Overview

• After 17 days of stalled negotiations, limited waste pickup has resumed under deputized crews and temporary drop-off locations while no new contract has been reached
• Fairfield and Suisun City have sent breach-of-contract letters to Republic Services and are preparing to impose steep fines, hire alternate haulers and secure rate rebates for residents
• Republic Services has deployed non-union drivers from other regions to clear prioritized routes for hospitals and nursing homes and maintain partial residential service
• Local officials warn that accumulating uncollected garbage is attracting pests and could trigger public health fines if residents resort to illegal dumping
• Residents in Stockton and Canton have turned to volunteer haulers charging small fees and the Peabody City Council has appealed to Bill Gates, a major Republic Services shareholder, to pressure management into a deal