Trash Pickup Delays In Seal Beach Amid Sanitation Worker Strike

SEAL BEACH, CA — Hopeful residents with mounting trash and recyclables hauled trash carts to the curb Monday, though no end to the Republic Services vs. sanitation worker strike is in sight, a spokesperson for the workers tells Patch.

The ongoing labor dispute between workers and Republic Services has disrupted trash pickup into Monday.

Approximately 400 sanitation workers— members of the Teamsters Local 396—went on strike at 3 a.m. Thursday, Adan Alvarez, spokesperson for the Teamsters union, told Patch. The union cites excessive working hours and company harassment as reasons to prolong the strike, Alvarez said. "Republic Services can fix this today if they wanted to."

Calls to Republic Services remained unanswered as of this report.

Though the city of Seal Beach stated that it was initially informed that the strike would not have any material impact and that trash service would resume "fairly quickly."

"The workers have been going nonstop through the pandemic. They are heroes and are treated as zeroes," Alvarez said. The last bargaining session between the union and Republic Services was late Wednesday, the day before the strike began.

Workers are "being forced to work long hours and are being threatened with repercussions if they do anything with the union," Alvarez tells Patch.

Trash Mounts For Orange County Residents

Republic Services Waste and recycling services have been temporarily halted with no end in sight. Waste collection has been on hold since December 9 in Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Fullerton, and Placentia, officials say.

"The City of Seal Beach is not involved in talks between Republic Services and its workers," according to Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos. Still, City officials are stressing the need to see a swift resolution and contingency service, he stated in a recent press release.

The latest update from Republic Services is as follows:

• Residents and businesses who normally have their trash picked up this week on either Thursday or Friday are impacted.
• All commercial and industrial routes for solid waste, recycling and organics have been delayed and will be rerouted for collection next week.
• Republic has not provided a timeline as to when regular trash services will resume.
• Republic is working to have increased crews by Monday in an attempt to provide service.
• Republic has provided a 40-yard roll-off container to the City to assist with the collection of Public Works trash and critical customers needing immediate unloading.
• Rossmoor Center businesses trash was collected on Saturday, December 11.
• Leisure World trash collection is not impacted as they contract with another waste hauler for trash collection.

Use trash bags as needed and store them with your bins, Gallegos recommends. Consider double bagging and make sure to tie close bags, he said. "Once partial or full residential service resumes, bags will be collected along with bin waste."

For Monday collection customers, you can put your bins at the curb Sunday night or Monday morning for possible service. In the event of no Monday service, we recommend taking up your bins Monday evening, utilizing bags, and awaiting updates ahead of your next scheduled pickup day.

Apartment and townhome community residents should bag waste and place it in community bins.

If full, please check with your property manager for guidance.

Be Aware: Street Sweeping Stays On Schedule

Street sweeping in Seal Beach is not impacted and continues as scheduled.

While we are tracking this situation closely, we do not know when partial or full service will resume.

Minimizing household waste is always a good idea and can be helpful as we work through this.

• Avoid using disposable plates, cups, and silverware
• Use refillable water bottles
• Use cloths instead of paper towels
• Reuse delivery boxes for wrapping Christmas gifts
• Put off major yard work
• Break down large boxes and bags with other paper goods

The City appreciates the community’s patience throughout this frustrating ordeal and the City is committed to providing our residents and businesses with the latest information we receive from Republic, Gallegos said.

The City is also reviewing alternative options should Republic’s contract dispute be prolonged.

For questions and additional information on waste service disruption, please call Republic Services at (714) 238-2444.