Malden residents facing fourth week of Republic Services trash removal workers’ strike

Regional work stoppage quickly has gone national, with Calif. workers now walking off jobs, issues with N.J., N.Y. trash

By Steve Freker

Malden residents are now facing a fourth week of trash pickup disruption due to the ongoing Republic Services workers’ strike. Also, it was announced on Wednesday that the strike, supported and coordinated by the Teamsters Union, has now evolved from a regional strike in the North Shore of Massachusetts into a nationwide affair. Workers on Wednesday walked off the job in Los Angeles, Calif., and it was also announced that trucks hauling 12 million pounds of trash per day from New York and New Jersey will not be allowed to dump it in a massive Ohio landfill due to Teamsters Union picket lines.

In Malden, it has been announced through citywide recorded messages that trash pickups by Republic Services truck manned by replacement workers from out-of-state have resumed curbside pickups from residential streets, though they are one day or one day and a half behind schedule. For example, four Republic Services trucks were on Malden streets Wednesday, picking up Monday’s residential route. They were back out on Thursday, finishing Monday’s route, if needed, as they began Tuesday’s route.

Also, Malden city officials have announced that emergency trash drop-offs can be made at designated times at the Department of Public Works (DPW) yard. City officials are requesting residents to NOT put recycling barrels on the sidewalks, as trucks are not picking them up at this time. Recycling can be dropped off at the DPW City Yard, 356 Commercial St., at various times as well.

All the designated drop-off times for both regular trash and recyclables are listed in a separate story (this page). It can all be found online as well at the City of Malden website: www.cityofmalden.org

Malden is one of 17 communities dealing with service disruption. Malden signed onto a letter with Lynnfield, Canton, Peabody, Gloucester, Watertown, Beverly, Danvers, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Swampscott and Wakefield “urging a speedy resolution to the trash collection work stoppage.”

“First and foremost, the most effective and lasting solution to this crisis is a settled agreement,” the letter reads. “We continue to respect the collective bargaining process, but urge both parties to return to the table with urgency and in good faith. Each day without resolution adds strain to our residents, our businesses, and our municipal operations and heightens the risk of broader public health impacts.”

At least two communities affected have notified Republic Services of their intention to potentially nullify the existing service contract due to the trash pickup disruption. Lynnfield and North Reading, two towns impacted by the strike, sent a notice to Republic Services threatening to terminate their contracts due to non-performance as the strike continues. There has been no indication that Malden is considering the same type of action.

Malden Residents Can Make Emergency Trash Drop-Offs

Drop-Off Options:

Recycling Drop-Off — DPW Yard (356 Commercial St.)

Mondays & Wednesdays: 3 p.m.–8 p.m.

Saturdays: 7 a.m.–3 p.m.

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Household Trash Drop-Off — DPW Yard (356 Commercial St.)

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 3 p.m.–8 p.m.

Sundays: 7 a.m.–3 p.m.

*NOTE: Blue bags are not required for curbside or drop-off trash.

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Yard Waste Drop-Off — DPW Yard (356 Commercial St.)

Wednesday: 3 p.m.–7 p.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m.–3 p.m.