The City of Albuquerque’s Solid 91²Ö¿â Management Department (SWMD) is launching an Every-Other-Week (EOW) residential curbside recycling pilot program beginning September 28, 2026, in select neighborhoods. The pilot is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to reducing the carbon footprint by aligning collection practices with current material availability. This pilot will help evaluate how a more efficient collection schedule can support long-term sustainability goals while continuing to provide residents with convenient access to recycling.
The EOW Pilot Program is the result of years of operational analysis and environmental planning focused on making Albuquerque’s recycling system more sustainable. The pilot will allow the City to evaluate environmental and operational benefits under real-world conditions and help guide future recycling planning.
Switching to EOW recycling citywide will allow our department to save an estimated 12,026,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide each year. For context, that’s the rough equivalent of taking 1,300 passenger vehicles off the road annually, according to EPA studies. Those studies also suggest it would take approximately 100,000 tree seedlings growing for 10 years to sequester just one year of those emissions.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the program is expected to decrease other pollutants produced by heavy-duty diesel vehicles, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). These pollutants contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and haze and can affect local air quality, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions. By reducing unnecessary truck trips, the City can help improve the air we breathe while continuing to provide reliable curbside recycling service.