ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — More Albuquerque residents will soon have access to recycling services after the Albuquerque City Council approved a new ordinance aimed at expanding recycling opportunities across the city.
The measure, sponsored by Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, closes what supporters describe as longstanding loopholes in the city’s Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance that allowed some multi-family housing developments to avoid providing recycling access to residents.
Under previous rules, apartment complexes with fewer than 25 units were exempt from offering recycling services. In addition, some larger apartment communities could pay a recycling collection fee without making recycling bins available to tenants.
The newly approved ordinance changes those requirements by mandating that:
- Multi-family properties with fewer than 25 units establish recycling collection programs.
- Apartment complexes with 25 or more units provide recycling containers that are physically accessible to residents.
- Hardship exemptions be limited to properties where physical placement of recycling containers is not feasible, rather than based solely on cost.
- Recycling services be available at all city-owned and city-operated buildings for both employees and the public.
Fiebelkorn said the changes are intended to expand access to recycling for renters across Albuquerque while also requiring city government facilities to participate.
“For too long, thousands of Albuquerque renters have been denied the basic opportunity to recycle at home,” Fiebelkorn said in a statement following the vote.
Implementation of recycling services at city-owned buildings is expected to begin within 180 days, while the new requirements for apartment complexes and other multi-family housing developments will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
Supporters say the ordinance will increase recycling participation and provide more consistent access to recycling services throughout Albuquerque.
