Trash collection delays are expected to persist this weekend across parts of Orange County as local Republic Services workers continue to honor picket lines in solidarity with striking sanitation workers in Boston.
Republic Services, the second-largest residential waste hauler in North America after Waste Management, operates in multiple Orange County cities, including Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Placentia, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.
The work stoppage stems from a strike at a Republic Services facility in Boston, where more than 400 workers walked off the job last week demanding higher wages and better health benefits.
While there is no strike in Orange County, “local union members are continuing to honor the picket line,” said Adan Alvarez, spokesperson for Teamsters Local 396, which represents around 3,000 Republic Services workers in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Republic Services officials said Friday afternoon they did not have an update on the anticipated timeline for full service restoration.
To manage the growing backlog, several cities have opened temporary drop-off locations for residents to dispose of bagged trash. Here’s the latest by city:
Anaheim
City officials said crews were making up service for downtown Wednesday routes and central-east Thursday routes on Friday. Friday pickups in Anaheim Hills were also likely to be delayed.
Drivers have been focusing on collecting waste and organics first, officials said, and “you may see one truck picking up all of your bins. … This is to ensure service is made up quickly for all those impacted across our city.”
Residents may drop off trash at Republic’s facility at 2275 N. Blue Gum St. from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, with proof of residency.
Officials said waste pickups will continue through the weekend to make up for service delays.
Brea
City officials said Friday’s trash pickup could be delayed, and “if your trash was not picked up, leave your bins out for pickup that may be carried out over the weekend.”
Republic Services has set up five roll-off bins for trash drop-offs at:
• 120 Olinda Pl. (Carbon Canyon/Olinda Village)
• 3333 E. Birch St. (Brea Sports Park)
• 3450 E. Santa Fe Rd. (Wildcatters Park)
• 500 W. Imperial Hwy. (Arovista Park)
• 1390 Site Dr.
Trash bags are available at the Brea Community Center during business hours.
Fullerton
“Focus is being placed in the highest-need locations to recover missed commercial pickups from days prior while managing today’s scheduled routes,” city officials said Friday.
Collections are prioritizing trash first, followed by green waste, then recycling. Residents should leave carts out “unobstructed” until they’re emptied. Officials said street sweeping will continue, but no one will get ticketed for leaving their bins out or for street sweeping parking violations during the delays.
Garden Grove
Starting Friday, the Garden Grove Sanitary District has opened eight temporary drop-off sites:
• Eastgate Park, 12001 St Mark St.
• Chapman Library, 9182 Chapman Ave.
• Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Blvd.
• West Haven Park, 12252 West St.
• Garden Grove Courtyard Center, 12732 Main St.
• Harvest Lane and Ball Rd.
• Sanitary District Maintenance Office, 11700 Knott Ave.
• Garden Grove Blvd. and Nichols Dr.
City officials said only regular, bagged trash will be accepted, which means no recyclables, organics, hazardous waste, bulky items or construction debris. Residents are advised to “place items as far back as possible” to maximize space.
Street sweeping was canceled Friday. A map of the drop-off sites is available at ggcity.org/pw/trash-recycling.
Huntington Beach
Trash and recycling collection continued to be delayed, and city officials said Friday, “We anticipate the union activity may continue over the coming days.”
“Residents in impacted areas are advised to leave their trash containers out until they have been serviced,” the city said in a statement. “Street sweeping will continue as scheduled, even if trash and recycling containers have not yet been emptied.”
Republic Services customers can drop off bagged trash for free at the company’s facility at 17121 Nichols Lane using entrance gates 4 and 5, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. An additional temporary drop-off site will be open Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Public Works Yard, 17371 Gothard St.
Placentia
City officials said residents should leave their trash, recycling and yard waste bins at the curb for potential weekend pickup.
If necessary, Republic Services may prioritize service in the order of trash carts, yard waste carts and then recycling carts, city officials said.
Santa Ana
In Santa Ana, officials said residents should leave trash carts on the curb, not on the street, until they’re picked up.
“Street sweeping will occur as scheduled this week, even if trash and recycling bins have not been emptied,” officials said.
Seal Beach
Service is delayed in Seal Beach, except for Leisure World, which uses a different hauler.
“Trash and recycling pickup scheduled for Thursday, July 10, will take place on Friday or later in the week,” city officials said. “Residents in impacted areas are advised to leave trash carts out at the curb until they have been serviced.”
A 40-yard roll-off container was available on Friday at the Public Works Yard, 1776 Adolfo Lopez Dr., “to assist with the collection of Public Works trash and critical customers needing immediate unloading.”
Street sweeping enforcement was being relaxed in areas affected by the delays.