Trash and recycling strike could impact households throughout Howard

Howard County residents in Columbia, Elkridge, Ellicott City and elsewhere may see a delay in trash and recycling pick-up this week due to a local trash collectors' strike.

The striking workers are employees of Laurel-based Unity Disposal & Recycling, which serves some 20,000 households scattered throughout Howard County.

Unity Disposal collects waste from zones 4, 6, 7, 8 and 12, which encompass parts of Columbia, Clarksville, Jessup, Elkridge, Woodstock and Ellicott City, according to a county map highlighting the impacted regions. The company also collects trash and recycling from households in Montgomery County.

The walk-out began Dec. 26 due to a stalemate in contract negotiations "and is expected to last into the near future," according to an email sent by the county's Department of Public Works on Sunday.

In a press release on Friday, the Laborers International Union of North America, which represents the striking workers, said Unity employees had voted to join their Local 657 nine months ago, and that negotiations on the terms of the first contract have stalled.

"We work hard and we provide a vital public service,” Unity driver Martin Puesan said in the statement. “Yet too many of us struggle to provide for our families on what Unity pays us. These should not be poverty-level jobs.”

On Monday, County Executive Allan Kittleman issued a statement on the strike: "The job action by employees of Unity Disposal and Recycling is a labor dispute involving a private company that provides contractual services to Howard County Government," he said. "This has inconvenienced county residents, which is why I strongly encourage both sides, management and labor, to work together in good faith to come to a speedy resolution of their differences. In the meantime, Howard County Government will continue to work with Unity and its other waste haulers to ensure as little disruption as possible to the 20,000 residents serviced by this contractor."

County officials said they have coordinated with other companies to help with trash and recycling collection during the strike. According to the email from public works, trash and food scrap pick-up will be prioritized. If recycling and yard trim collections are skipped, officials asked residents to hold onto them for a week and put them out again on the next scheduled pick-up date.

The county is on a sliding schedule for trash and recycling pick-up because of the New Year's holiday.

The county's Christmas tree mulching program, Merry Mulch, will not be impacted by the strike, county officials said.

Residents whose trash or food scraps are not collected can call 410-313-6444 for assistance.

Trash and recycling strike could impact households throughout Howard

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