Portsmouth plans to begin distributing new trash and recycling bins in Pannaway Manor in November, the first neighborhood in a move to automated curbside collection.
The city's Oct. 22 announcement says automated service will begin shortly after the bins arrive. Distribution to other neighborhoods is expected to continue in 2027.
Residents will receive two 64-gallon containers, one for household trash and one for single-stream recycling. Single-stream means accepted recyclable materials go into the same recycling bin, rather than being separated into individual material categories.
The new containers are designed for collection trucks that mechanically lift and empty compatible bins. Weekly collection will remain on the scheduled pickup day.
Each bin will be assigned to a property and fitted with a radio-frequency identification tag, or RFID, for inventory and service administration, according to the city.
The city says only compatible bins will be collected under the new system. Residents will receive instructions on placement and use before distribution. The announcement does not set a single conversion date for all Portsmouth households.
Old, incompatible bins may be taken to the recycling center at 680 Peverly Hill Road for disposal.