Republic Strike Updates

Watertown Trash and Recycling Curbside Pickup Update – July 1, 2025

Curbside trash and recycling pickup is cancelled on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, and for the remainder of this week, due to the on-going labor strike between the City’s contractor, Republic Services and their unionized workforce. Today, Republic Services informed the City of Watertown, in writing, that they will mobilize crews to provide curbside trash and recycling collection beginning again on Monday, July 7, 2025. If this does not occur, we will provide further information as it is available.

Our Public Works and Communications team are communicating with the Republic Services’ team. The City is developing a page on its website to answer many of our residents’ trash and recycling curbside pick-up questions. We will be adding more information to this page over the next few days. We encourage residents to visit the page, at watertown-ma.gov/republicstrike to find announcements, answers to frequently asked questions, and any related details to this on-going situation.

In the meantime, for Watertown households experiencing significant hardship due to the missed pickup—especially ahead of the holiday weekend—the City is actively working to provide a temporary solution. We encourage residents to regularly check watertown-ma.gov/republicstrike for updates on this temporary service.

Finally, we encourage our residents to consider signing-up for our citywide curbside composting program, run by Black Earth, whose services remains unaffected. Residents can sign up online with Black Earth, and will then be notified to visit the Watertown’s DPW at 124 Orchard Street in Watertown to pick-up your own composting bin during business hours. Please remain connected with the City and upcoming announcements on the City’s website, our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram), as well as through the City’s Everbridge Emergency Alert system. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.