Dear President Vander Ark,
Your company’s ongoing labor dispute is taking an unacceptable toll on Boston’s residents, businesses and neighborhoods due to Republic Services’ failure to collect trash from its customers.
The city has received complaints from various neighborhoods that overflowing dumpsters are severely threatening public health. Health and safety code enforcement personnel have also reported interactions with businesses across the city that are struggling — paying for trash pickup service under contracts with Republic Services that they are not receiving, while also being assessed daily fines for trash violations that are making already tight margins unsustainable.
As mayor, it is my job to protect residents, businesses and neighborhoods. Accordingly, I am taking two steps today.
First, the city expects Republic Services to absorb any code enforcement fines assessed since July 7, to businesses throughout Boston that resulted from Republic’s failure to provide trash pickup. As you know, the city gave a short reprieve on fines from July 1 to July 6, but has been issuing them continuously since July 7.
Second, I have directed our code enforcement personnel to begin issuing fines directly to Republic Services — rather than individual businesses — for uncollected garbage starting today.
Private trash collection plays a critical role in maintaining clean streets, protecting public health and ensuring a livable city. We expect Republic to fulfill its obligations to customers immediately.
Thank you for your attention to this letter and for Republic’s cooperation.
Sincerely,
Michelle Wu
Mayor of Boston
