convenience center? recycling is mandatory at the facility, permit eligibility and facility material restrictions apply, and permits are personal/nontransferable.
At a Glance: City of Santa Fe vs. Santa Fe County
City of Santa Fe
- 16+ units on one lot: City-defined multifamily residential.
- Multifamily-generated waste and recyclables are treated as nonresidential/commercial under Chapter XXI definitions.
- §21-4.6 contains specific commercial and multifamily conditions of service.
- Service request identifies container size, type and frequency.
- Enclosures and containers must remain free of obstructions.
- Enclosures are for waste/recycling containers—not general property storage.
- Commercial recycling is a recognized City service class; food/beverage glass is separated from mixed recycling.
Unincorporated Santa Fe County
- 2014-10: broader County Solid Waste and Recycling Management framework.
- 2016-04: established the County Collection District.
- Inside the Collection District, private haulers providing qualifying curbside residential trash service must also collect recycling at least every other week.
- Do not automatically assume that residential curbside rule governs every commercial-style apartment service arrangement.
- Recycling is mandatory at County convenience centers.
- County permits are resident-specific and nontransferable.
Santa Fe City & County Multifamily Compliance Context
Swipe or scroll horizontally. The jurisdiction/entity column stays fixed.
| Jurisdiction / Entity | Multifamily / Recycling Status | Owner & Property-Manager Requirements | Enforcement / Eligibility Notes | Official Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Santa Fe |
16+ units on one lot = multi-family residential.
Multifamily solid waste and recyclables are classified as nonresidential/commercial under Chapter XXI. The Code does not create an Albuquerque-style rule saying every 16+ property must operate an all-material onsite recycling program, but multifamily-specific commercial service rules do apply. |
§21-4.6 requires written service information identifying
container size, container type and service frequency.
Enclosures/container sites must comply with incorporated City standards. Enclosures and containers must remain unobstructed. Enclosures may be used only for solid-waste/recycling containers. Containers not owned by the City and their placement require City approval. |
Non-immediate-health-threat violations generally begin with a formal warning.
The user has 15 days after notice to respond with a written corrective-action plan. Administrative fees can escalate from 1×, 2×, 3× and 4× the monthly fee, with the fourth/additional tier capped at $500. Every continuing day can constitute a separate offense unless otherwise provided. |
City of Santa Fe — Chapter XXI Environmental Services
City of Santa Fe — Commercial Collection Guidelines |
| Unincorporated Santa Fe County |
County solid-waste/recycling obligations arise from the County's
broader solid-waste framework and applicable collection arrangement.
No City-style 16+ multifamily classification should be imported automatically into County jurisdiction. |
Determine whether the property is inside the
Collection District established by Ordinance 2016-04.
Within the district, private waste haulers providing qualifying residential curbside trash service must collect recycling at least every other week. Confirm whether that residential collection rule applies to the property's actual multifamily service configuration. |
Ordinance 2014-10 prohibits illegal dumping and improper accumulation/disposal.
Current County guidance lists illegal-dumping exposure up to: • $500 and/or 60 days for a first conviction; • $1,000 and/or 90 days for subsequent violations; and • up to $5,000 and/or 90 days for improper/illegal hazardous-waste disposal. |
Santa Fe County — Solid Waste & Recycling |
| County Convenience Centers |
Residential trash and household recycling drop-off system.
Recycling of accepted recyclable material is mandatory at County convenience centers. |
Resident permits are for
personal use and may not be transferred to another person or entity.
Three-, six- and twelve-punch permits are limited to qualifying County residents living outside incorporated municipalities. Incorporated-area residents are currently limited to the one-trip permit option. |
Accepted recyclable material placed in trash bins may result in warning/citation.
