Albuquerque Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026
This guide is for Albuquerque, New Mexico. The city keeps residential service simple: trash is collected once each week, recycling is collected on the same day, and large items can be picked up free on request. Holiday delays only happen for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, so this page helps you keep the full 2026 Albuquerque trash pickup schedule garbage collection rules in one place.
📑 What’s in this guide
Albuquerque Solid Waste Management provides one 96-gallon roll-out trash cart and one 96-gallon recycling cart for residential curbside service. Trash is collected every week on your designated day, and curbside recycling is provided on the same day. Large items such as furniture and appliances are collected free for residential customers when requested in advance.
remove carts within 24 hours
How to Find Your Albuquerque Trash Pickup Day
Albuquerque uses an address-based lookup tool for residential trash and recycling routes. That is the fastest official way to confirm your weekly collection day.
- Open the city lookup. Use the official Look Up your Trash Day by Address tool.
- Search your exact service address. Use your home address inside Albuquerque city limits.
- Check your weekly route day. Residential trash is picked up once each week.
- Use the same day for recycling. Albuquerque provides curbside trash and recycling on the same day for residential customers.
- Save the reminder. Holiday weeks only affect a few dates each year, but the lookup makes them easier to track.
Albuquerque Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
Albuquerque keeps residential curbside service simple, but some services are request-based rather than automatic.
| Service | How It Works | Typical Frequency | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trash | Bagged household garbage inside the 96-gallon trash cart | Weekly | Trash Day Lookup / Collection Day Overview |
| Recycling | Loose recyclables inside the 96-gallon recycling cart | Weekly, same day as trash | Trash Day Lookup / Recycling page |
| Large Items | Furniture, appliances, tires, and other approved big items | On request | Large Item Pick-Up |
| Green Waste Event | Citywide curbside collection at no extra charge | Twice each year | Green Waste page |
| Extra Green Waste | Bagged green waste pickup that does not fit in your cart | On request for a fee | Green Waste page / 311 |
The city’s 2026 green waste page confirms a free spring curbside event from May 4 through May 15, 2026. Albuquerque also states that it provides residential green waste curbside collection two times each year, while extra green waste pickup outside those free events is available for a fee.
Trash Carts, Recycling Carts, Green Waste, and Large Items
Albuquerque uses separate rules for regular curbside carts, seasonal green waste, and large item pickup. Following the right category matters because contaminated or overloaded items may be left behind.
Trash Cart
Recycling Cart
Green Waste
Large Items
Large item pickup covers common household items such as couches, chairs, mattresses, bed frames, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, lawn mowers, water heaters, televisions, sinks, and toilets. Albuquerque also allows residents to schedule pickup for up to four tires.
⭐ Easy Albuquerque shortcut
If an item fits inside your trash cart with the lid closed, use the normal weekly cart service. If it is too large, schedule a large item pickup instead of leaving it out without notice.
Albuquerque Set-Out Rules
Albuquerque’s curbside rules are straightforward, but placement and timing matter.
- Set carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
- Remove carts from the street within 24 hours.
- Keep cart lids fully closed. Do not overfill carts.
- Place carts at least five feet away from other carts, mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked cars, low-hanging trees, or utility poles.
- Place all trash in plastic bags.
- Do not place hazardous waste, hot ashes, construction debris, or waste containing free liquids in the carts.
Albuquerque Large Item Pickup
Albuquerque offers free residential large item pickup throughout the year when scheduled in advance. This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of furniture, appliances, and other oversized materials without waiting for a seasonal event.
- Schedule the pickup first. Use the online request form or call 311.
- Request at least 24 hours in advance. Albuquerque says requests must be made Monday through Saturday at least 24 hours ahead.
- Place items five feet away from obstacles. Keep them clear of carts, mailboxes, hydrants, parked cars, low-hanging trees, and utility poles.
- Empty appliances first. Refrigerators and freezers should be empty, and doors should be taped shut.
- Stay within a standard pickup load. The city says no more than a standard pickup load may be collected.
For residential customers, the city also notes that extra residential trash pickup costs $8.87 and extra residential recycling pickup costs $9.04 if you need service beyond normal curbside collection.
