NORTH READING — The town’s trash and recycling contractor, Republic Services, informed the town on Tuesday afternoon that it does not have sufficient equipment or manpower to complete trash and recycling town-wide in one day this week, as previously announced. As a result, both trash and recycling were being collected on Wednesday, October 12, and collections will continue to take place through Saturday, October 15. Due to this schedule, all residents were asked to place their trash and recycling curbside by 6:30 a.m. yesterday.
A projected collection schedule in effect for this week only may be viewed by visiting: https://www.northreadingma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3591/f/news/catchuptrashschedule.pdf.
According to this map, Republic divvied up the town into five sections and assigned itself a two-day span to complete each section. Residents who live on the northwest side of town (the area shaded in orange) whose trash and/or recycling was not collected on Tuesday, October 11 have been asked to contact the Department of Public Works by phone (978-357-5260) or email (trash@northreadingma.gov). This area is located west of Rte. 28 and includes the Martins Pond neighborhood. It was originally assigned pick-up dates of Tuesday and Saturday.
Residents in the West Village (shaded in purple on the map), were assigned Tuesday and Wednesday for pick-up; the easterly section of town (shaded in blue) was assigned Wednesday and Thursday. This area encompasses Ipswich River Park to points east of Haverhill Street to as far as the town borders of Reading, Lynnfield and Middleton.
The area boarding Eisenhaure’s Pond (shaded in white) located between Central Street and Haverhill Street, and extending up to the town border, was assigned Thursday and Friday.
The neighborhood between Route 28 and Central Street, extending northerly to the town line (shaded in green) was assigned Friday and Saturday.
“It has come to our attention that Republic’s customer service representatives have not been provided adequate information regarding collection schedules, and have been providing inaccurate information to residents who call. We apologize for the burden placed upon the town’s residents by Republic,” stated Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto.
“Please know that trash and recycling trucks are not under direct control by town officials, that North Reading is not the only community impacted by the transition from JRM to Republic, and that we share your frustration and are pursuing every available option to ensure a reliable trash and recycling program is available to residents as soon as possible. More information regarding future weeks’ collection plans will be shared as soon as it is available,” he added.
