San Diego's Christmas trash piles up after Republic Services strike

A week or so after Christmas Eve parties and two days after New Year's Eve, piles of trash sitting in and around Republic Services dumpsters and trash bins throughout our county have yet to be hauled off.

"Residents are fortunate it is winter," Allied Gardens local Al Aliment said. "Imagine how this would smell in the summer with flies everywhere — and more rats. In the meantime, the rain and rats will combine to make the perfect trash storm."

On December 19, Republic Services posted on their social media that "some services have been temporarily delayed due to an unanticipated work stoppage." Before that Sunday, 250-plus Republic Services employees in Chula Vista and San Diego reportedly walked out over a labor dispute. Together with Teamsters Local 542, they proceeded to strike, requesting an increase in wages, better refuse trucks, and a safer work environment. As this article goes to print, the sanitation employees and the teamsters have not reached an agreement with the private garbage hauler company.

Army veteran Aliment continued: "Even when the strike ends, Republic trucks will not dump the bins until all the surrounding trash is removed. Then, it's up to property management to clear the area. The driver is not allowed to remove it due to job safety concerns."

On December 3, John Taylor from North Park texted me photos of a blue-colored Republic Services dumpster with filled-up trash bags sitting outside of it. "That's behind my building, and it's been like that since before Christmas," he said to me. "Our building doesn't generate that much trash."

Word on the street is that before Christmas, county dwellers discreetly dumped trash into their neighbors' trash and recycle canisters; then when those were full, residents scrambled into the alleys behind multi-dweller units and businesses' in hopes to find non-locked metal dumpsters. "It's like we're playing 'pass the trash,'" said Michael, Taylor's former neighbor. "After Christmas, we drove to Mission Bay because they have big trashcans and dumpsters there. My other buddies went to gas stations, put in like five bucks worth of gas, then dumped their trash bags in the trashcans by the pumps. Hey, they're paying customers, right?

"I bet, with all of this trash piling up, nay-saying people are now liking the idea of composting their food waste which will probably lead to fewer trash bags and stench."

A San Carlos man who requested anonymity smelled rotten food in his apartment complex's parking garage on January 3, as he direct messaged me photos of what appears to be a six-foot-tall wall of trash. "The trash has been there for two weeks, since before Christmas," he explained. "It's blocking stairways and entrances."

The pile of trash appeared to be blocking some of the elevator's entranceway and part of the yellow-colored tactile paving used to guide blind tenants and visitors.

"As much as a lot of people pay to rent here, you'd think the complex would be more diligent in working on this matter," continued the San Carlos tenant, "as well as keep stairways cleared as they said they would, but have not."

Other San Diegans dumped trash in the Mid-City canyons and in plain sight atop the Lincoln Avenue bridge, which crosses over the 805 in North Park. "I have reported this trash and RV vehicles on these bridges to the city's Get It Done app numerous times," Taylor said to me. "I have had callbacks from the police saying there is nothing they can do about the polluters. There was a Christmas tree and jacuzzi left out there too."

On January 3, locals on social media stated that Republic Services is picking up trash at certain single-family homes, but not apartments or businesses. "Our trash got picked up yesterday," posted Chad, a Chula Vistan. "The [Republic Services] driver was flown in from North Carolina and stated they 'didn't have much of a choice about coming here, but most of the drivers always wanted to see San Diego.'"

"As of Monday, January 3, and until further notice, free trash and recycling disposal for self-hauling is available at Otay and Sycamore Landfills for Republic residential and commercial service customers in Chula Vista, San Diego, and in unincorporated areas of San Diego County," updated the Republic Services' website. "Customers will be asked to present their Republic account invoice at the landfill for disposal alongside regular landfill customers. Chula Vista landfill passes are not necessary."