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Summer of stink: Inside America's garbage labour dispute

July 26, 2025

A widespread strike by Republic Services waste management workers, organized by the Teamsters union, has resulted in uncollected garbage piling up across multiple American cities since July 1st. The workers are demanding better pay and benefits, claiming they receive significantly less compensation than other sanitation workers, while Republic Services accuses the union of refusing to compromise and engaging in illegal behavior. The strike has affected communities in Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington, with over 2,000 garbage collectors participating at its peak, causing cities to implement emergency measures and even pursue legal action against the company.

Who is affected

  • Residents and businesses in 14 communities in the Greater Boston area and cities in California, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington
  • Millions of Americans whose garbage collection has been disrupted
  • Local business owners like Glaicy Santos who are dealing with overflowing trash and pests
  • Municipal governments that have had to create alternative disposal sites and divert resources
  • Cities like Gloucester that are experiencing unpleasant odors and environmental concerns

What action is being taken

  • Republic Services workers represented by the Teamsters union are currently on strike
  • Six towns have joined together to sue Republic Services for breach of contract
  • Republic Services is suing the Teamsters union over alleged illegal behavior
  • Cities are creating temporary dump sites for residents and diverting municipal workers to trash pickup
  • Boston is implementing fines against Republic for failure to collect trash
  • Some municipalities are hiring alternative waste contractors to address the garbage crisis

Why it matters

  • Uncollected garbage creates public health hazards, attracting insects, rodents, and producing foul odors
  • The service disruption affects millions of Americans across multiple states
  • The strike highlights labor disputes regarding fair compensation in essential services
  • Cities are incurring additional costs for alternative waste collection solutions
  • The situation demonstrates how critical waste management is to urban infrastructure
  • The labor action shows how sanitation workers can leverage the essential nature of their work in negotiations

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC