Free Christmas Tree Recycling Begins for Sandoval County Residents

PNM partnered with the cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho to launch a free Christmas tree recycling effort announced Dec. 24, 2025. The program is intended to reduce landfill volume and turn real holiday trees into mulch that can be reused in parks and landscaping. For Sandoval County residents, the initiative provides an easy, no cost option to dispose of natural trees while supporting local sustainability goals.

Rio Rancho opened its collection program Dec. 26, 2025 and will accept trees through Jan. 12, 2026. Drop off locations include the Rio Rancho Sports Complex and other city designated sites. Residents may bring up to five real trees per household, provided trees are stripped of lights, ornaments, stands and all other decorations. Artificial trees and commercial quantities are not accepted. Posted hours and specific site locations are available through city channels to help residents plan their visits.

Albuquerque is participating through a parallel program offered in coordination with PNM. Both cities framed the effort as a cost effective way to manage organic waste at the end of the holidays. Diverting thousands of pounds of trees from municipal landfills reduces the volume that municipalities must manage and decreases the pace at which landfill capacity is used. Processed mulch can lower park maintenance costs and provide a local source of soil conditioner for community projects.

For individual households, the allowance of up to five trees means family homes and small shared living arrangements can dispose of multiple trees without fees. For municipal planners, the predictable influx of yard waste over the roughly two week window enables scheduled collection and processing that is more efficient than ad hoc pickups. The exclusion of artificial trees and commercial loads focuses municipal resources on residential holiday waste and prevents contamination of organic processing streams.

The program reflects a growing trend among utilities and cities to treat seasonal organic waste as a resource. Sandoval County residents with real trees should remove decorations, observe posted hours and use the designated sites to ensure their trees are recycled into mulch rather than sent to landfill.