A covered load makes a difference.

Heading to the landfill or the Tri-City Transfer Station with a load of trash? Before you leave, take a few minutes to make sure everything is covered and secured. It may seem like a small step, but it can make a big difference in keeping our roads, neighborhoods, and communities clean.

New Mexico State Statute 66-7-407 requires vehicle loads to be secured or covered so that materials don’t drop, leak, sift, or otherwise escape from the vehicle while traveling on the road. In simple terms, if you’re hauling trash, make sure it’s not going to blow out or fall off along the way.

The Southwest Solid Waste Authority (SWSWA) also charges a $5.00 fee for uncovered or unsecured loads going into the landfill and the Tri-City Transfer Station. Taking a few extra minutes to use a tarp, net, rope, or another appropriate covering can help prevent trash from escaping — and help you avoid the additional fee.

Loose trash doesn’t just disappear when it blows out of a truck. It can end up along the highway, in someone’s yard, or scattered through a neighborhood. Haz tu parte — do your part! Keeping your load secure is a simple way we can all help keep the Mining District cleaner and safer.

So before you pull out of the driveway, take one last look at your load. Cover it, secure it, and keep it where it belongs. A few extra minutes can make a difference.

¡Mantengamos limpio nuestro Mining District! Let’s keep our communities clean. ¡Que Linda!