Frustration Soars As Trash Strike Enters Third Week Across North Shore, Greater Boston

PEABODY, MA — Frustration with delays and repeated missed trash and recycling pickups soared over the weekend as residents in more than a dozen North Shore and Greater Boston communities faced the start of a third week of disruptions from the ongoing sanitation workers strike.

The Secretary of State's Office sent Republic Services a letter urging it to "intensify negotiations at once" with striking Teamsters Local 25 workers after it cut off negotiations after 9.5 hours on Friday night and said it would not meet again until Tuesday.

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"Refuse collection is an important public service that should not be conditioned on a private company's strategy," the letter said. "Circumstances such as these raise serious questions about whether these important public services should be left to a private company without state oversight."

Local 25 said 4,000 Teamsters are either on strike or honoring the strike extensions across the country on Monday morning. Picket lines were set up for a 14th day at four locations in Peabody as well as those in Revere, Holbrook, Roxbury and Quincy.

Leaders from Beverly, Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, North Reading, Peabody, Swampscott, Wakefield and Watertown signed a separate letter to Republic Service late last week that demanded that Republic Services "act to swiftly expand interim staffing by bringing in additional drivers and resources to stabilize service in the short term."

That letter also cited a lack of communication, escalating costs and public health concerns because of bags piling up on sidewalks and in commercial dumpsters.

"I know that many Peabody residents have not had their trash picked up, or have experienced significant pickup delays, and I share your frustration," Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said on Sunday. "We are working to hold Republic Services accountable for its failure to meet its contractual obligations to the city."

Peabody is offering its residents free trash drop-off at its landfill at 40 Farm Avenue from 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday. Residents may bring up to three bags of trash for disposal. Recycling and yard waste will not be accepted.

The drop-off will be a drive-through operation staffed by the Peabody Police Department and the Department of Public Services. Those participating should stay in their vehicles and have proof of Peabody residency ready as they approach the landfill.

"We do expect a sizeable turnout, so please be patient with our city teams," Bettencourt said.

Danvers officials said that the town will open a recycling-only drop-off on Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at a loctionl to be determined. Officials said there would be no yard waste collections this week or next week and that the town is "actively exploring alternative solutions."

"We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to work through these service disruptions," Danvers officials said. "The town remains in regular contact with Republic Services and is exploring all available options to maintain essential waste services during this time. We continue to press Republic Services for more timely communication, a swift resolution to the ongoing issues, and will hold the company accountable for the impacts of the curbside pickup disruption."

Beverly officials said a list of streets repeatedly missing trash pickup from last Wednesday was sent to Republic Services as the city demanded that those residents receive relief first thing on Monday morning. Officials said streets missed during Thursday pickup should be serviced on Tuesday.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)