Published July 10,2025
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — After meeting in executive session virtually on Thursday afternoon, July 3, to discuss the ongoing trash strike against Republic Services, the Select Board reconvened in open session to announce that it had voted to send a notice of non-performance with specific sections of its contract with the town.
On Monday, the town announced that Republic’s replacement drivers would be collecting both trash and recycling on the regularly scheduled days, not with the typical one-day delay following a major holiday. The company had crews working on both the July 4 holiday and July 5 to make up for missed collections earlier in the week.
To help residents whose trash or recycling was not picked up last week, the DPW opened a trash drop off section at the DPW yard on Saturday and Sunday and subsequently on Tuesday it was also open for both trash and recycling. This will not be a regular occurrence but residents will be notified if the DPW yard will be open on specific days in the future on an as-needed basis via social media and reverse 911 or on the town website.
The letter from Town Counsel Darren Klein of KP Law sent to Kurt Lavery, Market Vice-President of Republic Services in Tyngsborough, states as follows:
Re: Non-Performance of Contract
Dear Mr. Lavery:
Please be advised that our office is Counsel for the Town of North Reading (“Town”). The Town appreciates Republic Service’s (“Republic”) efforts to continue operations and fulfill its obligations under the terms of the contract for curbside collection of solid waste and recyclables while it continues to attempt to resolve its ongoing labor issues. Please be advised that the Town’s Department of Public Works (“DPW”) has confirmed that Republic, in violation of the contract, did not collect solid waste on at least 32 streets and recyclables on at least 16.5 streets within 24 hours of the required collection affecting approximately 700 households.
The Town hereby requests that Republic notify the DPW immediately regarding its plan to rectify this issue. This letter also serves as notice that the Town’s Select Board is monitoring Republic’s performance under the contract and urges a quick resolution of the ongoing dispute.
Please be advised that nothing said or unsaid in this communication is intended to waive any of the Town’s rights under the contract, or at law, including the right to assess and withhold liquidated damages and indemnification of costs to the Town under Articles VIII and XIV of the contract, all of which the Town hereby reserves.
Thank you for your attention.
Very truly yours,
Darren R. Klein, Esq.