What it costs to dump in New Mexico: 2026 fees by city
In New Mexico the price depends on the city or county: free for Clovis residents, $1 a bag at San Juan County stations, $5 a load at Albuquerque's convenience centers, and up to $68.05 a ton at Las Cruces' transfer station.
2026 cost to dump in New Mexico, place by place
| Place | Small load | Bigger loads | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis | Free for city residents | Non-residents pay by weight | Bring proof of residence |
| Rio Rancho | 1,000 lbs free once a month | Landfill gate rate above that | License + current WM bill |
| San Juan County (Farmington) | $1 a bag; $9 a pickup bed | Regional landfill in Aztec | 3 cubic yards a day max |
| Sandoval County | $1 a bag; $6 a pickup load | $35 a ton | Cash or business check only |
| Albuquerque | $5 a load for residents | $30 a ton at Cerro Colorado | Free large-item pickup |
| Taos | $6.56 up to 220 lbs | $65.63 a ton commercial | County punch cards |
| Santa Fe | $8.50 a carload | $62.50 a ton over 6,500 lbs | Free drop-off recycling |
| Las Cruces | $8.36 minimum | $68.05 a ton | Landfill is for account holders |
| Roswell | $9.81 for 300 lbs | $54.15 a ton | One free dump a month |
| Los Lunas | Included for Village residents | $25 a load for non-residents | No construction debris |
| Alamogordo | City collection center, daily | $27.98 to $38.47 a ton at the landfill | Paint must be dried out |
| Silver City | $15.75 a quarter fee | County transfer stations | Recycles only cardboard and cans |
Rates verified from each operator's own published pages, October 2026. Appliances, tires and construction debris cost extra almost everywhere. Confirm with the site before a big load.
Find a landfill near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites across New Mexico, then open your city's page for its exact hours, fees and what it accepts.
Why prices vary so much in New Mexico
New Mexico's cities, counties and regional authorities each run their own sites. Some charge by the load: Albuquerque's convenience centers are $5 for residents, Santa Fe's BuRRT charges by the weight rating of your vehicle ($8.50 for a car or small pickup), and the Sandoval County Landfill $6 for a pickup filled to bed level. Others weigh you: $9.81 for the first 300 pounds in Roswell, $6.56 for 220 pounds in Taos, $68.05 a ton at Las Cruces' Amador station.
Rural counties lean on collection and convenience centers with small fees or permits: $1 a bag in San Juan County, $5 punches in Doña Ana County, and punch cards tied to a yearly fee in Taos County ($170) and Santa Fe County. Grant County bills every home $15.75 a quarter for its landfill.
Free and nearly free options
- Clovis residents dump household waste and yard debris free with proof of residence.
- Rio Rancho residents get up to 1,000 pounds free once a month at the Waste Management landfill.
- Roswell waives one tipping fee a month for residents, and residents' brush and yard waste is always free.
- Albuquerque picks up furniture, appliances and up to 4 tires free for city trash customers.
- San Juan County recycles appliances, cardboard and cans free at all 12 stations, and Santa Fe's BuRRT takes drop-off recycling free.
- Free mulch at Alamogordo's collection center and Roswell's landfill, and free compost for Las Cruces city residents.
The catches that cost people money
- Bring the right ID. Albuquerque wants a utility bill, license or ID; Rio Rancho's free day needs a license and a current Waste Management bill; Los Lunas needs your license and water bill with matching addresses.
- Cover your load. Untarped loads cost $30.93 extra in Las Cruces, $15 to $25 in Santa Fe and $5.54 extra in Albuquerque, and Taos County can fine up to $300.
- Know which site takes what. Albuquerque's Don Reservoir center won't take refrigerators; Albuquerque's landfill and convenience centers don't take construction debris; Las Cruces' Corralitos Landfill is for account holders; Sandoval County's hazardous waste collection has been suspended since March 2026.
What New Mexico law keeps out of the trash
New Mexico's solid waste rules (20.9.2.10 NMAC) make it illegal to dispose of lead-acid (car) batteries at any landfill or incinerator. They also bar liquid waste, infectious waste and regulated hazardous waste from landfills.
The state doesn't ban tires, TVs and computers, appliances or mattresses from landfills, and it has no paint stewardship (PaintCare) or mattress recycling law. Scrap tires are tightly tracked, though: haulers need a New Mexico scrap tire manifest, and landfills ask for one when you bring 10 or more.