Trash, Recycling, Yard Waste Collections in Anne Arundel County Resumed After Strike
After months of disruptions caused by a strike involving workers who collect trash, recycling, and yard waste in Anne Arundel County, regular pickup services have now resumed. The strike, which began in September, involved workers represented by Teamsters Local 570 against their employer, Ecology Services Inc., a contracted company for curbside collections in the county.
The labor dispute was resolved with a new collective bargaining agreement, the details of which were not disclosed to the public. County Executive Steuart Pittman expressed relief that curbside collection services would return to normal for residents of affected areas including Pasadena, Severna Park, Odenton, Laurel, and Maryland City.
During the strike, some collections were delayed, and residents were advised to leave their items at the curb until they were collected. Trash collections remained on time, but recycling and yard waste pickup were delayed by up to two days.
The strike was due to issues related to safety concerns and compensation, with Ecology Services offering a 38-cent pay increase but failing to address issues such as inadequate truck amenities. The Teamsters accused the company of greed and refusal to address these concerns.
Collections are expected to return to normal starting the week of December 2. Neither Ecology Services nor Teamsters Local 570 have provided immediate comments on the resolution of the strike. The county acknowledged the efforts of other contractors and public works employees who helped maintain collection services during the strike period.
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