For nearly 50 days, Swampscott’s trash services have not been collected at full capacity due to a union strike against Republic Services. Now, the town has announced that recycling and yard waste will once again not be collected curbside this week.

The Teamsters Local 25 strike has gone on since July 1. Republic Services handles trash pickup for 14 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, including Swampscott. In its most recent communication at the end of July, Republic Services told the Swampscott Tides it had offered a 16% immediate wage increase and a 43% raise over the life of the contract.The union has not shared its full proposal but has stated it seeks increased pay and improved benefits.

Swampscott residents can drop off recycling only at the Department of Public Works (DPW) Yard, at 200 Paradise Road: Friday, August 22 from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Plastic bags are not allowed in the recycling brought to the DPW Yard.

Gov. Maura Healey has pushed for Republic Services to help end the labor dispute, saying the situation has “gone beyond a headache for residents, businesses and municipalities.” 

“Your company’s failure to resolve or even meaningfully address this prolonged strike is unacceptable,” Healey wrote in the letter, obtained by the Swampscott Tides. “The fact that you haven’t returned my calls is a reflection of your unacceptable approach to this urgent matter. The time for delay and posturing is over. It is time to resolve this – now.”

The last negotiation session between Republic Services and the union was on July 18.

“Local 25 is prepared to meet at any time,” said Tom Mari, the Teamsters Local 25 president. “Local 25 is still waiting for Republic to respond to a request from the federal mediator to resume negotiations.”

Republic Services also told the Swampscott Tides that it remains “ready to meet with Local 25 leadership when they are serious about reaching an agreement.”

“We offered an immediate 16% wage increase, a 43% increase over five years and continued zero-premium healthcare,” Republic Services told the Swampscott Tides. “The total compensation we offered (hourly wage + hourly retirement contribution) far surpasses our local competitors, and if the Teamsters had accepted this offer, our drivers would make approximately $140,000 per year by the end of the contract.”

A Boston federal judge denied the trash company’s request for a restraining order against the Teamsters union. Republic Services had claimed that the strike has involved the theft of a garbage truck, slashed tires, chemical assaults on drivers, blocked access to trucks, and hate speech toward employees.

“Although we currently have the ability to service all customers in Greater Boston, Local 25’s illegal conduct is preventing this from occurring,” Republic Services told the Swampscott Tides in a press release on July 31. “We prioritize service and the safety of our employees and communities. Teamsters Local 25 clearly does not share this same commitment.”

Mari, however, called this “bogus” and “nothing but lies.” 

“There have been no arrests, and the federal court judge has twice refused to issue an injunction because of the lack of any unlawful conduct,” Mari said in a press release sent to the Swampscott Tides. “Republic’s inability to provide adequate service is because they don’t have enough non-union drivers and the ones that they have are  not capable of operating their trucks in an efficient manner.”

Six communities—Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody, and Malden—had also lost their separate suit that was done in an effort to force Republic Services to pick-up their residents’ trash.

“The court is left with an obvious problem affecting the daily lives of the residents and businesses in the municipalities, but no effective way to remediate it,” Essex Superior Court Judge Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman wrote. “The court cannot resolve the labor dispute between Republic and the Teamsters.”

If Swampscott residents’ trash collection is over 24 hours late, they can contact Town Hall customer service at 781-596-8850 or Republic Waste at 781-289-0500.

Updated information is sent out through the town’s communication systems.

Updated August 18 at 4:30 p.m. with a response from Republic Services.