Current County criminal penalty schedule: • at least $25 first offense; • $50–$100 second offense; • $75–$200 third offense. Property staff should not use a resident's personal permit to dispose of consolidated apartment-property material. |
County Convenience Centers
County Solid Waste Permit Information |
| Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency |
SFSWMA operates the
Buckman Road Recycling & Transfer Station (BuRRT)
and the Caja del Rio Landfill.
SFSWMA is a regional facility/operator rather than a municipal apartment-code authority. |
BuRRT provides downstream pathways for multiple material streams, including mixed recyclables, glass, e-waste, scrap metal, selected appliances, tires, HHW and solid waste, subject to current eligibility, generator and fee requirements. |
Household HHW and business/property-generated hazardous waste
are not the same program.
Confirm facility eligibility and the applicable generator pathway before sending maintenance, contractor or consolidated property loads. |
SFSWMA — BuRRT
SFSWMA — Household Hazardous Waste |
| State of New Mexico |
State law and 20.9 NMAC provide the broader regulatory framework
for solid-waste management, facilities, transporters and special waste.
The property-specific City and County duties described above arise primarily from the applicable local ordinances and service rules. |
Do not characterize one portion of 20.9 NMAC as the source of every
municipal apartment requirement.
Property managers should use permitted/registered facilities and haulers where state law requires them for the particular waste stream. |
State requirements become particularly important for hazardous waste, commercial/special-waste transport, regulated facilities and other streams outside ordinary resident collection. |
New Mexico Environment Department — Solid Waste Bureau
NMED — Permitted / Registered Facilities & Haulers |
Santa Fe City — 16+ Unit Property Manager Operating Priorities
Service & Capacity
- Written service request identifies container size/type and frequency.
- Containers must be loaded so lids can close properly.
- Customers must clean spills around the container.
- The City may require increased service frequency and/or container capacity where containers are routinely overfilled.
Enclosures & Containers
- Enclosures and containers must remain free of blockage or obstruction.
- Enclosures are exclusively for waste/recycling containers.
- Maintenance of the enclosure and privately owned containers is the owner's responsibility.
- City may suspend service where an unsafe enclosure/container condition endangers collection personnel.
Private Container Repair
- Privately owned containers are the owner's responsibility.
- Repairs must be completed within 15 days after City notice.
- If the condition creates a collection-safety hazard, service may be suspended until repair or replacement.
Santa Fe glass rule:
Chapter XXI requires food and beverage glass to be recycled through designated glass-recycling locations/services rather than placed in mixed recycling.
For commercial recycling service, acceptable mixed recyclables may be commingled except food/beverage glass and materials the City identifies as non-recyclable.
Property managers should keep glass instructions distinct from the mixed-recycling instructions used for cardboard, paper, cans and accepted plastic containers.
Commercial recycling contamination charge:
Santa Fe's current incorporated Refuse and Recycling Rate and Fee Schedule states that if an applicable commercial recycling cart contains more than 10% non-recyclable material, an additional $56 per cart per service is charged.
Rate caution: this is the currently incorporated amount in the City Code's rate schedule. Rates can change, so verify the live City schedule before using the amount in a lease document, annual budget or permanent resident communication.
City of Santa Fe — Chapter XXI Enforcement
- Formal warning first: for violations not creating an immediate public-health threat, the City generally issues a formal warning before further enforcement.
- 15-day response: within 15 days after receiving the warning, the user must provide a written response and specific corrective-action plan.
- If the violation is not corrected and no plan is submitted, the City may assess an administrative fee or issue a Municipal Court citation.
- First violation: administrative fee equal to 1× the applicable monthly fee.
- Second violation: 2× the monthly fee.
- Third violation: 3× the monthly fee.
- Fourth and each additional violation: 4× the monthly fee, capped at $500.
- Continuing violations: every day a Chapter XXI violation continues constitutes a separate offense, unless otherwise provided.
- Owner / resident responsibility: Chapter XXI places compliance responsibility and liability jointly and severally on the property owner and resident.
