Refuse Collection Policy
SANDIA HEIGHTS SERVICES SANITATION POLICIES & INFORMATION
REGULAR TRASH BIN SERVICE
Sandia Heights Services monthly sanitation charge includes one trash bin (brown lid) and one recycle bin (green lid).
Trash is collected each week and must be deposited in bins provided by Sandia Heights Services. Items placed outside, sitting next to, or on top of the bin(s) will not be collected. All trash should be placed and secured in plastic bags if possible. This will help keep the bin(s) clean and prevent spillage. Other materials, such as tree branches, should fit easily into the bin(s) to ensure ease of unloading. Bins should be put out no later than 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, and no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to your collection. Bins need to be placed at the curbside or roads edge, with the lid firmly closed and should be as close to the roadway as possible, in a location clear from vehicular traffic and must not prohibit pedestrian movement. Bins should be clearly visible and accessible. The maximum bin weight for both regular trash and recycle is 150 lbs. Do not overfill your container or it will not be collected.
For residents moving out of the area, do not take the bin(s), each bin is assigned to the residence and is the property of Sandia Heights Services.
Sandia Heights, Primrose Pointe and North Tramway Estates subdivision covenants require all trash containers be shielded from public view. Please place the bins inside the garage, on the side of your home or in the backyard.
Residents may request additional trash or recycle bins for the following additional monthly fee:
- 96 Gallon – $7.10
- 64 Gallon – $5.86
RECYCLE SERVICE
Sandia Heights Services offers a curbside bin recycling program. Participation is available to all residents at no additional monthly charge. Recycle bins will have a green lid. All recyclables should be deposited loose in the bin or in paper bags. Recyclables contained in plastic bags will not be accepted. Place your recycle bin by the curbside along with your regular trash bin by 7:00 a.m on your regular collection day every other week – please see the Recycle Calendar for specific dates/recycle weeks.
ALLOWED recyclables include:
- #1 through #7 plastic bottles/tubs, rinsed and caps removed & rigid plastic toys
- Phone books, junk mail, brown paper bags, cereal boxes (chipboard) & paper egg cartons
- Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, paperback and hardback books
- Corrugated cardboard (no dirty pizza boxes) broken down to fit in recycle bin
- Aluminum &tin cans, lids removed and cans rinsed & foil & pie pans
- Small electronics & appliances
Do I Have To Rinse My Recyclables?
Jars, Bottles and Cans:
- If the empty jars, bottles, and cans have visible residue within the container, you should rinse them out before tossing them in the recycling bin.
- This doesn’t mean you need to break out the dish soap and a sponge in order to clean out the remaining contents. All you need to do is fill the jar, bottle, or can with water and swish the water around until a majority of the remaining contents are removed from the sides. That’s it!
- However, for containers that were filled with more sticky substances (jelly, honey, marshmallow fluff), take the extra few seconds to give it a quick scrub.
Cardboard and Paper Guidelines:
- Grease and oil make cardboard and paper unrecyclable, so pizza boxes covered in grease aren’t fit for the recycling bin. However, if the box is mostly clean with just a few specks of grease, you’re fine to recycle it.
- The same goes for other contaminants. If you’re making pancakes and a drop of egg lands on the box, it’s still clean enough to recycle. However, too much of a mess will make it impossible to recycle.
- Additionally, crumpled, torn or misshapen paper and cardboard can be recycled the same as flat products. As a side note, paper that has been shredded or torn into bits must be contained in paper bags to avoid the small pieces from blowing away and causing littering.
Throw Away Heavily Soiled Items:
- Items that are heavily soiled or impossible to clean, unfortunately cannot be recycled and should be thrown away.
NOT PERMITTED for recycle:
- Glass, styrofoam, wrapping paper or plastic grocery bags
- Food, garbage, yard waste or wood
- Batteries, light bulbs or ink cartridges
- E-waste, TVs or computer monitors
- Hazardous waste, motor oil bottles
- Sharp metal or medical waste/needles
BIN DAMAGE OR REPLACEMENT
If your bin is lost or damaged through your negligence, you will be charged $55.00 (plus tax) for a replacement. For replacement of damaged, lost or stolen bins, please call Customer Service at (505) 856-6419. Please be advised that, due to fluctuations in the workload of the sanitation crew, replacement bins may take up to five business days to be delivered.
SPECIAL PICKUPS/EXCESS TRASH
Should you have additional uncontained trash that does not fit in your bin(s), you may schedule a Special Pickup by calling Customer Service at (505) 856-6419. A minimum charge of $20.00 (plus tax), depending on the volume and/or size of the items, will be applied to your account on the next billing cycle. Pickups exceeding standard volume/size or weight, will be charged a minimum of $50.00 (plus tax). Special Pickups are scheduled for Monday’s only. Requests must be made no later than 4:30 p.m the Friday prior to the pickup on Monday.
*Refrigerators/freezers will only be considered for Special Pickup if documentation certifying the compressor has been removed is provided.
Items considered to be a special pickup include but are not limited to:
- Bags/bundles exceeding bin capacity
- Furniture
- Appliances (compressor must be removed)
Items not allowed for pickup at any time include but are not limited to:
- Lumber scraps, tires or batteries
- Construction materials, hazardous waste/demolition waste
- Flammables and paint
- Dirt/rocks/gravel/sand/concrete/brick/cinder block
- Fluorescent light ballasts
- Pesticides/infectious (biomedical) waste
- Dead animals
- Hot ashes
- Televisions
Excess trash may also be taken to one of the cities Convenience Centers, the closest being:
Eagle Rock Convenience Center
6301 Eagle Rock NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
(505) 857-8318
Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Sandia Heights Services will provide assistance with the bins for disabled or elderly residents with certification by a medical provider.
Download the Disability Assistance Form.