Free yard waste drop-off extended to six weeks in East Mountains

Bernalillo County Public Works and District 5 Commissioner Eric Olivas are partnering with the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District to offer free organic waste disposal. The program begins on November 1 at the East Mountain Transfer Station.

Residents may bring leaves, dead branches, brush, and other organic yard debris to the site. Clearing this material from yards, roofs, and gutters helps reduce wildfire risks by removing ladder fuel.

The disposal period usually lasts two weeks. However, additional funding and a greater need to thin fuel wood in the East Mountains have extended the free drop-off window. The event will now run for six weeks, ending on December 15.

The transfer station is located at 711 Highway 333 in Tijeras, also known as Old Route 66. It operates every day from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. All vehicles must check in before dumping or recycling. Loads must be physically in the yard by 5 p.m. and must be covered to avoid a fee.

County officials urge residents to use the service to prepare their properties for the fire season. The program accepts standard organic yard waste at no cost to the public for the duration of the event.