Trash Strike Update: Peabody Explores 'Breach Of Contract' Filing As Contract Talks Resume

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said that the city has notified Republic Services in writing that it reserves its rights to explore a breach of contract claim for failure to provide timely trash and recycling collection as the Local Union 25 sanitation worker strike against the company stretched into an 18th day on Friday.

Talks resumed between the sides that remain at odds over pay, time out and health insurance as trash collection disruptions extended across more than a dozen North Shore and Greater Boston cities and towns.

• Gov. Healey Scolds Republic, 6 Cities, Towns File Court Complaint
• Towns Scramble, MA Leaders Mount Pressure On Republic Services
• 'Public Health Concerns Are Escalating': Trash Strike Crisis Grows On North Shore, Greater Boston
• 'All Unacceptable': Mayor Says Trash Collector Failing City Amid Strike
• Frustration Soars As Trash Strike Enters Third Week

"(On Thursday) I joined the mayors and town managers of several nearby communities in filing a lawsuit against Republic Services for public health violations and demanding more resources to honor their contract to collect trash and recycling," Bettencourt said in a Friday morning statement. "A hearing in court is scheduled for next week."

Beverly, Malden, Gloucester, Peabody, Danvers and Canton officials filed the complaint for injunctive relief to abate the public health nuisance resulting from what the communities called "Republic's failure to adequately collect and dispose of trash and recycling in our communities."

Gov. Maura Healey on Thursday became the latest state leader to call on Republic Services to work harder to resolve the work stoppage and restore full collections.

"It has now been three weeks of no trash pickup in several Massachusetts communities, and this has gone beyond a headache for residents, businesses and municipalities — it is a public health concern and it’s expensive for everyone," Healey said in a statement. "Sanitation workers do essential work to keep our neighborhoods clean and healthy, and they deserve fair wages, benefits and protections.

"Republic Services needs to come to the table and reach a fair deal — it's time to get people back to work and resume services to our communities as soon as possible."

Bettencourt said that in an effort to provide some additional relief, on Saturday, the city is hosting a household recyclables day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 40 Farm Avenue for plastics, paper, glass, cardboard and metal cans.

"This will be a drive-through operation staffed by the Peabody Police Department and the Department of Public Services," Bettencourt said. "Please stay in your car and have proof of Peabody residency ready as you approach the landfill. We do expect a sizeable turnout, so please be patient with our city teams."

Danvers officials said that "in response to the overwhelming participation at our recent recycling event," the town will be holding three additional recycling-only drop-off events to assist residents with recycling disposal needs. These events will be organized based on residents’ normal curbside collection day to help manage traffic flow and minimize wait times.

Recycling can be dropped at Danvers High School on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents with Friday and Monday collection days, on Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. for residents with Tuesday and Wednesday collection days, and on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. for residents with Thursday and Friday collection days.

The event gate will close 30 minutes prior to the posted end time to allow DPW staff to accommodate vehicles already in line within the high school parking lot. This event is for Danvers residents only, who must have proof of residency available upon arrival.

(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.)