Community partnership in action

Working together for a cleaner Santa Rosa

Recycle NM is helping the City of Santa Rosa turn cleanup events into a lasting culture of stewardship, civic pride, and shared responsibility.

See the impact

2026 community impact

Neighbors, students, city leaders, and partners made a visible difference.

Through the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Que Linda Beautification Program, Recycle NM coordinates local action focused on litter prevention and abatement, volunteer engagement, public education, and sustainable community capacity.

85+community volunteers

200bags of litter collected

414+tires recovered or accepted

2major April cleanup events

Santa Rosa council members and volunteers at the April 17 cleanup

April 17, 2026

Beautify Santa Rosa

The first community cleanup brought together residents, City employees, council members, local partners, and inmate work crews. Volunteers received safety equipment and cleanup supplies before working at priority sites across the community.

The event demonstrated what coordinated local leadership can accomplish—and helped build momentum for continued neighborhood participation.

Earth Day · April 22, 2026

Young people leading by example

Twenty fifth- and sixth-grade students joined teachers, staff, community volunteers, and inmate work crews for an Earth Day cleanup. Their participation connected environmental education with practical service and showed that stewardship can become a lifelong habit.

Together, the April events collected approximately 200 bags of litter along with bulky metal and other discarded materials.

Student and community volunteers gathering cleanup equipment on Earth Day

A trailer loaded with material collected during the Santa Rosa cleanup

Tire recovery

Removing a persistent environmental hazard

The tire initiative accepted 414 tires through community drop-offs, collected more than 80 tires directly from residents, and removed 109 tires from an illegal dumping site.

By giving residents a responsible disposal option and addressing illegal dumping, the program improved community appearance while reducing fire, health, and environmental risks.

Community at work

Scenes from the spring cleanups

Part of the Earth Day student cleanup crew — Earth Day student crew

Cleanup supplies prepared for volunteers — Safety supplies ready

Volunteer collecting litter at a cleanup site — Hands-on community service

Santa Rosa volunteers at the April cleanup — Residents and local leaders working together

Beyond a single event

Building long-term local capacity

Recycle NM helped develop Santa Rosa’s Sustainable Community Beautification and Stewardship Plan to guide continued leadership, partnerships, volunteerism, environmental responsibility, and measurable progress.

Stewardship

Support consistent litter prevention, responsible disposal, and care for shared public spaces.

Partnerships

Connect residents, schools, businesses, civic groups, and government around practical projects.

Local capacity

Create repeatable programs that Santa Rosa can sustain and improve over time.