Albuquerque Dump Fees & Landfill Guide for Junk Removal Operators
Cerro Colorado Landfill rates NOT published — call (505) 761-8300. C&D at Southwest Landfill $37/ton + $10 env fee. Open 7 days.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$5.25/load (convenience centers) – $70/ton (non-compactable C&D at Southwest Landfill)
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton at landfills, flat per-load at convenience centers
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
Cerro Colorado Landfill — the only MSW facility in the metro — does NOT publish per-ton rates online. Operators who don't call ahead cannot accurately price jobs. Southwest Landfill is C&D ONLY and will reject any household trash, furniture, or tires in a mixed load.
Typical Costs in Albuquerque
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW (Household Junk)
Not published — call Cerro Colorado at (505) 761-8300
Not published — call for minimum charge
Basis: Per ton (weighed at scale)
infoCerro Colorado Landfill is the only municipal MSW landfill in the Albuquerque metro, processing approximately 525,000 tons per year. The per-ton rate is NOT published anywhere online — operators must call (505) 761-8300 for current pricing. This is the single most important data point for your Albuquerque operation. Vehicles are weighed at the scale house in and out. Payment accepted: cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, Diners Club. Invoicing available for commercial accounts. Open 7 days a week including Sundays — a significant scheduling advantage.
1Call (505) 761-8300 before pricing any ABQ jobs — the MSW per-ton rate is not published and is the foundation of your job pricing
2Convenience centers at $5.25/load are unbeatable for pickup-truck-sized loads from small residential cleanouts
3Southwest Landfill at $37/ton for C&D is likely cheaper than Cerro Colorado's MSW rate for pure construction debris
C&D (Construction & Demolition)
$37/ton compactable + $10/load env fee – $70/ton non-compactable at Southwest Landfill
Calculated by weight (e.g., 500 lbs compactable = $20.44 total with fees and tax)
Basis: Per ton plus $10/load environmental fee plus ~7.875% NM Gross Receipts Tax
infoSouthwest Landfill at $37/ton for standard compactable C&D (with $10/load environmental fee and NM GRT) is the dedicated C&D facility. Non-compactable C&D costs $70/ton — nearly double. The facility accepts construction waste, demolition waste, yard waste, clean soil, and railroad ties. CRITICAL: Southwest Landfill does NOT accept household trash, furniture, or tires. Any household items in a mixed load will result in rejection. Loads requiring hand-unloading must arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. Facility closes on high-wind days, which are common in Albuquerque, especially March through May.
Small Loads (Convenience Centers)
$5.25/load flat rate at all three city convenience centers
$5.25 per load (including tax)
Basis: Flat per-load
infoThe City of Albuquerque operates three convenience centers — Eagle Rock (NE), Montessa Park (SE), and Don Reservoir (W) — all charging $5.25/load flat rate. Untarped or unsecured loads incur a $5.82 cleanup fee (including tax). Vehicle capacity limit: 2 tons. Combined vehicle and trailer length limit: 40 feet. Small commercial haulers with a city hauling permit are allowed. Eagle Rock is the only center accepting recyclables. All three open 7 days a week, 8 AM–5 PM (no entry after 4:30 PM). For pickup-truck-sized loads from small residential cleanouts, the $5.25 flat rate is the cheapest disposal option in the metro.
Regulatory Fees & Permits
$3/vehicle (city permit) – ~7.875% NM GRT on hauling services
$12 first vehicle + $3 each additional (city permit)
Basis: Annual permits plus per-ton/per-load taxes and fees
infoOperators need THREE registrations: (1) NMED Commercial Hauler Registration (state level, 5-year term — application requires vehicle descriptions, waste types, disposal destinations, compliance history), (2) City of Albuquerque Hauling Permit ($12 first vehicle, $3 each additional, renewed annually), and (3) City Business License ($35/year effective January 1, 2025). NM Gross Receipts Tax at approximately 7.875% applies to waste hauling services. Scrap tire haulers need additional surety bond (up to $10,000) and state-approved manifests. Contact NMED at (505) 827-0197.
