Starting July 1, the city of Norwalk will start a new contract for solid waste pickup, which will impact both garbage and recycling.

Residents have already started noticing the new black and red garbage bins, which are being distributed to homes

The City of Norwalk will start a new contract for solid waste pickup starting July 1 that will impact both garbage and recycling.

Residents have already started noticing the new black and red garbage bins, which are being distributed to homes this month.

When the new contract kicks in, everyone in the city will have the exact same can, replacing the old system in which people had to provide their own.

"This allows us to kind of get better tracking metrics, and now with this new uniform system, we're able to replace any broken trash cans," said Thomas Szabo, the waste programs manager for the City of Norwalk

The contract also calls for automated, side-loading garbage trucks. They are similar to the current recycling trucks, which only work with these 65-gallon bins.

"That'll eliminate some of the workplace hazards of having some of the guys do the rear-load collection and also allows for a little more efficiency, and some cost-savings as well to the city," Sabo said.

The blue recycling bins will stay the same.

Who gets their trash and recycling picked up by the city will be changing though, with not as many people eligible.

"The global recycling markets have drastically changed," said Michelle Woods Matthews, Norwalk communications director. "In the Northeast, prices went up for collection."

As a result, apartment and condo buildings with more than four units, businesses and mixed-use buildings will no longer get either their trash or recycling picked up by the city - while homes on private roads will still get their recycling picked up but not their garbage.

"It took a moment to reevaluate the program to make sure it was still cost-effective and affordable for residents," Woods Matthews said.

That means homes losing coverage will instead have to either take their trash and recycling to the transfer station or hire an outside company to pick it up.

City officials say in the places where that happens, the charge for collection that used to show up on their mill rate taxes will go away as well.

City officials say everyone who is eligible should get their new waste bin by the end of next week. They also say to reach out if to the city with any questions or if they think there has been a mistake.

There is a list of answers to frequently asked questions.There's also a list of frequently asked questions.