Albuquerque, New Mexico – Updated Zoning to Encourage Community Composting

In June 2025, the federal government passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, which, over 9 years, is projected to reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by $68.6 million.¹ As a result, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signed a 2025 Executive Order to support local food systems and the economy. The Executive Order directs the City to take action through three initiatives:

• Legalizing Neighborhood Markets: Allowing small-scale neighborhood produce markets and pop-ups so residents can buy and sell locally grown food right in their communities, helping SNAP families stretch their benefits further.
• Utilizing City Property for Urban Farming: Identifying city-owned land that can be used for agriculture, including parks and open space properties, to grow food for local residents and strengthen community-based food production.
• Expanding Food Rescue and Waste Reduction: Partnering with local nonprofits and businesses to divert surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, and events to families who need it.²

To further support and expand local food system opportunities, the Executive Order mandates Parks & Recreation Department Open Space Division update or develop policies and practices for existing and new Open Space urban agriculture and composting sites to improve access to affordable local food and compost.³

The City is committed to reinvesting in its small businesses, local growers, and families to continue providing access to affordable food close to home. As a result, the Sustainability Office must develop plans for food waste prevention, separation, and diversion for the City of Albuquerque and its individual departments. The initiative will incorporate waste-reduction strategies, food rescue and redistribution programs to improve food access, and the diversion of food waste from landfills. Additionally, the Sustainability Office will implement similar initiatives within other city departments, such as:

• Work with the Environmental Health Department to develop guidelines for food rescue at municipal facilities, prioritizing those with kitchens. 
• Work with the Department of Senior Affairs, Department of Youth & Family Services, and the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness to scale the 2024 CASA Kitchen food waste pilot program. 
• Work with the Arts & Culture Department to develop a food waste prevention and separation plan for their facilities, programs, and concessions that include visitor education. 
• Work with the Aviation Department to develop and implement a food waste prevention and separation plan that includes visitor education at the Sunport and Double Eagle concessions. 
• Develop and implement a food waste prevention and separation plan for City Hall. 
• Collaborate with the Office of Civic Engagement to connect OneABQ Volunteers with opportunities to support food rescue through apps or other means. 

— 2025 Executive Order

The “Expanding Food Rescue and Waste Reduction” initiative aims to update previous regulations, define composting, ease regulations, and further encourage diverting food waste from landfills to composting facilities. Building on the initiative, the City unanimously passed Committee Amendment No. 7 to the land use, planning, and zoning Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) O-26-2. The legislation updated existing IDOs to define and regulate composting facilities. 

Composting Facility Regulation

Facilities operated by more than one person or household and that receive organic material for composting are under the purview of this Ordinance. Gardens are also included and are defined as an area of land managed and maintained as an accessory use of land to cultivate fruits, flowers, vegetables, or ornamental plants [including composting as an incidental activity] for personal, group use, consumption, or donation.⁴ The Ordinance organizes composting facilities into three categories based on premises size, which are as follows:

1. Small: 21,780 square feet (1/2 acre) or less
2. Medium: Between 21,780 square feet (1/2 acre) and 2 acres
3. Large: 2 or more acres

— IDO Exhibit O-26-2

The chart below illustrates how the facilities regulations are applied to different zoning districts: residential, mixed-use, and non-residential. Small and medium facilities are the most similar, differing only from the mixed-use and non-residential categories. Additionally, small and medium facilities are categorized as commercial use only, while large facilities must be operated for industrial use only.

Small and Medium-Sized Facilities

The small- and medium-sized facilities are categorized similarly, with few differences. However, both must comply with the following requirements:

• 4-3(D)(2)(a) This use shall comply with all applicable City, State, and Federal regulations. This use must obtain all applicable State and Federal permits and/or approvals for this activity and comply with the terms of those permits and approvals throughout the duration of the use.
• 4-3(D)(2)(b) Where accessory to another primary use, this use is limited to 10 percent of the area of the premises.
• 4-3(D)(2)(c) Any outdoor compost pile (including any feedstock pile) shall be located a minimum of 15 feet in any direction from any Residential zone district or any lot containing a residential use in any Mixed-use zone district. Any outdoor compost pile (including any feedstock pile) height shall be limited as follows:
  • 1. R-A and Non-residential zone districts: 8 feet maximum.
  • 2. R-1, R-MC, R-T, R-ML, R-MH, and Mixed-use zone districts: 6 feet maximum.
• 4-3(D)(2)(d) Compost bins shall be located a minimum of 15 feet in any direction of any Residential zone district or any lot containing a residential use in any Mixed-use zone district.
• 4-3(D)(2)(e) If this use is within 500 feet in any direction of any Residential zone district or lot containing a residential use in any Mixed-use zone district, customer visits and deliveries shall be prohibited between 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M.] 

— IDO Exhibit O-26-2

Small-sized composting facilities are permitted to be in and categorized as a permitted accessory in mixed-use high-intensity and non-residential parks and open spaces (specifically those managed and owned by the City). Neither of these, however, is needed for the medium-sized composting facilities. 

Large-sized Facilities

Large composting facilities are defined as facilities on a site of 2 or more acres. As outlined in the chart, large facilities must adhere to the following requirements:

• 4-3(E)(14)(a) This use shall comply with all applicable City, State, and Federal regulations. This use must obtain all applicable State and Federal permits and/or approvals for this activity and comply with the terms of those permits and approvals throughout the duration of the use.
• 4-3(E)(14)(b) Where accessory to another primary use, this use is limited to 10 percent of the area of the premises.
• 4-3(E)(14)(c) Outdoor storage shall comply with standards in Subsection 14- 16- 4-3(E)(19).
• 4-3(E)(14)(d) This use is prohibited within 330 feet of Major Public Open Space.
• 4-3(E)(14)(e) Composting containers and/or composting piles shall be located a minimum of 50 feet in any direction of any Residential zone district or any lot containing a residential use in any Mixed-use zone district.] 

— IDO Exhibit O-26-2

Admin Code § 20.9.3.28, passed in July 2011, mandates that facilities accepting more than 25 tons per day (annual average) or more than 5 tons per day (annual average) of material register a Solid Waste Facility application every five years, at least 30 days before the previous application expires, or whenever operations change. No fee is required to complete the application process. If the facility plans to expand to meet the requirement, it must submit additional documentation:

If a composting facility has or plans to increase its operational rate to more than 25 tons per day (annual average), it must also comply with 20.9.3.28 NMAC. This is called an “Advanced Registration.” Please contact the Permit Section Manager of the Solid Waste Bureau for application and financial assurance requirements. 

— Admin Code § 20.9.3.28

 If a facility fails to file or the application is rejected, the owner will be subject to penalties, permit requirements, and nuisance abatement orders. 

More Information

• 2025 Executive Order – City of Albuquerque
• Waste is a Resource – City of Albuquerque
• Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) O-26-2 – City of Albuquerque
• Admin Code § 20.9.3.28 – New Mexico Commission of Public Records