ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho are teaming up with PNM for their annual Treecycling program.

It’s a process that’ll help keep the trees from ending up in the dump and will give them a new purpose.

“We want to keep these trees out of the landfill,” said PNM Spokesperson Eric Chavez. 

From Dec. 26 until Jan. 8, Albuquerque and Rio Rancho residents can drop off their Christmas trees for free at these locations:

• Eagle Rock Convenience Center (details), 505-768-3925
• Ladera Golf Course (details), 505-836-4449
• Montessa Park Convenience Center (details), 505-768-3930 (Closed Thursdays and Fridays)
• Rio Rancho Sports Complex (details)

“We have some folks here that start their Christmas decorations early, maybe before Halloween, whether that’s right or not, I’m not I’m not one to judge. And then they also, you know, they might leave them up a little bit after Christmas. And so we want to give people enough wiggle room, if you will, to celebrate the holidays as much as they’d like, while also being able to do some good and recycle those trees,” said Chavez. 

Chavez says the program is one of the ways the company is able to give back to the community.

“All the mulch that gets created from recycling these tree is going to go right back into the community. People can actually go in and pick up some mulch if they want for their homes, and then the rest of that is going to be used throughout the City of Albuquerque and the City of Rio Rancho,” Chavez said. 

Even if you aren’t recycling a tree, you can pick up some mulch for free.

Chavez says it’s not just PNM that makes the annual program successful.

“We also work with both the cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho to make this happen. And so it’s not just us, it’s a group effort. But we are excited about it, and we’re grateful that we can be a part of it. This year, we actually expect about maybe more than 10,000 trees to be recycled,” said Chavez. 

All the decorations and lights have to be removed from the tree, and you can’t bring more than five.

From Jan. 2 to Jan. 13, Bernalillo County is also offering a similar tree recycling program. You can drop off your natural trees from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at these locations:

• East Mountain Transfer Station (details)
• Former Bernalillo County Housing Department location (details; Note: It is a vacant lot)
• Paradise Hills Little League Park (details)

The same rules apply to the county’s tree recycling.

If you’d like to learn more about that, reach out to the Public Works Department at (505)-842-1500 or (505)-301-6921.