Santa Fe apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site property managers: even without a clear unit-based multifamily recycling mandate, you’re still on the hook for solid-waste, nuisance, and recycling expectations from the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and the Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is engineered to align with the region’s Solid Waste and Recycling Management Ordinance, curbside and convenience center rules, and state solid waste regulations so you can protect NOI while giving residents the clean, convenient service they expect.
In the City of Santa Fe, Environmental Services provides residential and commercial trash and recycling collection, and promotes higher diversion through curbside carts and drop-off locations, but there is currently no explicit multifamily recycling mandate with a “25+ units” style threshold. In Santa Fe County, Ordinance 2014-10 (Solid Waste and Recycling Management) establishes mandatory collection districts, recycling promotion, convenience centers, and penalties for violations, and curbside haulers in mandatory districts must offer recycling alongside trash. That means multifamily properties are still expected to prevent overflow, contamination, and illegal dumping—even if the law doesn’t yet spell out a specific dwelling-unit trigger.
- Protect NOI & Asset Value: Reduce risk of citations, fees, and restricted access to county facilities by aligning your program with Santa Fe City and County solid-waste and recycling rules.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service keeps residents out of dark or remote enclosures, cuts down on illegal dumping, and supports renewals and online reputation in a sustainability-focused market.
- Code-Smart Design: Enclosure layouts, labeled containers, and service frequencies are built around County Ordinance 2014-10, City of Santa Fe Environmental Services guidance, and regional landfill/transfer station rules.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We handle hauler coordination, resident education, and documentation, so your team can focus on leasing, maintenance, and resident experience while staying inspection-ready.
At a Glance: City of Santa Fe vs. Santa Fe County & Regional Authority
City of Santa Fe (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: General solid-waste and recycling requirements; no dedicated multifamily unit threshold.
- Applicability Threshold: All residential and commercial customers using City Environmental Services; no specific “X+ unit” apartment recycling trigger identified in current public code.
- Property Manager Duties: Maintain adequate trash and recycling service for residents; follow City rules for cart placement, container set-out times, and contamination; use City-approved or coordinated haulers and facilities for disposal and recycling.
- Program Duties: Keep shared enclosures clean, avoid overflowing carts, provide accurate recycling guidance to residents, and route waste and recyclables to approved facilities such as BuRRT via City or Agency programs.
- Key City Links: City of Santa Fe – Trash & Recycling · City of Santa Fe – Recycling Information & Drop-Off · Santa Fe Sustainability – Waste & Recycling Metrics · Curbside Recycling – SFSWMA
Santa Fe County & Solid Waste Management Agency
- Mandate Type: County-wide solid-waste and recycling framework with mandatory collection districts; no explicit multifamily-unit mandate.
- County Ordinance 2014-10: Establishes storage, collection, disposal, recycling promotion, fee schedules, and penalties for ordinance violations across Santa Fe County.
- Curbside & Convenience Centers: In mandatory curbside districts, private haulers must collect recycling at least every other week with trash; County convenience centers accept household trash and mixed recyclables from residents, including multifamily residents when properly permitted.
- Regional Authority: The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency (SFSWMA) operates the Caja del Rio Landfill and Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station (BuRRT), guided by a comprehensive county-wide solid-waste management plan that emphasizes increased recycling and diversion.
- Key County & Agency Links: Santa Fe County – Trash & Recycling · Santa Fe County – Recycling Information · Santa Fe County Ordinance 2014-10 – Solid Waste & Recycling · Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency – Solid Waste Plan · New Mexico Environment Department – Solid Waste Management
Santa Fe City & Santa Fe County Apartment Recycling Context
Unlike some cities that have a codified multifamily recycling mandate with a unit threshold, Santa Fe currently relies on a broader solid-waste and recycling framework. Multifamily properties are not exempt, but are managed under general residential/commercial and county program rules rather than a dedicated “X+ units must recycle” ordinance.
