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New regional MRF planned for 2026; Waste Management says auditing will reduce community contamination charges
Summary
Waste Management described a new modern material recovery facility (MRF) expected online Oct. 1, 2026; company said upgraded sorting and auditing will allow communities to be billed for their actual contamination rates rather than facility averages.
Waste Management told the council it is part of a regional effort to bring a modern material recovery facility (MRF) online to stabilize commodity pricing and reduce transactional unfairness in contamination charges.
Dan Darnell said the new facility (expected online Oct. 1, 2026) will include upgraded, upgradable sorting technology and auditing so municipalities will be charged for their own measured contamination rates rather than a facility average that previously shifted Albuquerque’s larger volume across all customers. "We'll be able to tell if Rio Rancho has a 15% contamination rate, you ought to be paying for 15%, not 25 or 30%," Darnell said, arguing the new MRF will produce higher‑quality commodity products and give municipalities negotiating leverage.
Darnell acknowledged the risk that timelines or supply‑chain issues could delay the MRF and said city staff and the contractor would continue to negotiate contract terms and monitoring provisions so communities receive accurate accounting of contamination and processing costs. Councilors asked for contract language and auditing details when staff returns in October.
