The city has begun distributing recycling carts to about 22,400 homes as it launches the third phase of an islandwide curbside recycling program, the Department of Environmental Services announced yesterday.

Delivery is expected to take up to nine weeks, with the three-can collection system scheduled to begin the week of Nov. 2, the department said.

Only homes currently on automated refuse collection will be receiving carts.

Green and blue carts are being delivered to communities from Foster Village to Makiki, while residents on the Windward Coast from Kahuku to Kahaluu are being issued only green carts, because they already have blue carts.

Instructional brochures are attached to the outside of the recycling carts at delivery.

Blue carts are to be used for mixed recyclables.

Windward communities now using blue carts for green waste collection are advised to put those blue carts out for green waste pickup before the end of October to get them serviced, the city said. The green carts may be used for green waste as soon as the blue carts have been emptied.

Honolulu communities using bag collection for green waste may not start using the green cart until the new three-cart collection system begins in November.