What is Mixed Recycling?
Mixed recycling means that all accepted recyclables are collected together, with no need to separate by material type. Mixed recycling, also referred to as single-stream recycling, is easy and convenient making it ideal for residential collection. Mixed recycling is sent to BARCo Recycling in Albuquerque where the material is separated and baled before being made into new products.
What can I recycle in the blue recycle roll-carts and mixed recycling dumpsters?
How To Prepare Recyclables
Make sure that no food or other contaminants are on the material by lightly rinsing it. If the container has difficult food to remove like peanut butter you will need to thoroughly clean it before placing in the recycling. It is important to avoid placing non-recyclable items in your blue recycling roll cart because the contamination could result in the necessary land filling of the load. Remember WHEN IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT.
Get your guide for recycling in Los Alamos County here(PDF, 714KB).
Yellow Dumpster (Glass collection is drop-off only, with yellow recycling dumpsters located at Sullivan Field, the Los Alamos Co-op Market, Overlook Convenience Center and Eco Station. Glass bottles and jars are the only items allowed in the glass dumpster. Items not allowed light bulbs, windows and mirrors, drinking glasses, plate glass, ceramics, lids, plastic bags and cardboard bottle holders.)
In July 2018, Los Alamos County implemented the curbside yard trimming roll cart collection program to residents who participate in weekly curbside trash roll cart collection. The yard trimming collection program replaced the quarterly brush collection program. The yard trimming roll cart is voluntary and is available at no additional cost to residents who pay for weekly curbside trash and recycling collection. The yard trimming roll cart is for organic yard trimmings only, which includes short branches, flowers, grass clippings, leaves, pine needles and pine cones. Limit of 1 yard trimming roll cart per household.
History of program(PDF, 81KB)
Please join us as LAC embarks on this new waste diversion journey.
Register Today for a Roll Cart!
Household hazardous waste (HHW) services are available to Los Alamos County residents who already pay for curbside roll cart collection services. HHW collection services will be provided once monthly at the Eco Station from 9:00 am to 1:00pm on the dates listed below, see schedule for more details.
- Friday, December 1, 2023
- Friday, January 5, 2024 (canceled due to inclement weather)
- Friday, January 12, 2024 (rescheduled)
- Friday, February 2, 2024
- Saturday, March 2, 2024
- Friday. April 5, 2024
- Friday, May 3, 2024
- Saturday, June 1, 2024
- Friday, July 12, 2024
- Friday, August 2, 2024
- Friday, September 6, 2024
- Saturday, October 5, 2024
- Friday, November 8, 2024
- Friday, December 6, 2024
For more information please see the Recycle Coach on the homepage.
Accepted items include: Aerosol Spray Cans, Automotive Fluids, Corrosives, Cleaners, Photographic Flammable Solvents, Fuels, Items Containing Mercury, Oxidizers, Fertilizers, Pool Chemicals, Paints, Finishes, Stains, Pesticides and Herbicides
Note: You may dispose of Automotive Oil and Antifreeze 7 days a week
Citizens may now dispose of their unused and unwanted prescription medication in this drug collection box in the front lobby of the Los Alamos Police Station at 2500 Trinity Dr. The box is under 24-hour surveillance.
National Drug Take Back Events occur annually in April and October. The drop-off collection at the Police Station is for pills only. No sharps, liquids, aerosols, ointments or creams are accepted. Household generated sharps can be brought to the Eco Station House for proper disposal. The Eco Station cannot accept any other type of pharmaceutical waste.
For more information call 662-8163 or email solidwaste@lacnm.us
Electronics Recycling is accepted at the Eco Station EVERYDAY
- Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am - 4:15 pm
- Sat. - Sun. 9:00 am - 4:15 pm
Accepted items include:
- Computers (CPU, Monitor and Accessories),
- Servers, Printers
- Scanners
- Copiers
- Fax Machines
- Stereos
- VCR's
- Blue Ray and DVD players
- Phones
- Battery Back-ups
- Calculators
- Gaming Systems
- Tablets and Televisions
A way to reduce waste is reusing the items we have by sharing with others. The Eco Station and Overlook Convenience Center have a Reuse area filled with items that could potentially have a second chance. The reuse items are gently used and in good condition.
Items that are not accepted at the Reuse area include mattresses, household hazardous waste (paints, stains, cleaners, pesticides, etc.), clothing, or broken items.
Items that are acceptable at the Reuse area include unused or like new building materials, working appliances (with all the pieces included), and other gently used or well taken care of items.
If you do have clothing that you would like to recycle, there is a Big Brother Big Sister collection box at the Eco Station and Tewa Market.
Residents are free to come and take items from the Reuse area. If residents would like to leave items at the Reuse area, it will count as one of their 12 annual loads.