Since the Republic Services strike began on July 1, Marblehead residents have found themselves adjusting to a new routine by bringing their trash to the town-owned transfer station.
But if it weren’t for the Transfer Station Workers, who continue to go above and beyond every day for the Marblehead community, residents would have a much larger problem on their hands.
For the workers at the site, this shift has brought long hours, unprecedented traffic, and a surprising amount of community interaction.
But through it all, they’ve risen to the challenge — and found unexpected appreciation from the town they serve.
At the station on a Monday afternoon, about an hour before it closes for the day, no one would be able to tell the crew was under any stress.
Crew members were laughing and joking with each other as they helped each and every car that pulled up to the dumpster. Not one car or person was overlooked by the crew at the transfer station.
“It’s probably five times busier than it used to be,” said William MacNeil, a transfer station operator who’s been with the town for over a year. “This hill here — nonstop cars. Before the strike, there were never people waiting for spots. Now it’s every day.”
MacNeil describes a daily rhythm where the trash piles up faster than it can be compacted, leaving workers scrambling to keep bins from overflowing. The steady stream of residents means fewer breaks and little time to catch their breath.
“I don’t even remember the last time I took a full lunch,” he said. “When this happens, we’re not going to sit through lunch, then come back to clean. We just clean through lunch to keep things moving.”
Despite the stress, MacNeil and his colleagues said the public has, for the most part, met the chaos with patience and kindness.
“People have been bringing us coffee, water, and muffins. They’ve been really nice,” he said. “You get a random one that’s upset, but overall, everyone’s just trying to get through it.”
New hire Jason Young, who started just two weeks before the strike, didn’t know exactly what to expect, but said the experience has been positive. “Everyone seems to be really nice,” he said. “It makes the day go by quickly.”
For team lead Michael Louizol, the strike has meant dealing with both logistical challenges and emotional ones. “There’s so much coming in, it’s hard to keep up,” he said. “But overall, the public has been great. We are just asking for a little patience.”
Louizol has also noticed something striking about how Republic Services is operating during strike conditions.
He said there is an influx of replacement drivers from across the country — Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Ohio, North Carolina. “Every week, it’s someone new,” he said. “They come up for a week and then go back.”
Public health director Andrew Petty said, that everyone working at the transfer station is extraordinary.
“I’m extremely lucky to have the team. Everybody’s making the most of a difficult situation during the strike, putting in the extra effort and coming to work with the right attitude — it makes a huge difference,” he said.
Petty added, he is so greatfull for the team he has.
Board of Health member Thomas McMahon, who has spent time speaking with the crew at the transfer station, said what’s happening now is a wake-up call for the community.
“If you took the top five public health concerns in Marblehead, the first three would be the transfer station,” McMahon joked. “People just love it up there. It’s like a hub.”
He acknowledges the first two weeks were a shock for residents unused to the dump, especially when traffic stretched down the street. But he sees a silver lining: a growing appreciation for the transfer station’s role in town life.
“People are getting the hang of it now, and they’re realizing how much there is up there — the lawn area, recycling, weigh-in/pay,” McMahon said.
McMahon said he believes Marblehead is in a better position than many communities because of its functioning transfer station, but he emphasized that success depends on the hard work of the people staffing it.
“These guys have totally stepped up,” he said. “They’re working overtime, skipping lunches, dealing with the crowds. If you can offer them even a small show of gratitude, it goes a long way.”
If nothing else, the strike has highlighted Marblehead’s unique sense of community. From neighbors hauling trash for each other to residents bringing cold drinks to workers, people have rallied together.
“I’ve always believed in this town and the people in it,” McMahon said. “And now everyone’s seeing why. This situation is stressful, but it’s also showing who we are.”
Back at the station, MacNeil, Young, and Louizol continue their daily routines — sorting, compacting, assisting drivers, and navigating a workload none of them signed up for. They aren’t looking for praise, but they’ve certainly earned it.
“I mean, what else can I do but help?” MacNeil said. “We’re all in it together.”