Kent offers temporary drop-off as Republic Services pickups pause amid out-of-state sympathy strike

Kent officials told residents July 15 that regular curbside trash service in Kent was disrupted because Republic Services has not been collecting in the city since the previous week. Mayor Dana Ralph said the stoppage stems from a sympathy strike by Teamsters for a labor dispute in Boston and affects multiple cities in King County.

Mayor Dana Ralph said city staff have been working “every single day, checking in with them, checking in with the Teamsters,” and looking for ways to restore service. As an interim measure, the city arranged for single-family residential customers to drop off bagged trash at Showare Center. Ralph said the drop-off will be available “starting tomorrow through Friday” from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Republic Services providing dumpsters and staff on site.

The mayor described the situation as widespread. “Every single one of us up here is having that same exact problem,” Ralph said, noting the city is constrained by the existing contract with Republic Services and is coordinating with the company and labor representatives to reach a resolution.

City staff and Republic Services will operate the temporary drop-off at Showare Center for the days specified to give residents an option while negotiations continue. The mayor encouraged residents to use the temporary site and said the city will continue to push for a return to regular curbside service.

The council did not take additional formal action during the meeting on the matter; the mayor characterized the arrangement as a short-term accommodation while labor and company negotiations proceed.