CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — Republic Services is resuming some limited trash pickup services in Contra Costa County this week, according to local officials.
Waste pickup services have been suspended since last week as local Teamsters joined in on a nationwide garbage “war” to demand higher wages and better benefits. Cities across the Bay Area have been impacted, from San Jose to El Sobrante.
Republic will resume picking up waste from residential homes in west Contra Costa County, as well as from small and most other businesses, but recycling and green waste collection services will still be unavailable, according to a Monday announcement from Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia. Trash pickup may occur on days outside the usual schedule.
“It is throughout West Contra Costa, and they’re catching up on routes, so we don’t know which communities will get pick up tomorrow, which ones on Wednesday. We do know they’re going to run service through Saturday,” Gioia said in an interview. “I have requested that they provide rate relief. I think that’s what the county will be seeking now — that they provide rate relief to residents for the failure to pick up trash over the last week.”
Residents can put out extra bagged trash on the curb as well to be picked up at no extra cost, Gioia said in the announcement.
“We have mobilized additional Republic Services employees to assist with collections in the Bay Area and will continue to resume some residential collection in the coming days,” Republic Services said in a statement to Bay Area News Group. “We are asking all residents to leave their containers out as we work hard to resume regular service.”
In order to continue service, the company is “enlisting Republic Services employees from other areas,” according to the NorCal Community Updates page.
Republic Services is asking residents in Richmond to put black and brown bins and garbage bags out on their curb Monday night ahead of an anticipated limited pickups Tuesday through Saturday, according to a social media post from the City of Richmond.
Service will also resume Tuesday in San Pablo, according to an announcement from the city. Residents of San Pablo can continue to take household waste to drop off locations at 2600 Moraga Road and 1 Parr Boulevard until further notice.
West Contra Costa County residents can also continue to bring four bags of trash to the Golden Bear Transfer Station at no charge with proof of residency, Gioia said in the announcement. This service is available Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In other Bay Area cities, temporary trash drop off sites have been set up for residents.
“If I had to hear a common thread (from residents), it was we want garbage collection back and we support workers,” Gioia said.
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