Rio Rancho, PNM Chip 857 Christmas Trees Into 12,855 Pounds Mulch

Rio Rancho converted 857 residential Christmas trees into roughly 12,855 pounds of mulch as part of its annual post-holiday recycling program, a joint effort with PNM and the city of Albuquerque. The program accepted drop-offs at the Rio Rancho Sports Complex from Dec. 26 through Jan. 12, and chipping operations took place Jan. 19, 2026.

PNM crews used the same chipping equipment that supports wildfire mitigation and outage response, allowing the utility to pair routine maintenance capability with community service. Combining Rio Rancho’s haul with Albuquerque’s contributions produced more than 84,000 pounds of mulch from a total of 5,628 trees, a scale municipal officials said underscores the sustainability and neighborhood benefits of the effort.

The program provided a convenient disposal option for Sandoval County residents who needed a post-holiday cleanup solution. Accepting trees at a centralized location at the Rio Rancho Sports Complex reduced the likelihood of improper disposal and kept bulky green waste out of local landfill streams during a period when yard debris typically spikes. For residents who rely on municipal collection or those without private hauling options, the drop-off window offered a practical, short-term service immediately after the holidays.

Operationally, using PNM equipment that also serves wildfire mitigation and outage response delivered two community advantages. The chipping work gave crews hands-on practice with heavy equipment in a nonemergency setting, while municipal partners converted a seasonal nuisance into a reusable product. The combined figure of more than 84,000 pounds of mulch from the two-city program highlights how small household actions add up when coordinated across neighboring jurisdictions.

For local government planners and community groups, the program represents a low-cost way to promote circular use of organic materials. Officials framed the effort as both waste reduction and community stewardship, noting the value in diverting wood from landfills and in creating material that can support landscaping, erosion control, or public-works projects when municipalities or nonprofits choose to redistribute mulch.

Residents should note the specific timing that made participation feasible this year: drop-offs were accepted from Dec. 26 through Jan. 12, with chipping completed on Jan. 19. Rio Rancho, PNM, and Albuquerque combined resources to manage the volume efficiently, producing an average of about 15 pounds of mulch per tree from the combined total.

As winter gives way to spring maintenance schedules, the program illustrates how local agencies, utilities, and residents can coordinate to reduce waste and strengthen operational readiness. Sandoval County residents can expect that taking advantage of seasonal collection opportunities like this one helps keep neighborhoods tidy and supports broader sustainability goals.