Facilities in Albuquerque
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (3)
Cerro Colorado Landfill & Materials Recovery Facility
The ONLY MSW landfill in the metro — open 7 days a week including SundaysRate
NOT PUBLISHED ONLINE — call (505) 761-8300 or toll-free (888) 664-2726. Cash, check, Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover, Diners Club. Invoicing for commercial accounts.
Not published — call for details
Hours
7 days/week 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day
Area
Southwest Albuquerque (18000 Cerro Colorado SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121)
City of Albuquerque-operated — the only municipal MSW landfill in the metro, approximately 180 acres permitted, processing 525,000 tons per year. The per-ton rate is NOT published anywhere — call (505) 761-8300 and get the current rate before pricing any jobs. Open 7 days a week including Sundays, which is a real scheduling advantage. Vehicles are weighed at the scale house in and out. City hauling permit required. Special or non-standard waste requires pre-approval — call (505) 761-8300 or email WasteDisposal@tucsonaz.gov (note: verify ABQ-specific email). Tires require NM state-approved scrap tire manifests.
Southwest Landfill (C&D Only)
Dedicated C&D at $37/ton — likely cheaper than Cerro Colorado for pure construction and demolition debrisRate
Compactable C&D: $37.00/ton + $10.00/load environmental fee + ~7.875% NM GRT. Non-compactable C&D: $70.00/ton + $10.00/load + tax. Visa, MC, Discover accepted (card must be present — no phone payments).
Calculated by weight (e.g., 500 lbs compactable = $20.44 total)
Hours
Seasonal — call (505) 242-2020 before visiting · Closed holidays and high-wind days
Area
Southwest Albuquerque (5816 Pajarito Road SW / 6201 Escarpment Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121)
Private C&D landfill established in 1987. At $37/ton for compactable C&D, this is likely cheaper than Cerro Colorado for pure construction and demolition debris. CRITICAL: does NOT accept household trash, tires, furniture, or burnt trash/ashes — loads contaminated with household items will be rejected. Loads requiring hand-unloading must arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. Closes on high-wind days (common March–May in ABQ) — always call before dispatching. Final cost rounded to nearest five cents due to coin shortage. Non-compactable C&D (bulky items that don't compress) costs $70/ton.
Eagle Rock Convenience Center
Cheapest disposal option at $5.25/load — the only convenience center accepting recyclablesRate
$5.25/load (including tax). Untarped/unsecured loads: $5.82 cleanup fee (including tax).
$5.25
Hours
7 days/week 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (no entry after 4:30 PM) · Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day
Area
Northeast Albuquerque (6301 Eagle Rock NE, Albuquerque, NM)
City-operated convenience center and the only one of three that accepts recyclables. At $5.25/load flat rate, this is unbeatable for pickup-truck-sized loads from small residential cleanouts. Vehicle capacity limit: 2 tons. Combined vehicle and trailer length limit: 40 feet — dump trucks and large trailers cannot enter. Small commercial haulers with a city hauling permit are allowed. Open 7 days a week. The $5.82 cleanup fee for untarped loads is low but avoidable — always tarp.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
Southwest Landfill does NOT accept household trash, tires, furniture, or burnt trash/ashes — C&D materials ONLY. Any household items mixed into a C&D load will result in rejection.
Tires require a NM state-approved scrap tire manifest for disposal at Cerro Colorado. Scrap tire haulers need an additional surety bond (up to $10,000). Temporary storage limited to 99 scrap tires, maximum 72 hours.
Convenience centers have a 2-ton vehicle capacity limit and 40-foot combined vehicle + trailer length limit. Dump trucks and large trailers cannot enter — use Cerro Colorado or Southwest Landfill for full-size commercial loads.
Triple permit requirement: (1) NMED Commercial Hauler Registration (5-year term, state level), (2) City of Albuquerque Hauling Permit ($12 first vehicle, $3 each additional, annual renewal), (3) City Business License ($35/year). Apply for city permits via ABQ-PLAN portal.
