Duties
Las Cruces Utilities Solid Waste provides safe, economical, environmentally sound, and aesthetically pleasing Solid Waste management while meeting regulatory requirements and current growth needs of our community.
We supply trash containers to approximately 36,000 residential and 2,200 commercial customers and dispose of approximately 9,400 tons of trash per month. The residential and commercial systems use a one-person collection vehicle that collects waste on a designated pick-up day once a week.
Set Up
To set up new Solid Waste or to disconnect services contact Utilities Customer Services at 575-541-2111.
We continually strive to provide the best service at an economical price to our customers in the most efficient and timely manner possible.
Residential
To set up residential solid waste service contact Customer Service. A 64-gallon compact or a 96-gallon trash container will be delivered to your home. An additional trash container is available at an extra charge of $9 per month. Residential Grappler service is provided once a month on your regular service day.
Commercial
To set up commercial solid waste services contact Customer Service at 575-541-2111.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is provided as part of residential services. A recycling bin will be delivered with your trash container and picked up every other week by South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA). If you have questions/comments about your recycling service, contact SCSWA at 575-528-3800 or go to their Curbside Recycling website.
Additional Information
For Services regarding Residential Recycling, Commercial Recycling, School Recycling Programs, Electronic Recycling, Household Hazardous Waste or Glass Recycling, please visit South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) located at 2865 W Amador Avenue.
Roll-Offs are available in different sizes through Las Cruces Utilities-Solid Waste Section.
For more information please call (575) 541-2111.
The fee for Roll-Off is $170.00 for each empty and return/remove. Plus the current per ton fee, regardless of size and cannot exceed 12 tons.
At request outside normal business hours, and after hours service may be scheduled for an additional $80.00 between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Containers must be serviced at least 1 time a month.
Do not over-fill containers; items should not stick out above the top rail.
Containers will not be serviced if they have more than 12 tons in them.
Call (575) 541-2111 to discuss specific limits.
Please bag all food items, wet material, and loose light material.
Do not place items or trash around container.
10 or 15 cubic yard Roll-Offs are available for Clean Fill .
Clean fill consists of material such as concrete, asphalt, rocks, bricks, or dirt. If concrete has rebar, the rebar must be cut to extend no farther than 2 inches, beyond the face of the concrete.
Do not place trash, tree branches, any kind of green waste, or wood in CLEAN FILL containers.
It is the customer’s responsibility to keep the area around the container clean and free of debris and to discourage and prevent other people from dumping.
For more information call (575) 541-2111.
Do not place the following items in your Roll-Offs
Hot ashes or coals
Tires
Dead animals
Vehicle parts including car batteries
Paint, paint thinners, oil, gas or other hazardous waste
Fluorescent light bulbs and fluorescent light fixtures with ballasts
Large tree stumps or trunks
Do not place construction or remodeling material containing asbestos such as:
Asbestos containing linoleum or glue
Asbestos roofing material
Asbestos insulation
Please call a certified handler or a disposer for proper disposal
Large demolition or remodeling activities may require an Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) certified building inspector prior to any disturbance. Place call (575)524-6300 for information.
Metal dumpsters of various sizes are available through Las Cruces Utilities Solid Waste Section. For more information call (575) 541-2111
Information to remember:
Please bag all food items, wet material, and loose light material
Do not block access to containers
Do not place items or trash around the outside of the container
Do not over-fill containers. Lids should close properly
It is the customer’s responsibility to keep the area around the container clean and free of debris and to prevent other people from dumping
It is also the customer’s responsibility to maintain enclosures, enclosure gates, and keep them in proper working order.
