Boston’s Dumpsters Overflow as Trash-Strike Summer Drags On

An employee near overflowing dumpsters behind Johnny’s Luncheonette in Newton on July 10.Photographer: Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

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By Greg Ryan

July 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT

Updated on

July 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM EDT

A trash collector strike in the Boston area is entering its fifth week with no resolution in sight, leading to overflowing dumpsters, exasperated politicians and a string of lawsuits.

More than 400 garbage haulers belonging to a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have been on strike since July 1 after failing to reach an agreement with their employer, Republic Services Inc., on demands for higher wages and better benefits. The work stoppage is affecting trash collection for residents in 14 Boston-area suburbs from Canton to Gloucester.