Albuquerque 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule
Albuquerque only delays residential curbside pickup for three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If those holidays fall on a weekend, the city says there is no residential pickup change.
| 2026 Holiday | Collection Impact |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day — Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 | No pickup on Thursday. Thursday customers are serviced on Friday, and Friday customers are serviced on Saturday. |
| Thanksgiving — Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026 | No pickup on Thursday. Thursday customers are serviced on Friday, and Friday customers are serviced on Saturday. |
| Christmas Day — Friday, Dec. 25, 2026 | No pickup on Friday. Thursday customers are serviced on Friday, and Friday customers are serviced on Saturday. |
| All other 2026 city holidays | Regular residential pickup continues as normal. |
The city specifically lists Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve as regular pickup days for residential trash service.
What to Do If Albuquerque Missed Your Pickup
If your trash or recycling was not collected by dusk on your regular collection day, Albuquerque provides both online and phone reporting options.
- Check the holiday schedule first. Only three holidays delay residential curbside pickup.
- Confirm correct set-out. Make sure carts were out by 7:00 a.m. and spaced properly.
- Report the missed pickup. Use the online form or call 311.
- Call the city if needed. You can also use 505-761-8100 for Solid Waste Management.
- Leave the carts accessible. The city says pickup will occur within 24 hours or on the next business day.
Albuquerque Drop-Off, Recycling, and Landfill Options
Albuquerque residents also have several official disposal and recycling options beyond curbside pickup. These are useful for extra household trash, green waste, or self-haul loads.
Eagle Rock Convenience Center
6301 Eagle Rock NE. Open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and also serves as an extra recycling drop-off site.
Don Reservoir Convenience Center
117 114th SW. Open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No recyclables are accepted there.
Montessa Park Convenience Center
3512 Los Picaros SE. Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cerro Colorado Landfill
18000 Cerro Colorado SW. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Recycling Drop-Off Sites
Citywide Albuquerque-area drop-off locations including Eagle Rock, Menaul, Balloon Fiesta Park, and more.
Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous waste guidance and automotive waste recycling information. Do not put hazardous waste in carts or take it to the landfill.
Frequently Asked Questions About Albuquerque Trash Pickup
How often is trash collected in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque collects residential trash once each week on your designated trash day.
Is recycling collected on the same day as trash in Albuquerque?
Yes. The city says residential curbside garbage and recycling are both provided on the same day.
What time should I place my carts out?
Set carts out by 7 a.m. and remove them from the street within 24 hours after collection.
Does Albuquerque offer free large item pickup?
Yes. Appliances and other approved large items are collected free of charge for residential customers when requested at least 24 hours in advance.
What kinds of large items can Albuquerque collect?
Eligible items include furniture, mattresses, bed frames, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, water heaters, lawn mowers, televisions, sinks, toilets, and up to four tires.
Which holidays delay Albuquerque trash collection in 2026?
Only Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day delay regular residential curbside pickup in 2026.
What happens if the holiday falls on a weekend?
Albuquerque says there are no changes to residential pickup when the holiday falls on a weekend.
Does Albuquerque have green waste pickup in 2026?
Yes. The city provides residential green waste curbside collection two times each year, and the official 2026 page confirms the spring event from May 4 through May 15, 2026.
Can I put green waste in my normal trash cart?
Yes, but only if it fits inside the trash cart with the lid fully closed. Green waste may not be placed in recycling carts.
What should I do if my pickup was missed?
If trash is not picked up by dusk on your regular day, report it online or call 311. Albuquerque says pickup will occur within 24 hours or on the next business day.
Official Albuquerque Trash Collection Resources
Collection Day Overview
Official weekly trash rules, cart placement rules, holiday basics, and new resident service info.
Look Up Your Trash Day
Address-based Albuquerque pickup day lookup for residential service.
Recycling
Curbside recycling rules, holiday delay rules, and city recycling guidance.
Large Item Pick-Up
Free residential large item pickup rules, eligible items, and curb placement guidance.
Green Waste
2026 green waste event dates, extra pickup options, and curbside preparation rules.
Holiday Collection Schedule
Official Albuquerque holiday collection rules for trash, recycling, and facilities.
Reminder: Albuquerque only delays residential curbside service for three holidays each year, so the quickest way to avoid mistakes is to confirm your address-based day and then follow the city’s holiday schedule page.