Recycling Centers in New Mexico: 115 Locations

Recycling in New Mexico

New Mexico has 115 recycling centers spread across 37 cities, including drop-off sites, scrap yards, household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities, and e-waste events. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Resource Recovery Bureau — formerly the Solid Waste Bureau, renamed to reflect its expanded sustainable-materials mission — administers solid waste permitting, recycling grants, and the state's first Circular Economy Plan, completed in 2025 under an update to the Recycling, Circular Economy, and Illegal Dumping Act (HB 291). New Mexico does not have a statewide electronics (e-waste) recycling law or producer-responsibility program; electronics recycling is voluntary, and no statewide e-waste landfill ban exists.

Recycling infrastructure is concentrated in the metro areas of central and southern New Mexico. Albuquerque leads the state with 40 centers, followed by Santa Fe with 10 and Las Cruces with 8. Gallup lists 6 centers, Rio Rancho has 5, and Clovis and Belen each have 4. Hobbs rounds out the larger hubs with 3 centers.

The 2025 Circular Economy Plan identifies scrap tires, batteries, household hazardous waste, and organics as priority material streams and makes $11.5 million in grant funding available to businesses, local governments, Tribal nations, schools, and nonprofits for reuse, recycling, and recovery projects. Residents recycle primarily through city curbside programs (where available), county drop-off sites, and periodic HHW and e-waste collection events organized by local jurisdictions and Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Albuquerque 40 Santa Fe 10 Las Cruces 8 Gallup 6 Rio Rancho 5 Belen 4 Clovis 4 Hobbs 3

All Cities in New Mexico

Abiquiu 1 center Alamogordo 1 center Albuquerque 40 centers Angel Fire 1 center Anthony 1 center Artesia 1 center Belen 4 centers Bernalillo 1 center Bloomfield 1 center Bosque Farms 1 center Carlsbad 1 center Clovis 4 centers Deming 2 centers El Prado 1 center Espanola 1 center Eunice 1 center Farmington 2 centers Gallup 6 centers Hobbs 3 centers Kirtland 1 center Las Cruces 8 centers Las Vegas 2 centers Los Lunas 3 centers Nambe 1 center Polvadera 1 center Rio Rancho 5 centers Roswell 2 centers Ruidoso Downs 1 center Santa Fe 10 centers Santa Teresa 1 center Sunland Park 1 center Taos 1 center Tierra Amarilla 1 center Tijeras 1 center Truth Or Consequences 1 center Wagon Mound 1 center Zuni 1 center

Recycling in New Mexico — FAQ

Does New Mexico have a bottle-deposit (bottle bill) law?

No. New Mexico does not have a beverage container deposit law. There is no refundable deposit on cans or bottles, and no statewide container take-back program.

Is there an e-waste recycling law in New Mexico?

No statewide electronics recycling mandate or producer-responsibility (EPR) law exists in New Mexico as of 2026. E-waste such as old TVs, computers, and monitors can be disposed of at voluntary drop-off and collection events hosted by cities and counties, but there is no legal ban on landfilling consumer electronics.

Who oversees recycling in New Mexico?

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Resource Recovery Bureau regulates solid waste facilities and administers recycling grants and the Circular Economy Plan. Individual cities and counties — particularly Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department — run day-to-day curbside and drop-off programs.

Where are New Mexico's biggest recycling hubs?

Albuquerque dominates with 40 listed centers, making it by far the state's largest recycling hub. Santa Fe follows with 10 centers and Las Cruces with 8. Gallup (6), Rio Rancho (5), Clovis (4), Belen (4), and Hobbs (3) serve their respective regions.