Mayor Tim Keller to Announce Commonsense Solution for Collections Operations to Prepare for Westside Growth

September 28, 2018

Today, Mayor Tim Keller unveiled plans for a new Westside maintenance facility which will be located at the Cerro Colorado Landfill. This facility will help decentralize the Solid Waste Management Department’s (SWMD) collection operations, reducing the City’s carbon footprint by reducing fuel use of trucks on the highway and providing accommodations for drivers and trucks serving the Westside. The maintenance facility will have two bays and landfill mechanics will service the trucks for routine maintenance and minor repairs.

“We have been looking for commonsense solutions to improve collection operations in the city,” stated Mayor Tim Keller. “Decentralizing operations by expanding the Westside facility will help prepare for future growth on the Westside and restructure the collection routes to maximize service capacity.”

The Westside collection fleet will park overnight at the Cerro Colorado Landfill which will eliminate the longer drive time to the SWMD’s Edith facility. Drivers for these routes will report to the landfill. The new maintenance facility includes a space for drivers with lockers and a break room.

“The new Westside maintenance facility will save valuable time and resources for our staff and the city as a whole,” stated Solid Waste Management Director Matthew Whelan. “The new maintenance facility will also have state of the art design and will be a value add to the Cerro Colorado Landfill and our Westside operations.”

Last December, the administration made an announcement that there would no longer be a transfer station at the 4600 Edith location. A feasibility study was conducted and the findings showed that a Westside maintenance facility would significantly cut down on commute times and costs for collection trucks servicing these areas. Plans for a scaled-down Eastside transfer station are still under consideration.

This project is part of Mayor Keller’s vision to create a sustainable Albuquerque.