FAQs

Why wasn’t my herbie picked up?: There are several reasons why it may not have been picked up. First, if your herbie is overloaded or has large items in it such as construction material, dirt, branches, boards, or furniture, it will not be emptied. Please contact us to request an open truck to have these items removed (additional charges shall apply).

If the herbie was not out before the refuse truck arrived, or if it was obstructed in any way, it will be considered a “missed pickup.” If you want to have the herbie emptied, there will be a charge of $9.05 to have a truck return to your location.

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Solid Waste Division

1. Where can I recycle household items?: The Northwest New Mexico Solid Waste Authority's transfer station on Hasler Valley Road accepts many household items for recycling and/or safe disposal. They are open Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm at 107 Hasler Valley Road in Gallup. For complete details, please visit our recycling page or download the recycling guide listed below.
Download the recycling guide

2. What is a herbie?: A herbie (a.k.a. “herbie curbie”) is our standard plastic refuse container. It holds approximately 96 gallons of waste, or about 5 large garbage sacks. All of your waste must fit inside the herbie to be picked up.

3. What are the guidelines for using the residential collection service?: Please set your herbie out (wheels against the curb) no later than 7:00 am on your designated collection day. The herbie should be placed at least 5 feet away from all obstructions, such as vehicles, trees, mailboxes, etc. There is no set time for collection regardless of collection times provided in the past. Also, please bag your trash to prevent loose items from falling out of the container or truck.

4. Why wasn’t my herbie picked up?: There are several reasons why it may not have been picked up. First, if your herbie is overloaded or has large items in it such as construction material, dirt, branches, boards, or furniture, it will not be emptied. Please contact us to request an open truck to have these items removed (additional charges shall apply).

If the herbie was not out before the refuse truck arrived, or if it was obstructed in any way, it will be considered a “missed pickup.” If you want to have the herbie emptied, there will be a charge of $9.05 to have a truck return to your location.

We no longer pickup extra items next to or on top of your herbie. You have several options:

Upon your request, we will empty your herbie a second time on your pickup day for a charge of $9.05.
If you regularly need additional pickups, we recommend obtaining a second herbie at a discounted rate of $8.72 per month. A one-time non-refundable delivery charge of $26.40 will be applied to your account, and the second herbie must be kept for a minimum period of one year.
You can take extra items to the Northwest New Mexico Solid Waste transfer station, located at 107 Hassler Valley Road. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The transfer station charges a disposal fee for items it accepts.

For more information, please call the station at (505) 863-5776.

6. Does the city collect solid waste on holidays?: We collect garbage throughout the year on our regular schedule, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Collections scheduled for Thanksgiving Day are made the next day on Friday. Collections for Christmas Day and New Years Day are made on either the next weekday or another designated day as announced by the city.

7. What are my responsibilities for care of the herbie?: Please keep your herbie clean by occasionally using mild soap and water. Bagging your trash will help keep the herbie cleaner. We will not change your herbie simply because it is dirty. The herbie assigned to you remains the property of the City of Gallup and will be repaired or replaced as needed due to normal wear and tear. You will be responsible for the replacement cost of any herbie damaged through negligence or deliberate acts.

8. What if I am unable to place my herbie at the curb?: If you cannot place the herbie at the curb, please place it as close to the street as possible without obstructing the sidewalk. Elderly or disable customers who may be physically unable to move the herbie to the curb may qualify for special assistance services. Please contact Solid Waste at (505) 863-1212 for information and an application form.

9. How do I order open truck services?: Call us between the hours of 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The current residential charge is a flat rate of $35.76 per load (subject to change without notice) billed to your account. The open truck cannot haul the following items: rock, concrete, roofing shingles, large auto parts, dirt, or bulk construction debris. Items must be placed outside fenced areas, away from obstructions, and as close to the street as possible. Our drivers and trucks do not enter private property due to liability concerns. If you are planning to use this service, please call at (505) 863-1212 us before setting your items out, as we may not be able to immediately service your residence.

10. What is the free open truck program?: During the months of May and October, the Solid Waste Division will provide two free open truck pick ups per account each year for customers in good standing who reside within the Gallup city limits. This service is limited to weeds, grass / bush clippings, tree branches, and normal residential bagged refuse only. The following items will require additional open truck or roll-off services (fees will apply): dirt, rocks, roofing materials, auto parts, appliances, furniture, debris resulting from remodeling, construction, or demolition. Please call our office at (505) 863-1212 to schedule your pick up during these months.

11. How do I obtain free dumping coupons?: The Solid Waste Division provides three dump coupons per account each year for customers in good standing who reside within Gallup city limits. These coupons are valued at $7 each and are good for disposal of up to 300 pounds of refuse at the transfer station located at 107 Hassler Valley Road. Coupons may be obtained at the Customer Care counter at City Hall during normal business hours. Customers are responsible for any additional charges exceeding the coupon value.