Santa Fe County — Collection District vs. Convenience Centers
Collection District
The County's current Public Works guidance identifies Ordinance 2016-04 as the ordinance establishing the Collection District.
Inside that district, a private waste hauler that provides qualifying curbside residential trash service must also collect recycling at least every other week.
Apartment-property caution: confirm that the property's service is actually within the scope of the residential curbside provision before describing the every-other-week rule as an apartment mandate.
Convenience Centers
County convenience centers primarily accept residential trash and household recycling plus selected special streams depending on location.
Customers must be Santa Fe County residents. Permit eligibility and personal-use restrictions apply.
County permits are not transferable to another person or entity.
County convenience-center property-manager boundary:
County permits are issued for personal use. A property manager, maintenance employee, contractor or doorstep porter should not use an individual resident's permit to dispose of consolidated apartment-property material.
Current County convenience-center restrictions include prohibited streams such as: construction and demolition debris, hazardous waste, liquid waste, asbestos, pressurized cylinders, explosives/ammunition and electronic waste except on designated special collection days.
Appliances containing refrigerant require the County's current preparation requirements, including the applicable CFC-removal verification where required.
Santa Fe County — Recycling & Illegal-Dumping Enforcement
Mandatory convenience-center recycling: accepted recyclable material must be placed in the proper recycling bin/area rather than disposed of as trash.
- First recycling offense: at least $25.
- Second recycling offense: $50–$100.
- Third recycling offense: $75–$200.
- Illegal dumping — first conviction: up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail.
- Subsequent illegal-dumping violation: up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail.
- Improper or illegal hazardous-waste disposal: up to $5,000 and/or 90 days in jail.
These are different enforcement provisions. Do not present the County's illegal-dumping maximum as the penalty for an ordinary recycling-sorting mistake.
Santa Fe County — Current Solid Waste & Recycling Enforcement
Santa Fe Multifamily Property Manager Compliance Checklist
Swipe or scroll horizontally. The task column stays fixed.
| Task | Property-Manager Action | City / County Qualification | Recommended Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction | Determine whether the property is inside the City of Santa Fe or in unincorporated Santa Fe County. | City Chapter XXI and County solid-waste rules are separate frameworks. | Parcel/jurisdiction record and current Code links. |
| ☑ Confirm Unit Count | Confirm the legal number of dwelling units on the lot. | Inside Santa Fe City, 16+ units on one lot meet the Chapter XXI multifamily definition. | CO, rent roll, site plan and property records. |
| ☑ Confirm Service Class | For City 16+ properties, confirm the applicable commercial/multifamily refuse and recycling service arrangement. | Multifamily waste/recyclables are nonresidential/commercial under Chapter XXI definitions. | City service request, account information and collection schedule. |
| ☑ Container Size / Type / Frequency | Maintain the approved service configuration and adjust capacity where recurring overflow occurs. | §21-4.6 requires those service details for commercial/multifamily service. | Service request and current account configuration. |
| ☑ Enclosure Condition | Keep enclosures and containers unobstructed and available for collection. | City commercial/multifamily rule. | Periodic enclosure inspection photos. |
| ☑ No Enclosure Storage | Do not use refuse/recycling enclosures as general maintenance or furniture-storage areas. | Chapter XXI expressly reserves enclosures for solid-waste/recycling containers. | Site inspection checklist. |
| ☑ Private Container Repair | Repair a privately owned container within 15 days after City notice. | Current City commercial-service operating guidance. | City notice, work order and completion photo. |
| ☑ Manage Overfill | Increase collection frequency or container capacity when necessary. | City may require increased frequency/capacity where containers are routinely overfilled. | Overflow log, service-change requests and photos. |
| ☑ Separate Glass | Keep food/beverage glass out of mixed recycling and use the applicable glass-recycling pathway. | City Chapter XXI separates glass from mixed commercial recycling. | Resident instruction sheet and enclosure signage. |
