Pull in your recycling bins. Report when entire streets have been missed. Have patience.
That was the message Tuesday afternoon to residents in Peabody, Beverly, Danvers, Gloucester and other communities that contract with Republic Services, as they grapple with the disruption in trash and recycling pickup as union workers for the waste hauler continue their strike.
Only two of four expected trash trucks were dispatched Tuesday to Gloucester by Republic Services, the city said. In Beverly, the number of trucks this week was increased to five instead of the usual three to help with missed and late pickups, but for trash only.
In an update Tuesday evening, Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill told residents the current Republic drivers are struggling to get caught up on trash routes. He said anyone who normally has pickup Tuesday or Wednesday shouldn’t put anymore trash at the curb. Instead, Republic will try to finally hit neighborhoods they have regularly missed over the last several days.
“We have pushed Republic to get caught up tomorrow on what’s already at the curb, then to work Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” Cahill said.
In Beverly, Danvers and Gloucester, residents were instructed to pull in their recycling bins and hold onto them until further notice.
Local officials said they recognized how frustrating the disruption has been and that communication and collection from Republic Services has been inconsistent.
Trash collection resumed Monday in some communities for the first time since the waste collection workers went on strike July 1. Non-union workers have been brought in by Republic to take over contracted municipal routes in Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Danvers, Peabody and Beverly while Teamsters Local 25 remains on strike over wages, benefits and working conditions.
The company had halted all trash and recycling collection in Danvers last week. As of Monday, Republic planned to collect two weeks’ worth of household trash and recycling in the town, Danvers officials said in a prepared statement.
The workers brought in to temporarily replace Republic’s striking workers will be collecting waste for 12 hours or more each day, no earlier than 7 a.m., the statement said.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, joined members of Teamsters Local No. 25 on the picket line at a Republic Services facility at 277 Newbury St. in Peabody, according to a video provided by his office. The striking Republic Services employees carried signs that read “On Strike Unfair Labor Practice.” Moulton was shown handing out donuts to the picketers.
“You are standing up for working people all across America,” Moulton said. “There is an attack going on against working people all across America here and Trump is leading a lot of it from the White House. But we’ve got to stand up. We’ve got to stand together and we’ve got to tell companies like Republic we are just asking for a fair deal, a fair shake for the hard work that you do every single day.”
“Because I see you out there,” Moulton added. “You do critical work for our communities and not enough people appreciate it, and they sure as hell don’t pay you enough. Hey, look, I’m proud of you.”
Local 25 has also seen support from other unions, including Peabody Firefighters Local 925, whose President Corey Michael, Vice President John Soares and other members, joined Republic workers on the picket lines Saturday outside Republic locations on Route 1.
“Governor (Maura) Healey is concerned about the enormous disruption this pause in trash pickups is causing for Massachusetts communities and the potential public health impacts. She has reached out to both sides urging them to reach a resolution as soon as possible,” according to a statement provided by spokesperson Karissa Hand on the labor dispute.
Late Tuesday afternoon, mayors and town officials of the communities impacted by the strike wrapped up a call with Republic Services leadership to discuss the disruption to trash collection. The call was a follow-up to a letter sent to the company last week by these officials.
“I understand how frustrating this has been,” Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga said on Facebook. “Communication has been inconsistent, and guidance has often changed with little notice. Much of this stems from limited and shifting information coming from Republic Services, which has made it difficult for the city to provide timely and accurate updates. We’re doing everything we can to keep residents informed as the situation evolves.”
“We truly appreciate the patience and flexibility residents have shown so far,” Verga said. “Alongside other municipal leaders — including those from Danvers, Peabody, and beyond — I’m urging Republic Services to improve communication, meet their service obligations, and return to the negotiating table to resolve this disruption as quickly as possible.”
Last week, on the first day of the strike, Gloucester Public Works began collecting trash late morning. Verga said it was Gloucester and Peabody that got Republic Services to send in their first batch of replacement workers.
“Then (Mayor) Mike Cahill got them to Beverly and nobody else got pick-up until yesterday,” he said Tuesday.
Trash collection in Peabody, like elsewhere, is underway but not without significant delays that officials expect to continue.
“With so much uncertainty, the best information I can provide is for those that have not had their trash picked up, please leave it out curbside,” Mayor Ted Bettencourt said in a Sunday evening call to residents.
Republic will attempt to collect trash on residents’ normally scheduled days this week, but he said to expect delays of at least one to two days, or more.
“I’m sorry that I am unable to provide more specific information but the situation is extremely challenging and unpredictable,” Bettencourt said.
Staff Writers Caroline Enos and Christian Wade contributed to this report.