Cerro Colorado Landfill

The Solid Waste Management Department operates the Cerro Colorado Landfill in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This landfill, with a 20-year operating permit for 180 acres, receives approximately 525,000 tons of residential and commercial trash annually. Waste is logged at the weigh station, compacted, and buried in cells lined with heavy-duty plastic to protect the water table. The landfill uses modern technologies and strict oversight to ensure cost efficiency and environmental safety. Additionally, a Gas-To-Energy Project diverts methane gas from decomposing garbage to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where it is used to fuel a boiler for water preheating, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Visitors should use the appropriate State-approved manifest when delivering scrap tires to the landfill.