Solid Waste (Trash) and Recycling

The Santa Fe County Solid Waste Division provides convenient trash and recycling drop-off locations. Residents and businesses that generate less than 850 pounds of trash per month may utilize the solid waste convenience centers by purchasing bag tags or permits at the Treasurer’s Office, Public Works Complex, Edgewood Satellite Office, Eldorado Satellite Office, or Pojoaque Satellite Office. Click here for information on solid waste permits and bag tags.

Curbside collection service may be obtained from one of the following private haulers. If your company should be listed here, contact us. If you live within the Collection District established in Ordinance # 2016-04, private waste haulers who provide curbside residential service must collect recycling at least once every other week in addition to trash service.

Recycling is mandatory at Santa Fe County Solid Waste Convenience Centers. Recycling saves $50 per ton, helps the environment, and keeps taxes down. Any person placing accepted recyclable material in trash bins will be issued a warning and/or issued a citation. If found guilty, the criminal penalty shall be a fine of at least $25 for the first offense, $50-$100 for the second offense, and $75-$200 for the third offense. Click here to learn more about recycling.

Convenience Center Locations

Click here to download a map of all trash and recycling locations in Santa Fe County.

Convenience Center Operating Hours

All convenience centers are open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nambe and Tesuque Convenience Centers close from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. for lunch. All others do not close for lunch. The Rancho Viejo Recycling Center is open from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Convenience centers may be closed on holidays.

Convenience Center Services

Residential trash, household recycling, and green waste¹ may be brought to any convenience center. Other services vary by convenience center as outlined below. The Rancho Viejo Recycling Center only accepts household recycling.

Convenience Center Rules

1. Customers must be residents of Santa Fe County.
2. Loads greater than 15 cubic yards are not accepted. Use the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station.
3. All loads must be covered and/or secured.
4. All garbage must be bagged. Recyclables should be loose but covered and/or secured.
5. All recyclable material must be placed in recycling bins.
6. Children and pets must remain in vehicles at all times.
7. Brush and green waste must be no longer than 6 feet long and 18” in diameter.
8. Rims must be removed from tires.
9. No more than eight tires per month are accepted.
10. Only residents may bring automotive fluids and tires.
11. The unauthorized searching through and/or taking of anything from discarded solid waste or recyclable materials is prohibited.

Arriving at a convenience center with an uncovered load will result in the assessment of two additional permit punches and/or a citation. If found guilty, the criminal penalty shall be a fine of at least $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $100-$200 for the third offense. Arriving with unbagged trash will result in the assessment of one additional permit punch and/or a citation. If found guilty, the criminal penalty shall be a fine of at least $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense, and $100 for the third offense.

Prohibited Materials

See Ordinance# 2014-10 for definitions. For guidance on handling prohibited materials, contact us.

Illegal Dumping

Ordinance #2014-10 prohibits the dumping, accumulating, or scattering of solid waste. Any person convicted of illegal dumping will be guilty of a crime. First time offenders maybe penalized with a fine up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail. Subsequent violations carry a penalty of up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. The improper or illegal disposal of hazardous waste carries a penalty of up to $5,000 and/or 90 days in jail.

To report illegal dumping or littering, please call the Solid Waste Compliance Officer at (505) 629-2937.

Contact Us

Call (505) 992-3010 during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.).