INDIANAPOLIS — A change in solid waste providers has left some residents confused, as a new second bin has appeared on their curbs.
If you have a blue or green trash cart at your house, it’ll be swapped out with a grey one over the next few weeks because the Indianapolis Department of Public Works is switching service providers.
The city is switching from Republic Services and WM to Lakeshore Recycling Systems for trash pickup, starting Jan. 1, 2026.
The process of rolling out the new bins across Indianapolis has already begun.
“Our trash pickup here is Wednesdays and on Tuesday, all of a sudden, there were some gray bins,” said one resident, Bob Kelley.
Kelley was surprised by the second cart in his driveway. A cart hanger was attached to give more details about the switch to LRS.
“This is a year-long comprehensive process from various parts of the city in order to get us a good deal for solid waste services as well as fulfill the long-standing goal of universal curbside recycling,” said Kyle Bloyd, chief communications officer for DPW.
Recycling services will not begin until 2028. Bloyd said there’s no cost change for residents with this switch, just a change in bin color.
“Put your trash in your new gray cart, and then leave your old cart on the curb as well, because we’re going to start picking those up,” he said.
The city is unsure exactly when they’ll start collecting the old bins, likely within the next few weeks, but they want to be sure everyone has a grey one first.
The old bins will be collected on your scheduled trash pick-up day.
Kelley’s neighborhood has their green carts curbside for pick up on Thursday, just in case. Residents wish more was communicated to them about the whole swap beforehand.
“It was just a strange situation. There was just not much clarity,” he said. “More than anything, just there could have been better notice, weeks ago, you know, put an adhesive sticker on the bin.”
DPW said the most asked question they’ve received so far is what to do with the additional bin if you paid for a second one.
“We’re only exchanging one cart in this process, so we’re exchanging out the assigned cart,” said Bloyd. “If you currently have two green carts or two blue carts, we’re only going to exchange one out. You’ll have a blue cart and a gray cart when we get done with this process.”
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