NM Gross Receipts Tax (~7.875%) applies to waste hauling services. Southwest Landfill adds this on top of per-ton rates and the $10 environmental fee.
NMED registration requires: business name/address, vehicle descriptions, waste types hauled, disposal destinations, and compliance history. Contact NMED at (505) 827-0197 or visit env.nm.gov/solid-waste/forms-2/#haulers.
Cerro Colorado is open 7 days a week including Sundays — unusual for a municipal landfill and a real scheduling advantage. All three convenience centers are also open 7 days.
High-wind closures are common in Albuquerque, especially March through May. Southwest Landfill closes entirely on high-wind days. Always call ahead before dispatching during spring.
NM regulation 20.9.2.7.C(4) exempts clean fill (broken concrete, brick, rock, uncontaminated soil) from disposal at a permitted landfill — it can be deposited elsewhere if managed without nuisance or hazard. This can save significant money on demolition and excavation jobs.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Separate C&D from household junk religiously — Southwest Landfill at $37/ton for compactable C&D is likely cheaper than Cerro Colorado's MSW rate, but it will NOT accept a single piece of furniture or household trash in a mixed load. Keep two separate load types on every renovation job.
Sell scrap metal at Acme Iron and Metal / Albuquerque Metal Recycling (3339 2nd St SW, (505) 345-2457 — largest in NM, 5 locations), Pueblo Metals Recycling, or Rudy's Downtown Recycling (1224 2nd St NW, (505) 247-4576). Copper at approximately $1.50–$3.50/lb.
Donate usable items to Habitat for Humanity ReStore (4900 Menaul Blvd NE, (505) 265-0057 — ranked #1 ReStore five years running). FREE large-item pickup available. Goodwill NM offers limited home pickups. Mattresses go to A Bedder World (abedderworld.com/Albuquerque-NM) for curbside recycling.
Timing Strategy
Cerro Colorado opens at 7:00 AM, 7 days a week — dump first, then start your route. Sunday access is a real advantage for clearing weekend job backlog.
Southwest Landfill has seasonal hours — always call (505) 242-2020 before dispatching. Wind closures are common March through May. Don't schedule tight dump runs on windy forecast days during spring.
Convenience centers close at 5:00 PM with no entry after 4:30 PM. Plan small-load dump runs before 4:00 PM to ensure you clear the gate in time.
Routing Strategy
Small residential cleanouts (pickup-truck-sized loads): route to the nearest convenience center at $5.25/load — Eagle Rock (NE), Montessa Park (SE), or Don Reservoir (W). Unbeatable for loads that fit in a pickup under the 2-ton vehicle limit.
Full truckloads of mixed junk: Cerro Colorado Landfill at 18000 Cerro Colorado SW. The only MSW facility in the metro — no alternative for household waste.
Pure C&D jobs (remodels, demolition): Southwest Landfill at 5816 Pajarito Road SW for compactable C&D at $37/ton. Exploit the clean fill exemption under NM regulation 20.9.2.7.C(4) — find contractors or property owners who need fill material and avoid the landfill entirely for concrete, brick, and rock.
Best Practice
Albuquerque's unpublished MSW rate at Cerro Colorado means most operators are guessing at their disposal costs — and guessing wrong. ScaleYourJunk logs dump fees per job automatically so you can track your actual cost at Cerro Colorado and Southwest Landfill, compare them, and know exactly when separating C&D saves money versus sending everything to the MSW landfill.
Unpublished Rates Mean You Need Real Data
ScaleYourJunk tracks disposal costs per job so you know your actual per-ton cost at Cerro Colorado — not what you think you're paying.
Dump Fees in Albuquerque: FAQ
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FeatureLoad-Based Pricing Engine
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Unpublished Rates + Wind Closures = Plan With Data
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job so you know your actual Cerro Colorado rate — and whether separating C&D for Southwest Landfill saves money on each job type.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo