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Photo courtesy of Town of Canton. Department of Public Works employees in Canton empty trash from a resident's vehicle at the Pine Street Transfer Station on Tuesday, July 22nd.
8-04-2025 12:11am
Court Rejects Request for Injunction by Canton for Republic to Resume Normal Trash Collection Services
Darlene Cancell
Editor
On Monday, July 28, a judge for the Superior Court in Essex County ruled in favor of Republic Services, which provides trash and collection services to the Town of Canton and many other municipalities, when it denied a request by Canton and five other municipalities that the court require the company to resume normal services amidst a workers’ strike.
The court noted that the municipalities omitted any mention of the labor strike in their complaint, and no new evidence beyond their initial complaint, although voluminous evidence submitted by Republic Services led the court to believe the strike to be the cause of Republic’s disruption in collection services.
“The court is left with an obvious problem affecting the daily lives of the residents and businesses in the Municipalities, but no effective way to remediate it,” wrote Justice Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman. She opined that it would likely be impossible for Republic Services to comply with the injunctive relief sought by the Municipalities, and that the evidentiary record would not support the requested order.
“This is an issue affecting thousands of residents and businesses in many communities, and we are deeply disappointed in the court’s decision,” said Town Administrator Charles Doody in a statement released on Wednesday, July 30. “We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce the impact on our community and will continue to push for a resolution.”
Town of Canton officials note that they have met with Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll along with other state officials to ask for their intervention. Town officials say they have also been in touch with representatives from 16 other communities impacted by the strike to share updates, strategies, and resources.
Town Administrator Doody urged Republic Service and the company’s striking workers to resume negotiations immediately. “We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce the impact on our community and will continue to push for a resolution,” he said. “Our residents deserve reliable service, and this situation must be resolved as soon as possible.”
Following a strike of Republic Services workers that began on or around July 1st, Canton, Beverly, Danvers, Gloucester, Malden and Peabody jointly filed a complaint with the Superior Court in which the municipalities sought a mandatory injunction that would require Republic Services to immediately collect all trash and recycling and fulfill contractual duties, and to cease and desist from activity causing nuisance conditions (odors, pests, and potential water contamination) in the municipalities.
While the strike continues, the Town of Canton has expanded its hours at the Town Transfer site for Canton residents to dispose of bagged trash and cardboard. As of the date of this posting, the Town Transfer site, located at 99 Pine Street, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
