City Of Renton: Leave Trash Curbside Until It's Collected

The City of Renton is telling Waste Management customers to put their trash out, and .

“It is the city's expectation that garbage will be collected for Renton's residential customers in the next few days,” wrote City Communications Director Preeti Shridhar in a statement released today. “Although there may be delays and the garbage may not be collected on the regular collection day, customers should plan to place their garbage at the curb on their regularly scheduled collection date and leave it there until it is collected.”

Waste Management (WM) notified the City of Renton of the Teamsters' Local 117 strike at about 10:30 a.m. The Teamsters’ Local 117 membership includes recycling and yard waste truck drivers for WM.

“It is unclear at this time whether Teamsters' Local 174, whose membership includes garbage truck drivers, will strike in kind to honor the Local 117 work stoppage,” Shridar wrote, adding that duration of the strike is unknown.

Teamsters Local 174 spokesman Michael Gonzales said his members’ contract allows each driver to determine if they will honor a strike by another local. “I’ve been driving around and I can tell you, most of our members are honoring the strike and driving back in.”

The  after contract talks between Waste Management, which collects Woodinville’s recycling, garbage and yard waste, broke down last month. The 153 drivers have been working without a contract since the previous one expired on May 31.

Paul Zilly, Local 117 spokesman, said that the company has been threatening, coercing and retaliating against workers and that the strike will continue until it returns to the bargaining table. 

Renton residents served by Allied Waste and King County Transfer Stations will not be affected by the WM strike.

The City of Renton is continuing to monitor the situation and working with WM on a contingency plan in case drivers refuse to return to work. The plan includes bringing staff from operations across America to serve as route drivers while Local 117 is striking; however, this may take about a week to organize.

WM’s contract with the City covers performance fees and fines, which may be enforced, however the City's Solid Waste Utility will not be issuing refunds to customers during this initial period. The city will also forward all customer calls regarding missed collections to the Waste Management Call Center at 1-800-592-9995. Questions or concerns should be directed to WM or at 1-800-592-9995.


--Kirkland Patch editor Greg Johnston and Woodinville Patch Editor Annie Archer contributed to this story.