BREAKING NEWS: Trash/recycling strike hits Marblehead

Trash and recycling with not be collected Tuesday due to a labor strike at Republic Services, Marblehead’s trash and recycling provider.

“We are asking that barrels be removed from the curb,” according to a statement posted to the Marblehead Police Facebook page. “The Marblehead Transfer Station is open to all Marblehead residents this week to dispose of all their curbside trash and recycling at no cost.”

The Teamsters Union at Republic Services voted to strike around midnight when its contract expired. The workers are asking for higher wages and better benefits. The strike impacts several North Shore communities.

Marblehead Public Health Director Andrew Petty said last week that the town will be updating residents on the strike via Code Red phone calls and the Health Department website. Petty also forwarded to the Current a message from Republic saying it is not known how long the strike will last, but that Republic hopes to bring in other workers to resume pickups.

The strike’s timing may be especially challenging given all the activities in Marblehead this week, including the annual Festival of Arts.

“The strike is certainly a concern, but the show must go on!” said Festival spokesman Joe Tavano. “We work closely with the town every year to make sure Festival operations move forward smoothly, and this year is no different. There are no shortages of challenges every year when it comes to putting on a Festival of this size, and we’ll overcome this one, too. We hope visitors to Marblehead can limit their disposables and adopt a carry in, carry out policy whenever possible, and hopefully negotiations will resolve themselves satisfactorily for all parties as soon as possible.”

Stay with the Current for new developments.

Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.

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