City of Carlsbad City Councilor Mary Garwood Honored with Statewide “Recycler of the Year” Award

The New Mexico Recycling Coalition (NMRC) is pleased to announce that Mary Garwood of Carlsbad is the Recycler of the Year as part of the 2025 New Mexico Recycling Awards.

Garwood, City of Carlsbad Beautification Coordinator and City Councilor, is recognized as New Mexico’s 2025 Recycler of the Year for her outstanding leadership in sustainability. Mary has spearheaded Carlsbad’s recent single-use plastic bag ban ordinance, launched new recycling initiatives, and has continually organized community clean-ups to help make a true difference within the City of Carlsbad and beyond.

Mary previously supervised Carlsbad’s CARC, Inc., recycling centers—Rainbow Recycling and Document Destruction Services—from 2007 to 2015. She is an active member of the State of NM Clean and Beautiful Advisory Committee, Vice President of the Carlsbad Main Street Board, President-Elect of the Rotary Club, member of the United Way of Eddy County Board, and member of the Carlsbad Community Lions Club.

Her passion for environmental improvements led her to public office, where she has helped secure funding and develop plans for expanded beautification programs. Mary’s ability to build partnerships and inspire positive change truly sets her apart as a champion for a cleaner, greener Carlsbad.

“Mary Garwood exemplifies leadership in waste reduction and community sustainability. Her innovative, hands-on approach to tackling waste challenges in Carlsbad and southeastern New Mexico sets a high standard for others to follow,” said Sarah Pierpont, Executive Director of the New Mexico Recycling Coalition.

“Mary has a true talent for forging strong partnerships and inspiring ongoing beautification efforts throughout her community. We are proud to recognize her as New Mexico’s 2025 Recycler of the Year,” she added.

The recycling awards were presented at the New Mexico Recycling and Solid Waste Conference, held at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center in October of 2025. The conference brought together nearly 200 individuals working in recycling and solid waste, representing rural and urban municipalities, counties, federal entities, universities, tribes, solid waste associations, and businesses.

Topics included best practices in both recycling and solid waste management, hard-to-manage materials (including PFAS), source reduction efforts such as extended producer responsibility, organics diversion, the evolving composition of recyclables and waste, safety, recycling at the local, state, and federal levels, and more.

Since 2002, NMRC has recognized individuals, businesses, and communities that work to reduce waste and support recycling and composting in New Mexico.

Additional 2025 New Mexico Recycling Coalition Award Winners include the following:

• E. Gifford Stack Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Darnell, WM

• Recycler of the Year: Mary Garwood, City of Carlsbad

• Recycling Facility of the Year: Town Recycling LLC in Albuquerque

• Compost Facility/Composter of the Year: Soilutions/Dawn Dewey in Albuquerque

• Diversion Project of the Year: Elizabeth Houghton’s Santa Fe County Backyard Compost Program

• Community-Based Program of the Year: Reunity Resources Eldorado drop-off facility for food waste.