Republic Strike Updates

Read the letter from Municipal Officials to Republic Services - July 3, 2025

Watertown Trash and Recycling Curbside Pickup Update – July 1, 2025

Curbside trash and recycling pickup is cancelled on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, and for the remainder of this week, due to the on-going labor strike between the City’s contractor, Republic Services and their unionized workforce. Today, Republic Services informed the City of Watertown, in writing, that they will mobilize crews to provide curbside trash and recycling collection beginning again on Monday, July 7, 2025. If this does not occur, we will provide further information as it is available.

Our Public Works and Communications team are communicating with the Republic Services’ team. The City is developing a page on its website to answer many of our residents’ trash and recycling curbside pick-up questions. We will be adding more information to this page over the next few days. We encourage residents to visit the page, at watertown-ma.gov/republicstrike to find announcements, answers to frequently asked questions, and any related details to this on-going situation.

In the meantime, for Watertown households experiencing significant hardship due to the missed pickup—especially ahead of the holiday weekend—the City is actively working to provide a temporary solution. We encourage residents to regularly check watertown-ma.gov/republicstrike for updates on this temporary service.

Finally, we encourage our residents to consider signing-up for our citywide curbside composting program, run by Black Earth, whose services remains unaffected. Residents can sign up online with Black Earth, and will then be notified to visit the Watertown’s DPW at 124 Orchard Street in Watertown to pick-up your own composting bin during business hours. Please remain connected with the City and upcoming announcements on the City’s website, our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram), as well as through the City’s Everbridge Emergency Alert system. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

Read the FAQs below

Or download the FAQs as a PDF

Question
Why is our trash, recycling and yard waste not being picked up this week?

Answer

The City of Watertown contracts with Republic Services to pick up trash, recycling and yard waste. Republic also runs the facility where our recycling is dropped off for processing. Republic does not run the facility that accepts our trash. At this time, the unionized workers of Teamsters Local 25 that are employed by Republic are on strike. Republic had informed us through Monday that they expected that this would not occur, and therefore did not have replacement crews ready to work in Watertown. When their employees went on strike, they were not immediately ready to provide service to Watertown. 

Question
What is the strike about?

Answer

This is a private work action between a vendor and their employees. The City administration respects the rights of workers to bargain collectively but has no knowledge of the specific requests of the Teamsters or proposals from Republic. We do hope that the two sides can come to an amicable agreement in the immediate future. 

Question
When will trash and recycling curbside pickups resume?

Answer

Republic Services has informed us in writing that pickups will resume on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Question
Will trash AND recycling be picked up starting on Monday?

Answer

Yes. Republic Services has informed us in writing that they will be able to do recycling pickup as well as trash pickup beginning again on Monday. Republic will likely be using back-up crews to do this work, so pickups may be later and take longer than usual. Please put out barrels as usual next week but be patient as pickups may run later in the day than usual.  

Question
Is yard waste collection expected to resume on July 7 as well?

Answer

No. Republic Services informed us that they are unable to complete their yard waste collection during the strike. We are working with them to identify alternate weeks for yard waste pickup and will share more information when it is available.

Question
Recycling pickup happens every two weeks - Whose recycling will be picked up starting on Monday, July 7, 2025?

Answer

Republic Services has informed the City they will resume curbside recycling service as previously scheduled (B Week will be picked up during the week of July 7th). For residents whose recycling service was cancelled on the week of June 30 – July 5, 2025 (A Week), please hold your recycling until the week of July 14, 2025 and put out your bin on the normal recycling day. We understand that some A Week residents may find they have too much recycling. The City is exploring opportunities to alleviate excessive recycling pile-up prior to the next scheduled pickup date on the week of July 14, 2025, but we don’t have that in place yet. Until then, you can hold this extra recycling, or ask a neighbor if they have some extra recycling bin space.  

Question
Will the Recycling Center be open?

Answer

No. The Recycling Center, as well as the site that accepts our recycled materials delivered from the center, are operated by our contractor, Republic Services, and they have informed the City that they are unable to staff the center and manage pickups from the center at this time.

Question
What if I need to report a missed pickup?

Answer

If you feel your trash or recycling curbside pickup has been missed, please contact the City's 311 Service Center for assistance. You can also input a missed pickup request via SeeClickFix or the Watertown MA App. 

Question
Will Republic Services collect overflow trash and recycling?

Answer

Republic will only pick up trash and recycling that is inside of approved containers that can be picked up from their trucks.   If you have bags of trash or excess recycling that does not fit in the truck, you can ask a neighbor who might have extra bin space if they can help out. If you still have overflow trash caused by the missed pick-ups during this week, consider the drop-off option outlined below.

Question
What can I do if I have a significant overflow of trash?

Answer

The City of Watertown has developed a temporary solution for residents experiencing significant hardship due to their trash overflow from this strike. On Thursday, July 3 and Monday, July 7, 2025, the City of Watertown is making available very limited dumpster space for bagged household trash only, to residents experiencing significant hardship due to trash overflow at 148 Waltham Street, the former Sterritt Lumber site. This location will be open from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm. 

We request only residents experiencing this significant hardship to utilize this remedy, as space is very limited. Residents will be required to show a license or utility bill to the officer at the opening gate verifying their Watertown residency.

Residents will be limited to disposing a maximum of 3 bags of household trash due to the limitation of space. On average, Republic Services collects 32.5 tons of trash in a single day in Watertown, and the temporary dumpsters being provided by the City are only able to handle 5 tons each. We greatly appreciate your support and cooperation to make this option a success.

Please see below additional information regarding items you cannot throw away.

Question
What can I and what can I not throw away at this temporary, emergency site?

Answer

This location is only available for bagged household trash and will not have available recycling dumpsters or space of bulk items. The following items are prohibited and the officers at the gate will turn back cars seeking to dispose of any of the following:

  • Mattress
  • Box Spring
  • Televisions
  • Computer monitors
  • Sleeper Sofas
  • Tires
  • Car style batteries
  • Appliances
  • Appliances with freon (such as any sized refrigerator)
  • Air conditioners 
  • Propane tanks
  • Bulky furniture items

Please be aware that illegally dumping household furniture, trash, recycling, or yard waste at 148 Waltham Street, or anywhere in the City, is prohibited by law and will be strictly monitored and enforced by law enforcement.

Question
What are ways I can alleviate my trash or recycling build up?

Answer

Given the limited space available at the temporary drop-off site, we do ask our residents to also consider other potential options for alleviating buildup of trash when possible. If you find your trash or recycling is only partially full, the City encourages all to “Be Neighborly” and possibly offer space to your neighbor for a bag in your bin prior to upcoming pick-up starting again on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Question
How can I sign up for composting?

Answer

You can sign up for Black Earth Compost collection and pick up your container at the Department of Public Works during regular business hours (7:30 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday). Compost collection remains unaffected and will continue your scheduled trash day.

Question
Will commercial dumpster pickup resume the week of July 7, 2025?

Answer

Republic has informed us that dumpsters in Watertown that receive service from Republic through the City contract will be serviced starting on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Question
When will the public bins around the City be emptied?

Answer

Republic Services collected all City bins on Monday, June 30, 2025. These bins will be serviced again on Monday, July 7, 2025, when service resumes.

Question
All this is costing the taxpayers extra money – who’s going to pay for it?

Answer

The City has informed Republic Services that, under their contract with the City, we expect Republic to reimburse us for costs to the city due to this work action.