Albuquerque Launches Every-Other-Week Recycling Pilot
Selected households will move to biweekly curbside recycling collection under a city pilot launched September 28, while weekly residential trash service will continue unchanged.
MONTREAL (RecyclingMonster): The City of Albuquerque has launched a residential recycling pilot that shifts curbside recycling collection to an every-other-week schedule for selected households, effective September 28, 2026.
The initiative, led by the city's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD), follows years of operational analysis and environmental planning. The city said the pilot will help evaluate how a revised collection schedule performs under real-world conditions and inform future recycling planning.
Participating homes were selected randomly from neighborhoods representing a mix of housing types, recycling participation levels and existing collection routes.
City Evaluates Environmental and Fleet Benefits
Albuquerque says reducing recycling collection frequency could lower fuel consumption, decrease vehicle maintenance requirements and extend the operating life of collection equipment.
The city estimates that switching to every-other-week recycling citywide could avoid approximately 12.026 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which it compares with removing roughly 1,300 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.
City officials also expect fewer collection trips to reduce pollutants associated with heavy-duty diesel vehicles, including nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter.
SWMD says its collection trucks travel roughly 250 miles per day, or more than 75,000 miles annually. The department estimates that reducing collection frequency could keep 112 truck tires out of the landfill while also lowering other vehicle maintenance demands.
Weekly Trash Collection Will Continue
The city also expects fewer recycling collection trips to reduce the cumulative impact of heavy collection vehicles on neighborhood streets, as well as traffic and noise associated with collection operations.
The pilot will not affect Albuquerque's weekly household trash collection. Participating residents will continue receiving their regular curbside garbage service on the existing weekly schedule.
Albuquerque Recycling Pilot: What Residents Should Know
When did Albuquerque's every-other-week recycling pilot begin?
The pilot took effect September 28, 2026, for selected residential households.
Does every Albuquerque household now have recycling every other week?
No. The current program is a pilot involving selected neighborhoods and households rather than a citywide service change.
How were households selected for the recycling pilot?
The city says homes were selected randomly to create a broad sample representing different housing types, recycling participation levels and existing collection routes.
Will the pilot change weekly trash collection?
No. Weekly curbside trash pickup will continue as usual for participating households.
What environmental benefit does Albuquerque project from every-other-week recycling?
The city estimates that a citywide shift to every-other-week recycling could avoid approximately 12.026 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to roughly 1,300 passenger vehicles.