Watertown DPW Trash and recycling collection has been impacted by the trash strike that began on July 1.
(UPDATED Friday, July 11, 2:50 p.m. – The letter signed by City Manager George Proakis was added)
The trash strike entered its 11th day on Friday, and the two sides — Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 — said they will be going into mediation. City Manger George Proakis and other municipal heads sent a letter to Republic Services.
On Thursday, Republic released a statement saying they had been contacted by the union and will be using a federal mediator, according to a report by NBC Boston 10. This statement came after the Teamsters said that there had been no negotiations since last week.
Some residents, those on Monday collection days, have not seen a missed pickup — for trash anyway. Green recycling bins can still be seen on the sides of streets where trash was collected. City officials said that replacement crews have been prioritizing trash.
Pickups have been slow, and not every home has been collected each day since the strike began. An unlucky minority who have Tuesday collections and did not have collections this week have not had a trash pickup since June 24.
The strike impacts 14 communities, including Watertown. However, the Charles River Chamber noted that businesses in other communities, including Newton, use Republic and trash has been piling up there, as well.
The Swap Shop at the Recycling Center planned for Saturday has been postponed. The City also announced that its emergency trash and recycling drop-off site at 148 Waltham Street will be closed over the weekend (July 12 & 13). The drop-off site will reopen on Monday, July 14, 2025, from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Please limit your drop-off to 3 bags of household trash and/or the equivalent amount of recycling that would fit in your bins.
See more info from the City of Watertown at https://watertown-ma.gov/1533/Republic-Strike-Updates
City Manager Signs Letter With Managers & Mayors
City Manager George Proakis joined other managers and mayors signing a letter to Republic Services urging a them to return to negotiations with Teamsters Local 25 to end the strike. This was the second letter sent by the group to Republic, with the first going out on July 3. See the latest letter below.
Dear Members of the Republic Services Leadership Team,
We are following up on our earlier correspondence regarding the ongoing work stoppage and its increasingly disruptive impact on our communities. As municipal leaders and customers of Republic Services, we are growing more concerned by the day with the lack of resolution and the compounding consequences of this service interruption. While we appreciate your willingness to join us for regular meetings and understand the challenging situation, we feel it is necessary to clarify several points of major concern throughout our communities.
First and foremost, the most effective and lasting solution to this crisis is a settled agreement. 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.
While a long-term solution must come through a negotiated agreement, immediate action is also needed to address the ongoing service disruption. The current level of driver coverage and substitute crews is simply not meeting the basic needs of our communities. We urge Republic Services to act swiftly to expand interim staffing by bringing in additional drivers and resources to stabilize service in the short term.
Alongside expanded staffing, consistent and reliable communication is equally critical. We understand this is a complex situation; however, since the work stoppage began we have received limited and occasionally irregular updates. This has left communities to navigate shifting schedules and rising resident concerns with little to no guidance. A more coordinated, transparent communication strategy — including clear timetables and expectation of service — is essential to effective planning and public trust.
In the absence of clear information and reliable service, the broader consequences of this disruption continue to grow. The financial burden on municipalities is mounting as we deploy emergency responses, address overflow issues, and fill service gaps resulting from the inadequate staffing and resources from Republic Services. At the same time, environmental conditions are deteriorating, with uncollected trash affecting neighborhoods, parks, and waterways. Public health concerns are escalating, particularly as restaurants struggle without a viable waste solution during the peak of their busy season. These impacts are substantial and must be acknowledged and addressed as part of any near-term response and future planning.
Our communities are already bearing the cost of this disruption, both in personnel and material resources, as we work to mitigate the impacts of the service interruption and delay in full service resumption. It is entirely reasonable — and necessary — for municipalities to take steps to secure alternative services that protect public health and maintain basic standards of cleanliness and safety. Equally, it is reasonable and equitable to track and assess these costs, including labor and emergency response efforts, to determine the full extent of the financial burden. We fully intend to seek appropriate compensation for the consequential damages and expenses incurred as a direct result of Republic Services’ failure to meet its obligations.
Each of these issues compounds the frustration and confusion residents are experiencing and undermines the trust we have built with our communities.
We ask that Republic Services take the following immediate steps:
- Provide accurate and updated timelines and service expectations by municipality.
- Expand driver resources and logistical support to guarantee the daily completion of all trash and recycling routes in our communities until the work stoppage is resolved.
Our priority remains protecting public health, upholding basic services, and restoring stability. We hope Republic Services shares that commitment and is prepared to take more decisive action in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Mayor Verga, City of Gloucester
Jill Cahill, Danvers Town Manager
Mayor Cahill, City of Beverly
Charles E. Doody, Canton Town Administrator
Thomas G. Younger, Ipswich Interim Town Manager
Robert Dolan, Lynnfield Town Administrator
Mayor Christenson, City of Malden
Tony Barletta, Manchester-by-the-Sea Town Administrator
Michael P. Gilleberto, North Reading Town Administrator
Mayor Bettencourt, City of Peabody
Gino Cresta, Swampscott Interim Town Administrator
Kevin Gill, Wakefield Interim Town Administrator
George Proakis, Watertown City Manager
Human Rights Commission Statement
The Watertown Human Rights Commission published the following statement regarding the Republic Services workers strike:
The Watertown Human Rights Commission recognizes the demands of IBT Local 25, representing 400 workers who provide essential waste and recycling collection services in Watertown and other municipalities. The Sanitation workers are currently on strike, demanding a fair livable wage, improved healthcare, and other work benefits and protections. The WHRC recognizes that these demands are supported by international human rights law which establishes a right to a livable wage and basic humane working conditions (e.g. Article 23(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; The Preamble of the Constitution of the International Labor Organization). Similarly, the WHRC recognizes the right of all citizens of the town to clean sanitation, including waste management. In particular, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 70/169, adopted in 2015, recognizes the distinct human right to sanitation, including adequate waste management. In light of these internationally recognized human rights, the WHRC calls on the City of Watertown to urge Republic Services to reach a just and sustainable agreement that aligns with the basic rights of both workers and citizens.