City staff and contractor Casella briefed the Concord City Council Dec. 8 on a planned transition from manual curbside collection to automated cart-based service. The two-phase schedule begins with a pilot week the week of June 29, 2026, and a full citywide transition planned for 2028. Staff said automated collection is becoming industry standard and can deliver efficiency, worker safety and higher recycling volumes.

Under the proposal, every curbside household would receive a 65-gallon trash cart (black lid) and a 95-gallon recycling cart (blue lid) at no cost to residents. Alternative cart sizes will be available for households with special needs (smaller carts for seniors or residents with mobility limitations and larger carts for large households); staff said the ordering window for alternative sizes closes March 31, 2026, to meet manufacturer lead times. Pilot-route cart deliveries are expected in June 2026, and residents on pilot routes will receive a follow-up mailing in January identifying them and explaining options.

Staff emphasized communication tools: a citywide postcard to be mailed to curbside residents, a second mailing in January for pilot-route households, an online interactive map showing pilot routes and a resource guide to be updated during rollout. Casella and staff said carts will be serialized to addresses and will remain the property of the program; there will be an opt-out process for certain commercial users who have alternative disposal arrangements.

Councilors asked about cart placement in dense neighborhoods, sidewalks abutting streets and snow/storage logistics. Staff said pilots will test placement approaches and that crews will work with residents and drivers to adjust for narrow driveways or winter conditions. Staff suggested residents treat the carts like mailboxes for winter placement and said drivers and vendor staff would help troubleshoot placement early in the pilot.

The presentation closed with staff offering contacts and resources for residents, and an assurance that staff and vendor partners will continue outreach through spring before pilot rollout.