Recycling Cart Exchange

Release Date: 2026-02-01

Councilwoman Zendejas would like to keep you up-to-date on changes happening to your City-serviced trash, recycling, and organics service.

Starting in February 2026, the City of Long Beach is replacing all purple recycling carts with new blue recycling carts for residents with city-serviced trash, as part of California state mandate SB 1383.

What to know:

• There will be no changes to your recycling service, costs, or what goes in the cart.
• Purple recycling carts will be recycled into new carts by a manufacturing company.
• The City will deliver blue carts starting in February 2026. 
• Carts will be exchanged on your regular collection day. Residents should place their current purple recycling cart at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, even if it is not full.  

Learn more and view FAQs here: https://www.longbeach.gov/lbrecycles/recycling/recycling-collection-faqs/