14 Jul Republic Services Resumes Limited Trash Pickup in West County

(Republic Services via Bay City News)

CC Pulse Staff Report

Republic Services is resuming trash collection starting Tuesday for residences and small and most business in West Contra Costa, while recycling and green waste services are still on hold, according to Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia.

Residents are asked to place only their garbage bins at the curb, along with any extra bagged trash. Extra bags will be picked up at no additional charge. Pickup may not happen on your usual day, so bins should be left out.

People aged 62 or older or with disabilities who cannot move their bins to the curb can should call (510) 620-5407 and leave a voicemail in English or Spanish with the city of Richmond containing their name, address and phone number. Republic Services will send someone to collect their bagged trash.

Republic Services says on its website that it plans to complete limited residential and commercial trash pickup routes through Saturday and expects to return to regular service on July 21.

In the meantime, residents can still drop off up to four bags of household garbage free of charge at the Golden Bear Transfer Station located at 1 Parr Blvd. in Richmond, off the Richmond Parkway.

Drop-off hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents must have a valid photo ID to prove they live in the West Contra Costa service area, which covers Crockett-Tormey-Port Costa, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, Rodeo, San Pablo and unincorporated West County. No bulky items such as furniture, electronic waste such as TVs or computers, or hazardous waste including paint, oil and medications will be accepted.

Richmond residents can get free 42-gallon trash bags until Friday or while supplies last at City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Gioia also said he has asked Republic to offer rate relief to customers for the days when trash service was suspended.

Trash collection was first put on hold last week as local Republic Services employees went on strike in solidarity with other striking company workers, who are asking for higher wages, better health insurance and a pension from a company that has a $76.3 billion overall stock value as of Monday. Pickup resuming does not mean the strike is over, however. NBC Bay Area reported last week that the company would be bringing in workers from other places, and a union leader told ABC7 that labor negotiations have resumed but gotten no closer to a deal.