| ☑ Monitor Contamination | Keep non-recyclable material below the City's contamination threshold. | Current incorporated rate schedule assesses $56 per cart/service when an applicable commercial recycling cart contains more than 10% non-recyclables. | Contamination photos, notices and corrective-action records. |
| ☑ Respond to City Warning | Submit a written response and corrective-action plan within 15 days when Chapter XXI's warning process applies. | Failure to correct/respond can lead to administrative fees or Municipal Court citation. | Warning, response, corrective plan and completion record. |
| ☑ County Collection District | For unincorporated County properties, determine whether the property lies inside the Ordinance 2016-04 Collection District. | Every-other-week recycling requirement applies to private haulers providing qualifying residential curbside trash service. | Collection-district map and hauler contract. |
| ☑ County Permit Boundary | Do not use a resident's personal convenience-center permit for property operations. | County permits are personal and nontransferable. | Property disposal procedure and vendor instructions. |
| ☑ Special Waste | Route C&D, HHW, e-waste, refrigerant appliances and other special streams through the appropriate authorized pathway. | County convenience centers prohibit or restrict many of these categories. | Contractor tickets, facility receipts and regulated-waste documentation. |
| ☑ Maintain Compliance-Support File | Retain service records, City/County correspondence, resident education, contamination issues, enclosure photos and corrective-action documentation. | Documentation supports operations but does not guarantee a regulatory or inspection outcome. | Central digital compliance-support folder. |
How National Doorstep fits the Santa Fe waste and recycling 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 the City's ordinary solid-waste collection authority, a County-authorized collection arrangement, or a property's separately authorized downstream recycler/hauler.
Compliance Support: National Doorstep can support resident education, onsite collection workflows, source separation, contamination monitoring and service documentation while ownership/authorized management remains responsible for service arrangements, container/enclosure compliance, City/County notices, downstream hauling/disposal and legal compliance.
Government convenience centers, resident permits, resident household hazardous-waste programs and similar public resources should not be characterized as National Doorstep disposal destinations.
Need a multifamily waste and recycling operational review in Santa Fe? Request a Free Compliance Support Review . We can help management review resident collection workflows, container utilization, contamination controls, source-separation instructions and organized compliance-support documentation while keeping City/County regulatory responsibility and downstream hauling clearly separated.
EEAT / AUTHORITATIVE ORDINANCE & POLICY SOURCES:
[1] City of Santa Fe — Chapter XXI Environmental Services
(16+ unit multifamily definition; nonresidential classification;
§§21-4.5/21-4.6 container and service rules;
recycling/glass rules; rates; §21-9.1 enforcement)
[2] City of Santa Fe — Commercial Collection Guidelines
(owner enclosure/container maintenance; overfill/capacity;
15-day private-container repair requirement)
[3] City of Santa Fe — Environmental Services / Trash & Recycling
[4] Santa Fe County — Solid Waste & Recycling
(Ordinance 2014-10 framework; Ordinance 2016-04 Collection District;
every-other-week curbside recycling rule;
convenience-center recycling penalties; illegal-dumping penalties)
[5] Santa Fe County — Recycling Information
(mandatory convenience-center recycling;
accepted mixed recycling; separate glass;
current recycling preparation rules)
[6] Santa Fe County — Convenience Centers
(resident eligibility; operating rules;
prohibited materials; special-stream limitations)
[7] Santa Fe County — Solid Waste Permit Information
(personal-use/nontransferable permits;
incorporated vs. unincorporated permit eligibility;
current permit structure)
[8] Santa Fe County — Online Permit Terms
(personal-use certification; permit nontransferability;
mandatory convenience-center recycling acknowledgment)
[9] Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency — BuRRT
[10] SFSWMA — Household Hazardous Waste
[11] New Mexico Environment Department — Solid Waste Bureau
[12] NMED — Permitted / Registered Solid-Waste Facilities & Haulers
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
