Gallup Solid Waste Delays After Thanksgiving Collection Consolidation
The City of Gallup issued a public notice on November 25, 2025 that refuse collection was suspended for Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, and that both Thursday and Friday routes would be collected on Friday, November 28, 2025. The change affected households across McKinley County that receive city collection services and residents were directed to call the Solid Waste Department at 505 863 1212 with questions.
On November 25 the City of Gallup posted a civic alert informing residents that there would be no refuse collection on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. The notice stated that both Thursday and Friday routes would be collected on the following day, Friday, November 28, 2025. The public advisory was issued as operational guidance to help households prepare for holiday schedule adjustments and included a contact number for the Solid Waste Department at 505 863 1212.
The announcement had immediate practical implications for household waste management in Gallup and surrounding areas served by city services. Thanksgiving is typically a high waste day as families gather and generate additional refuse. Consolidating two routes into one day increased the volume that crews needed to handle in a single shift and required residents to plan for longer periods with full containers. Residents with limited mobility, multiunit properties, and those generating heavier waste from holiday meals were among the groups most affected by the schedule change.
From an institutional perspective the notice reflects standard municipal planning for holiday operations, when staffing and equipment allocations are adjusted to accommodate public holidays. The city provided a clear point of contact for questions which helps with short term customer service. At the same time the compressed collection schedule highlights operational trade offs between maintaining service continuity and managing staff capacity and overtime costs.
For local policymakers and civic leaders the event underscores the value of advance communication and contingency planning. City officials may consider reviewing holiday route consolidation impacts, assessing whether supplemental crews or temporary drop off options would reduce household disruption, and tracking missed collections to inform future scheduling. Residents who experienced missed pickups or other service concerns were directed to call the Solid Waste Department for resolution.
Transparent reporting of municipal service changes and prompt follow up by city departments can mitigate the localized impact of schedule adjustments. The November 25 notice aimed to give Gallup households the information needed to adapt their waste handling over the Thanksgiving holiday.
