As the Republic Services trash strike enters its third week, the Board of Health is urging residents to embrace patience and neighborly cooperation.
While there seems to be no end in sight to negotiations, it is up to local communities to solve this situation themselves.
While some communities were left scrambling, Marblehead has been able to keep operations moving, albeit with considerable challenges, thanks in large part to its town-owned Transfer Station.
“We’re very lucky that we have a Transfer Station,” said Public Health Director Andrew Petty. “That has allowed us to concentrate on trash collection, which is the most urgent public health concern.”
However, with regular Republic drivers on strike, the company has flown in temporary staff unfamiliar with Marblehead’s complex network of nearly 300 narrow, winding streets. The collection has become sporadic at best.
“They were literally given a list and told, ‘Have at it,’” Petty explained. “Collection has been very challenging.”
In response, the Town has suspended curbside recycling collection and is focusing solely on trash pickup. Missed streets are logged daily and submitted to Republic in the hope drivers will circle back the next day, though follow-up has proven inconsistent.
The Transfer Station, which typically sees around 1,000 vehicles on its busiest days, is now handling several thousand cars per day. Staff are working extended hours, often until 4:30 or later, trying to manage the overwhelming volume of material, especially recycling.
“We’re overloaded,” Petty said. “We’ve got Waste Management hauling recycling two to three times a day. We’re especially swamped with cardboard.”
To reduce traffic and simplify operations, the Swap Shop has been closed for the duration of the strike. Residents are asked to use the Green Street entrance for residential drop-offs and to follow clear signage to prevent commercial-residential mix-ups.
“If you come into the Transfer Station and there’s a line all the way up the hill, it takes about seven minutes to get to the top,” Petty said. “We’re really asking people to be patient up there.”
The Transfer Station team — including new heavy equipment operator Jason Young and Assistant Waste Director Marty Flanagan — has received widespread praise for their tireless work.
“I’ve heard non-stop good things about the workers up there,” said Marblehead Board of Health member Thomas McMahon. “They’re friendly, helpful, and doing an amazing job.”
In a show of community support, one resident, Steve Elliott, and his 3-year-old grandson even brought popsicles for the crew on a sweltering 100-degree day. McMahon recommended: “Bring coffee, bring a treat — and thank them.”
As the strike continues, McMahon’s message to the community remains urgent: take action if you can, and help your neighbors.
“My 78-year-old mother … tossed [trash] in the back of her car, went up there, and she’s been doing that regularly,” said McMahon. “There are people who can’t [do it]. If you are able, you make it that much easier.
“Just begging people, if you’re able to get up there yourself, just go. Yes, it’s a pain. Yes, it sucks. But just help, help someone else,” he said. “Reach out to someone … you think of who would struggle more than you would, and help them out — an elderly person, neighbor, relative, whatever. Help them out.”
The Health Department is urging residents to sign up for CodeRED alerts on the town website and to follow trash regulations — including bagging all trash and placing it in a barrel with a tight-fitting lid.
Residents are advised not to put out recycling curbside and instead to hold onto it or bring it directly to the Transfer Station. Any street that is repeatedly missed should be reported daily to the Health Department via email so it can be added to the missed collection list.
As for out-of-town residents reportedly attempting to use the Transfer Station, Town officials say they are stepping up efforts to verify residency. “There are little tricks to catch people from out of town,” McMahon noted. “I will also be up there on Saturday, checking for residency all day.”
While there’s no word yet on when the strike will end, officials are preparing for the long haul.
“Assume that this strike [will continue],” said McMahon. “If you didn’t have trash service ever again, what would you do? We have a Transfer Station — use it.”
Amid ongoing labor disruptions, Republic Services said it would continue trash collection in Marblehead throughout this week using two trucks, both only for trash.
While Republic has stated publicly that they have brought in replacement crews, McMahon emphasized that the disruption is significant and ongoing. “As much as they can tell us … ‘Oh, we got a replacement’ … I mean, look at the situation we’re in. Like, really, they don’t have it under control.
“Trash hasn’t been picked up on those streets that were marked as missed,” McMahon said. “I think everyone’s kind of losing sight of the idea Republic said they got replacement drivers. But they have way fewer drivers. They do not know the routes, and Marblehead streets are confusing.
“Relying on Republic [saying] they have it under control is not a good bet,” he said.
McMahon, who lives in the town’s historic district, said he has no expectation that his own trash will be picked up any time soon. “I have no expectation that my house is going to get picked up, and I’m on the board.”
The Board of Health has received numerous calls, texts, online messages, and between 100 and 500 emails a day from frustrated residents seeking updates. McMahon said his consistent message has been the same: “If you can bring it up to the transfer station yourself, do it.”
The transfer station remains open to all residents and does not require a sticker during the strike. Still, the limited number of replacement drivers and their unfamiliarity with Marblehead’s winding streets have left many neighborhoods without any collection.
He acknowledged the community’s frustration, especially among residents who have paid for a service they are not currently receiving. “It is definitely going to give us something to think about when we’re in a contract for who we use next.”
Petty said that between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, the town paid $987,670 to Republic Services. With 8,000 households in Marblehead, this is equivalent to less than $3 per household per week or $137 per household per year.
“Strikes don’t last forever. We just need to make it through this,” McMahon said. “But I would not try to guess which day they’re going to come. Leaving your trash out — it’s going to get disgusting. It’s only going to get grosser by the day.”
Trash Volume & Capacity
Daily capacity: 50 tons
Current output: 2 trailers per day (~50 tons)
Annual trash (pre-strike): ~10,500 tons annually
During COVID: Peaked at 13,000 tons annually
Recycling Overflow
Normal haul-away: 1 container (18-Wheeler) per day
Current load: 2–3 containers daily
Added help: A 25-yard open-top container was dropped off to handle overflow
Cardboard: Especially overloaded
Traffic at the Transfer Station
Typical peak day traffic: ~1,000 vehicles
Current estimate: Several thousand vehicles per day
Hours of operation: 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with staff often staying until 4:30 p.m. or later
Staffing & Workload
3 heavy equipment operators
2 station operators
1 scale house attendant
Communication volume: 100–500 emails daily and four constantly ringing phone lines
Town Costs:
- The town has not paid Republic Services for strike-period trash collection yet.
- Officials will evaluate billing after the strike, noting that the current contract does not guarantee credits for missed pickups.
- The town is using waste management contractors for extra hauling, especially for recycling.
Resident Costs:
- There is no direct per-bag or per-drop-off fee for residents using the transfer station during the strike.
- The transfer station remains open six days a week, and no sticker is currently required for access during this period.
- Town officials have emphasized:
“Assume that this strike [will continue] … If you didn’t have trash service ever again, what would you do? We have a transfer station — use it.”
Increased Volume, Not Increased Charges:
- Despite handling thousands of cars daily and extended staff hours, residents have not been charged extra for the increased usage.
Future Financial Impacts:
- Officials acknowledged that recycling processing is costing more due to overflow and rerouting.
- The town expects to negotiate future contracts with service providers by Fall 2025, potentially including automation and cost-sharing on recycling.
From October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025
- The town paid $987,670 to Republic Services.
- Which is less than $3 per household per week (8,000 households in Marblehead)
- $137 per household per year