Do not place the following items in your dumpster:
Hot ashes or coals
Tires
Dead animals
Vehicle parts including car batteries
Paint, paint thinners, oil, gas, or other hazardous waste
Fluorescent light bulbs or fluorescent light fixtures with ballasts
Large tree stumps or trunks
Concrete, bricks, asphalt, dirt, sod, rocks, or stucco
Anything that is toxic, flammable, corrosive, or an irritant
Furniture, appliances, or mattresses
Any construction or remodeling material including but not limited to:
Flooring materials
Roofing materials
Bathroom fixtures
Sheet rock
Lead, copper, or cast iron pipe
Any insulations such as fiberglass or Styrofoam
Wood or metal framing
Plywood or sheeting Please recycle.
Call Customer Central (575) 541-2111 to have a lock installed or to have the dumpster sprayed for odors, repaired or painted.
All compactors within the City of Las Cruces city limits must be serviced (emptied) by Las Cruces Cruces Utilities Solid Waste Section.
Compactors will be services (emptied) by Utilities Solid Waste Section either “on call” or through regularly scheduled services. The cost is $170.00 per pull to empty and return, plus current per ton fee (based on current South Central Solid Waste Authority prices).
Compactors will be services at least once per month. Services will be scheduled the following business day, but may take up to three (3) business days to complete after request is received by Solid Waste/Customer Central at 575-541-2111. Please plan for delays if you are working through a home office and or a broker for service.
The City does not provide or maintain compactors; the customer must purchase or rent the compactor from a private company and make arrangements with that company for installation and maintenance of the compactor.
It is the customer’s responsibility to keep the area around the compactor clean and free of debris or liquids.
A “wet” compactor should be supplied anytime food or liquids will be disposed of by the customer. Compactors should never leak fluids.
Employees should be trained not to “over-fill” a compactor and to report to Utilities Solid Waste Escrion when it is full so it can be emptied. Employees should also report to the company that maintains the compactor, if they notice any malfunctions or damage to the compactor.
Large items that may block the operation of the compactor or that can get wedged and block the disposal/dumping operation (such as bed frames, long pieces of wood, etc.) should NOT be blacked in the compactor.
All compactors should be properly adjusted to compaction pressure (by your maintenance company) and should be emptied before they reach 10 tons of total net weight of trash. At no time should a compactor have over 12 tons of net trash.
Violations of this maximum tonnage rule will result in customers being provided with “Open Tops” for service, until a maintenance of the compactor can take place. A maintenance adjustment certification/ invoice along with proof that proper training personnel has take place may be required to be shown to the City prior to the compactor being services.
For more information all (575) 541-2111
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the Residential Services page for information regarding grappler and trash pickup.
Residential Containers
There are several reasons why your container may not have been serviced.
- Containers that have lids that are not properly closed because they are overfilled.
- Containers that are blocked or too close to vehicles.
- Container is tied with bungee cords.
- Containers that are placed at the curb with wheels facing the street or placed under power lines will not be serviced.
- Do not place items around the container such as:
- Auto parts
- Concrete
- Dirt
- Furniture
- Large appliances and boxes
- Livestock waste
- Rocks
- Sod
- Items that should not be placed near the trash container include:
- Any form of hazardous waste
- Construction, remodeling, demolition material
- Gas
- Hot ashes
- Oil
- Paint
- Tree trimmings that exceed two feet
- There are instances when construction or road work will obstruct our trucks from servicing your container. In these cases, please contact Customer Central at (575) 541-2111 and we will reschedule your pick up for another day.
- Unforeseen vehicle breakdowns may also cause delays in service but our staff will work diligently to ensure that your container is serviced in a timely manner.
Commercial Containers
- Dumpsters that are blocked or do not have access for Solid Waste vehicles will not be serviced.
- Dumpsters that are overfilled or have trash placed in front obstructing access will not be serviced.
- Dumpsters that have visible hazardous waste will not be serviced.
The grappler truck picks up large trash items, unable to fit into your City trash container. There are several items that the grappler may not pick up. If your items do not fit the Solid Waste or Grappler guidelines please call Customer Service at (575) 541-2111 and on a case-by-case basis we will do our best to help dispose of your items properly. For more information about what items the grappler can pick up visit Grappler Service.
