Town Hall Notebook: Waste Troubles, Seniors Farmers Market Program

This week, locals are focused on trash and transfers, with a pre-holiday union strike interrupting local waste and recycling services and a proposed project to modernize an 11,800 sq-ft transfer station in Magnolia.  And, oh yes, a popular food program that gives many seniors access to farmers market produce is back.  Let’s get started …

Trouble with the Curb

Last week, as many residents looked to Friday’s 4th of July holiday relishing the idea of parades, BBQs, and a long weekend, a well-timed strike began by approximately 450 members of Teamsters Local 25 against waste management company, Republic Services, after the union’s contract negotiations broke down. 

Workers—pushing for better wages, benefits, and working conditions, and, wanting to be heard—timed the holiday walkout for July 1 in more than 15 North Shore towns, including Manchester, Gloucester, and Rockport.  Essex, which doesn’t offer residential curbside service, uses another vendor for municipal waste.

As of July 9, the strike is still going.

Initially, many towns advised residents not to set out trash until services resume.  Not in Manchester, where officials pressed Republic to honor its contract that promises backup services in the event of a strike.  Meanwhile, instead of waiting for back up from Republic to empty busy town dumpsters in parks and at public beaches (especially Singing Beach), MBTS DPW crews began serving town dumpsters while Manchester DPW Director Chuck Dam began a schedule of being in continual touch with Republic—often speaking with contacts two-to-three times per day.

To make matters more interesting, the strike hit on the first day on the job for Manchester’s new Town Administrator, Antonio “Tony” Barletta.  He’d been shadowing former Town Administrator Greg Federspiel throughout June.  But in the end, Barletta’s previous experience working in the legislative office of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO (American’s largest federation of unions) early in his career may better serve him right now.  Barletta has been coordinating with mayors and fellow TAs across Cape Ann and North Shore.  He’s also been in regular touch with Republic.

So, what should Manchester residents know right now?  Dam says collection schedules are being honored by Republic, but there are delays.  Is your trash typically picked up on Tuesday mornings?  It may take until Wednesday morning, says Dam, who adds that if the strike continues the town will likely expand operating days for the transfer station on Upper Pine Street until the dispute is resolved.

Republic Services has activated contingency plans, albeit too slowly for many towns, bringing in out of state crews and prioritizing essential routes.  To make things more challenging, striking workers have taken to picketing outside the company’s Peabody dispatch location to successfully delay trucks with backup workers as they head out.

In Gloucester and elsewhere, replacement workers from Pennsylvania began collection efforts under police escort due to tensions with picketers.  However, coverage remains spotty, and the looming issue lies in the public health risks tied to uncollected garbage. 

“We understand the frustration,” said Barletta of the interruption.  “We are staying in constant communication with Republic and prioritizing communication with the residents. However, the contingency plans of Republic are unexpectedly changing due to a number of factors. We are urging them to negotiate in good faith with the Teamsters while also urging them to meet their obligation to our community.”

Barletta said Town Hall will continue to provide updates to residents as soon as new information is available and will explore alternative solutions.

Meanwhile, union leadership says they’re prepared to sustain the strike until “respectable wages” are secured—“we’ll hold this line as long as it takes,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien.

Hopefully, cooler heads wil prevail and the two sides will come to an agreement and normal curbside service will continue for local Manchester residents.

The program is hosted by SeniorCare, Inc. in partnership with the Manchester Council on Aging.

The goal of the program is to help older adults access fresh fruits and vegetables, improve nutrition, and support local farms. Bags of fresh produce will be distributed in mid-August, and quantities are limited. Participation is first-come, first-served and limited to one bag per eligible senior.

To qualify, participants must be at least 60 years old and meet income eligibility—$2,322/month for a one-person household or $3,152/month for a two-person household. Seniors enrolled in at least one means-tested program such as SNAP, MassHealth, Medicaid, or fuel assistance are also eligible.

To register or for more information, seniors are encouraged to contact the Manchester Council on Aging office at Town Hall.

This program comes at a time when federal support for food assistance is tightening.  In her recent Q&A with The Cricket, MA Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante warned that ongoing federal grant cuts to SNAP could significantly affect access to nutrition programs across Massachusetts.

The application for the proposed 11,800 square-foot facility is limited to handling construction and demolition (C&D) debris—not any other activities that may be part of the operations such as municipal solid waste (MSW)—with a daily throughput of up to 270 tons. 

The project is being led by DLM Properties and operated by Hiltz Waste Disposal, which runs similar sites across New England. 

Manchester’s residential neighbors to the industrial park, particularly those on Magnolia Ave., Overledge Rd. and Big Rock Rd., have expressed concerns that toxic substances from the transfer station may leach in the groundwater. 

These concerns are largely addressed by the environmental oversight of the business by the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection and the City of Gloucester’s Detp. of Public Works and BOH.

That said, in May, swelling of a nearby pond after rains demonstrated that stormwater flows may be impacting Manchester by way of the Kondelin Road.

According to the site’s history, the location operated informally for years as a drop-off for residents and contractors, but permitting gaps identified in 2018 forced a partial scale-down.  Since then, the current operator has worked to meet local and state requirements, with Gloucester permitting now underway and MassDEP review in its final stages.

At the hearing, Manchester Board of Health Agent Wendy Hansbury read a public statement and noted that many residents from both Gloucester and Manchester expressed concerns about traffic, pedestrian safety, and how waste would be handled on-site and in transit. 

Hansbury emphasized that while Gloucester’s approval was anticipated, this was one step in a longer regulatory process.  She said she’d be closely reviewing the next submittals—especially those related to stormwater management and long-term monitoring.

Proponents argue the site will reduce pressure on regional facilities in Peabody and Georgetown, restore local services, and improve environmental protections.  The project has received support from the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and more than 50 local contractors.

Still pending are MassDEP’s final approval and a zoning change from the Gloucester City Council to formally define the new use.