While trash and recycling collections have resumed during the strike, Watertown residents have not had yard waste pickup in about a month.
The City of Watertown has opened a drop off site at 148 Waltham St. for trash and recycling, but yard waste cannot be left there.
Tyler Cote, the City’s Community Engagement Specialist, confirmed that yard waste collection was cancelled during the week of July 21-25. The City has contacted Republic about this part of the waste collection service.
“We remain in discussion with Republic Services about yard waste pickup, and we hope to have an update for the community sometime next week regarding the next scheduled yard waste week (which is the week of August 4),” Cote said.
The City publishes updates about the trash strike at https://watertown-ma.gov/1533/Republic-Strike-Updates
The emergency trash and recycling drop-off site at 148 Waltham St. will reopen Monday, July 28 and will be open from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day for residents needing to drop-off any overflow trash and recycling. The limit for drop-off is three bags of household trash and/or the equivalent amount of recycling that would fit in your bins. Residents may be asked to show a license or utility bill to confirm Watertown residency.’
City officials asked residents to wait 48 hours to report a missed pickup due to anticipated delays. Missed pickups can be reported to the City’s 311 Service Center, on SeeClickFix or the Watertown MA App.
Slowing Pickups?
An Eastside resident told Watertown News that she observed three men walking ahead of a Republic trash truck, leaning against the lids of trash bins, and slowing collection on Thursday afternoon. One of the men had a “strike/union” placard around his neck.
Teamsters Local 25 did not respond to a request for a comment by Watertown News.
No Negotiations
The strike that began July 1 could reach four weeks. A statement from Teamsters Local 25 said there is no date scheduled for the next meeting between the two sides. Republic and the union last met on July 18.
Tom Mari, Teamster Local 25 president, said Thursday that the union seeks the same wages and benefits as Teamsters working for Capitol Waste Services and Star Waste Systems.
After last week’s negotiations, Republic said it offered “industry leading” wages and retirement contributions, and zero-premium healthcare.