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 throughout the month.

The city says that as part of the new contract, the bins will be picked up by automated, side-loading garbage trucks, which only take the 65-gallon buckets, meaning everyone needs to have the same containers.

According to the city, the new trucks will be more efficient, safe, and cost-effective - while also helping the environment, since less trucks will need to be on the road.

Recycling bins will stay the same, everyone will still use the same blue ones, but who gets their trash and recycling picked up by the city will be changing, with not as many people being eligible.

Starting with the new contract on July first, apartments and condos with more than four units, businesses, and mixed-use buildings will all no longer get either their recycling or their trash picked up by the city.

Homes on private roads will still get their recycling picked up, but not their trash.

The city says anyone can still bring their trash or recycling to the transfer station to get rid of it, or they can hire a private service.

There's also a list of frequently asked questions.