| Jurisdiction / Entity | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| City of Santa Fe | No explicit multifamily unit-threshold mandate |
The City provides residential and commercial trash and recycling service and encourages recycling participation through curbside carts and drop-off sites. Current public code and policy do not specify a dedicated multifamily recycling requirement at a particular dwelling-unit count, but properties are still expected to follow City rules for container placement, contamination, and use of approved facilities. For apartment communities, the best practice is to offer residents convenient onsite recycling and ensure that valet trash & recycling feeds into City or Agency programs. Key local links: City of Santa Fe – Trash & Recycling · City of Santa Fe – Recycling Locations |
| Unincorporated Santa Fe County | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate; mandatory collection districts |
Santa Fe County Ordinance 2014-10 establishes mandatory roadside collection districts, convenience centers, recycling promotion, and enforcement. Private haulers serving County collection districts must provide recycling at least every other week alongside trash, and residents may use County convenience centers for trash and mixed recyclables. The ordinance does not create a standalone multifamily recycling unit threshold, but multifamily generators are still subject to storage, disposal, and prohibited-acts sections that can lead to penalties if waste and recyclables are mismanaged. Key local links: Santa Fe County – Trash & Recycling · Santa Fe County – Recycling · County Convenience Centers |
| Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency (SFSWMA) | Regional authority; no direct apartment mandate |
SFSWMA operates the Caja del Rio Landfill and Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station (BuRRT) and is guided by a county-wide comprehensive solid-waste management plan that emphasizes increased recycling and waste diversion. While SFSWMA does not itself impose a dwelling-unit threshold, apartment properties rely on its facilities through City and County programs, so contamination, prohibited loads, and misuse can still create cost and compliance risk for owners and property managers. Key local links: SFSWMA – Recycling Overview · SFSWMA – Solid Waste Plan |
| State of New Mexico | No statewide multifamily unit threshold; state solid waste rules |
New Mexico’s solid waste rules (20.9.2 NMAC and related provisions) provide the legislative foundation that allows local governments to regulate solid waste and recycling. These rules do not set a specific multifamily-unit trigger for recycling but authorize local ordinances like Santa Fe County’s 2014-10. For multifamily owners and property managers, this means state rules back local enforcement around storage, transport, disposal, and facility use, even when local code does not explicitly reference apartments by unit count. Key state link: New Mexico Environment Department – Solid Waste |
Santa Fe Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- County Ordinance Penalties: Santa Fe County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Management Ordinance 2014-10 establishes a fee schedule for services and penalties for violations, including improper disposal, illegal dumping, misuse of recycling areas, and failure to comply with County rules or permit conditions.
- Each Violation Can Add Up: Repeated violations or ongoing non-compliance—such as continued illegal dumping at convenience centers, misuse of recycling bins for trash, or failure to follow mandatory collection requirements—can lead to escalating fines, potential suspension of facility access, and referral for enforcement.
- City-Level Enforcement: Within the City of Santa Fe, Environmental Services can issue citations for overflowing carts, contamination, illegal dumping, and misuse of recycling drop-off locations. These issues often arise first at multifamily communities where enclosures are poorly managed or residents lack clear guidance.
- State Regulatory Backbone: New Mexico’s solid waste regulations authorize local enforcement and can be used to support more serious actions when improper handling of waste or prohibited materials creates environmental or public health risks.
- Risk Management Tip: For multifamily properties, the safest route is to treat recycling as an expected service: document your collection contract, keep photos of clean enclosures, track contamination notices, and maintain resident-facing education to show good-faith compliance if an inspector or County official has questions.
Santa Fe Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Provider | Verify whether your property is inside City of Santa Fe limits or in unincorporated Santa Fe County, and confirm which hauler or municipal service handles your trash and recycling. This determines which set of rules (City Environmental Services vs. County mandatory collection / convenience centers) applies to your residents. | City of Santa Fe – Trash & Recycling · Santa Fe County – Trash & Recycling |
| ☑ Provide On-Site Recycling Access | Even without a unit-based mandate, treat on-site recycling for residents as a baseline standard. Work with your hauler or City/County service to provide sufficient recycling capacity, and design valet routes so bagged recyclables reach the correct carts or dumpsters without contamination. | City of Santa Fe – Recycling Information · SFSWMA – Recycling |
| ☑ Align With County Ordinance 2014-10 | For properties in unincorporated Santa Fe County, understand the basics of Ordinance 2014-10: how convenience centers work, which materials are prohibited, and how mandatory collection districts function. Ensure your residents and maintenance teams know where and how to dispose of bulky items, special waste, and recyclables. | Santa Fe County Ordinance 2014-10 (PDF) · County Convenience Centers |
| ☑ Manage Enclosures & Contamination | Keep enclosures and collection points clean, well-lit, and clearly labeled. Separate trash and recycling containers, keep lids closed, and monitor for contamination (trash in recycling and vice versa). A valet trash & recycling program can standardize this and make it easier for residents to participate correctly. | SFSWMA – Transfer Stations & Convenience Centers |
| ☑ Educate Residents & Document Efforts | Provide residents with simple instructions at move-in and throughout the year: what goes in recycling, where to set out bags for valet collection, and how to handle bulky or special waste. Keep copies of flyers, emails, and notices so you can demonstrate proactive education if a complaint or inspection occurs. | Santa Fe County – Recycling Flyer & Info · Santa Fe Sustainability – Waste |
| ☑ Build a Portfolio-Wide Standard | If you manage multiple communities across Santa Fe City and County, adopt a common valet trash & recycling standard that meets or exceeds the strictest local expectations. That way, as new ordinances are adopted (including any future multifamily thresholds), your properties are already positioned for compliance. | NMED – Solid Waste Management |
Want your Santa Fe properties to be “inspection ready” before new mandates arrive? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Santa Fe–area apartments. We’ll review your current setup, right-size containers and service, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the documentation trail you need to show alignment with City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and regional solid-waste authorities.
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