Birmingham has begun to deliver garbage carts to city residents in the first phase of its plans to change garbage pickup in the city.

The Department of Public Works will deliver about 20,000, free, 96-gallon garbage carts among the city’s four waste management districts over the next four weeks. Plans are to deliver about 100,000 uniform garbage carts through the first of the year.

Those set to receive carts in October and November will get notice by mail before or about the time of the cart delivery, the city stated in a press release.

The carts will include GPS tracking technology to make sure they remain at their assigned households.

The program will cost the city just more than $6.5 million, but the mayor has said it will save some money in the garbage pick-up program, which has flagged in recent months due to staff shortages. In the new program, trucks will be able to pick up and dump trash out of the carts.

Later in November, the first phase of households with the new garbage carts will move to a once-a-week garbage pick-up schedule. Residents with the new garbage carts are encouraged to check www.birminghamal.gov/pickup regularly for information concerning the new schedule. Residents may also text BHAMREADY to 888-777 for service updates, the press release states.

Bulk trash and brush pick-up dates and recycling dates will not change.