'Trying To Be Optimistic': Trash Strike Hits Day 21 Across North Shore, Greater Boston

UPDATE: 4 p.m.

PEABODY, MA — Officials from six North Shore and Greater Boston cities and towns that have suffered three weeks of trash and recycling disruptions during the Local Union 25 strike against Republic Services were to be in court on Monday for hearings on a lawsuit filed against the company for public health violations related to the work stoppage.

The hearings come as Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt told residents of that city that he was notified on Sunday that Republic Services intended to resume regular-day trash and recycling pickup this week despite there being no sign of an agreement to end the 21-day strike.

"I do have concerns about how things will go," Bettencourt said, "and I expect some delays, but I'm trying to be optimistic."

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Bettencourt thanked residents for their "patience and cooperation during these extremely challenging last few weeks."

"It is a constantly changing situation and we are doing our very best to provide the most up-to-date information," he said. "Those efforts will continue."

Last 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."

UPDATE: The court hearings were postponed until Tuesday shortly before they were to begin.

Beverly officials on Sunday advised residents with Friday pickup to put out their trash on Monday, with no pickup for Monday residents on that day, and said that recycling pickup is still suspended in that city.

The Beverly City Council has also called a special meeting on Tuesday night to hold a discussion regarding the strike and delivery services from Republic within the city.

Lynnfield officials said regular trash pickup would resume in that town on the regular collection day.

Gloucester officials said regular trash pickup was set to resume this week with the recycling center on Poplar Street open on weekdays from noon until 6 p.m.

"While Gloucester isn’t alone in facing this disruption, we're actively staying in contact with Republic and continuing to push them to meet their responsibilities to our city," Gloucester officials said.

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."

(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.)