Wakefield Releases Significant Update For Trash, Recycling Collection

Press release from the Town of Wakefield:

WAKEFIELD, MA — The Wakefield Public Works Department has some important updates about our upcoming trash and recycling collection.

First, the Independence Day holiday will delay service, as is typical on a holiday week. The collection for Friday, July 4, will shift to Saturday.

In addition, our hauler, Republic Services, is currently in contract negotiations with its employees, whose contract expires on Monday, June 30. Should contract resolution not be achieved between those parties, and Republic is unable to fulfill its collection duties, Wakefield’s Public Works Department is prepared to temporarily provide the trash and recycling collection service that Wakefield residents expect. The Department has developed a plan to secure equipment and will reorganize their staff to avoid disruption, should it be necessary.

Over the next week, please ensure your trash and recycling bins are curbside by 7 a.m. on your scheduled day. In the case where Public Works needs to perform residential trash and recycling collection, your actual pickup time may be different from what you experienced in the past. Having your bin out at 7 a.m. will ensure you don’t miss the collection.

If crews do not collect as expected on your scheduled day, please leave your barrels out and staff will collect as soon as possible. Similarly, bulky items, which require a sticker, will still be collected, though it may not be at the speed at which you are accustomed.

Again, this plan will only be in effect should Republic not reach an agreement with its staff, and only on a temporary basis. The contract negotiations are between Republic and its employees, not Republic and the many area communities it services. Our goal is to avoid any service disruption for Wakefield residents. Thanks for your patience as we work through this fluid situation.

This press release was produced by the Town of Wakefield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.