LETTER: Resident Concerned About Rat Infestation Due to Garbage Strike

Here we go,

We will be approaching the most serious time for trash accumulation in the next few days. As people get beyond the storage limits of their hard plastic and covered trash containers, some will begin placing garbage in plastic bags outside of their homes. As the temperature really heats up past 90 degrees, the raw garbage will ferment and become magnets for our already abundant rodent population.

Teamsters Union Releases Statement About Trash Strike

The following announcement was provided by Teamsters Local 25:

Following a strike vote that passed by more than 90 percent on Monday, members of Teamsters Local 25 at Republic Services are about to conclude their first week of the work stoppage without a fair offer from the company. 

Watertown City Manager, Municipal Leaders Urge Swift Resolution to Trash Strike

Watertown DPWWatertown trash and recycling pickup has been uncollected since July 1 when workers at Republic Services went on strike.

Watertown City Manager George Proakis joined several mayors, town managers, and town administrators urging company Republic Services to come to a deal to end the strike that has stopped trash and recycling collection since July 1, 2025. The letter also identifies weaknesses in the company’s response to the situation, including slowness of deploying backup resources and lack of communication. See the letter below.