City of Albany – New Trash & Recycling Carts FAQs
Why Am I Receiving New Carts?
California state law SB 1383 requires jurisdictions like the City of Albany to transition to trash containers that are dark gray or black and recycle containers that are blue. Your green organics cart for food scraps/food-soiled paper and yard waste will remain the same.
What do I do with the old carts?
Starting the week of March 31, residents are asked to leave all three current carts out until 6 p.m. on their regular service day until new carts are delivered, and their old carts are removed.
A different truck will come by and remove the old trash and recycling carts, and your existing green organics cart will receive a new sorting guide label. This process may take up to four weeks.
What happens if I do not receive new carts AND my old carts were not picked up that day?
Continue to leave all three current carts out until 6 p.m. on your regular service day until new carts are delivered, and the old carts are removed.
What happens if I receive new carts but my old carts were not picked up that day?
If you receive new carts but your old trash and recycling carts are not taken away that same day, start using your new carts, then set out the old trash and recycling carts empty the next week on your service day, alongside your new carts. Make sure the old carts are empty, WM will only service one set of carts, and can’t take away the old cart if it has waste in it.
Are the new carts the same size as the current carts?
Yes. Although they may look different, the gallon capacity will be the same as your current carts. There will be no changes in service levels, with the exception that 10-gallon inserts in the 20-gallon carts will be phased out. 20-gallon carts will be the minimum service size moving forward.
What if the cart size I received or the quantity of carts I received are different than what I had?
The sizes and quantities delivered are based on what’s stated on your account, not based on what’s on site. If you want to validate what your account shows, please log in to your customer account on WM.com, or call the number below. If you want to increase or decrease sizes or quantities, that can be done starting May 1, 2025.
May I change service size during this cart swap program?
No. Once the cart swaps are complete (should not take longer than four weeks) you can request service changes. Thank you for your patience.
More questions?
Call WM at 510-613-2116 or email [email protected]