Albuquerque

Recycling Guidelines

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

No Glass – Plastic, paper, metal accepted together, but not glass

PLASTIC

Look for plastic items labeled #1 - #5. Lids and caps can stay on bottles and containers.

  • #1 – #7 Plastics bottle/tubs
  • Rigid plastics (toys, hampers, etc.)
Lids and caps can stay on bottles and containers
Plastic, single-serve to-go containers with no food residue

METAL

Look for tin, aluminum and other metal items

  • Aluminum cans
  • Tin cans
  • Foil & pie pans
  • Small electronics
  • Pots & pans

Tin, aluminum, steel, and empty aerosol cans

PAPER

Look for Paper items

  • Newspapers/magazines
  • Junk mail
  • Office paper
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Cereal/cracker boxes
  • Milk and juice boxes
  • Phone books
  • Books
  • Brown paper bags
  • Paper egg cartons

Paper can be recycled up to seven times, depending on the quality

Cardboard tubes from wrapping or toilet paper rolls

No Glass – Plastic, paper, metal accepted together, but not glass

Doorstep Recycling Collection
Place acceptable recyclables in a securely tied, see-thru bag, separate from your trash and place in your bin, outside your front door with your scheduled trash collection.

When in Doubt – Toss it Out
Please do not place any unacceptable items in communal recycling containers or in your household recycling bags. Remember, if recycling contains “contaminants” (non-recyclable items or containers not properly cleaned), the whole batch may be rejected and sent to a land fill. When in doubt – best to toss it out!

What can NOT be recycled

  • Yard waste/wood
  • Pizza boxes
  • Glass
  • Garbage
  • Food
  • Hazardous waste
  • Sharp metal
  • Wrapables/hoses/cords
  • Batteries/light bulbs
  • Motor oil bottles
  • Medical waste/needles
  • Styrofoam
  • TVs/computer monitors
  • All plastic bags
  • Ceramics
  • Windows
  • Mirrors

Accepted E-Waste

  • Computers and Peripherals
  • Fax Machines
  • CPUs
  • CRT Monitors
  • Printed Circuit Boards
  • Mice
  • Typewriters
  • DVD and VHS Players
  • Stereo Equipment
  • iPods
  • Thumb Drives
  • Hard Drives
  • LCD Monitors
  • Scanners
  • Cables and Cords
  • Memory Devices
  • Telephones and Cell Phones
  • Drills and Small Tools
  • Printers
  • Laptops
  • Servers
  • Plotters
  • Modems
  • Keyboards
  • Copiers
  • Cameras

Not Accepted for E-Waste Recycling
The items below are not e-waste, but most can be recycled for their metal or plastic content and are acceptable items to place in your blue curbside recycling cart.

  • Toasters
  • Small Household Appliances
  • Blenders
  • Sewing Machines
  • TVs (TVs can not be placed in your blue cart. Please call 311 for pickup.)

Automotive Fluid Recycling Program
https://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste/household-hazardous-waste/automotive-fluid-recycling-program

Multifamily-specific highlights. Check with your municipality for the latest guidelines.

The Multi-Family Dwelling (MFD) program requires apartment complexes of 25 units or more to provide recycling services to their tenants. Fewer than 25 units have a voluntary option to participate. Each multi-family dwelling pays the current residential recycling rate of $2.33. per unit for recycling collection service. Depending on space availability, complexes are provided with 6-yard lift bins or 96-gallon recycle carts. The City of Albuquerque has created a Recycling Toolkit for property managers and owners to assist them in educating their tenants on recycling best practices. To request a toolkit please call (505) 761-8167.

Learn more about recycling in your city.

For more information, please contact:

Mila Romero
Solid Waste Management Department
(505) 761-8100
[email protected]

This information is not your official community or municipality guidelines. Recycling mandates may change based on the local processing capabilities and shifting markets. Contact your leasing office or local recycling agency to learn more or use the links under the “Recycling Resources"