Local

‘It’s disgusting’: Uncollected trash piling up in Lawrence

Lawrence – Uncollected trash has been piling up on the sidewalks of Lawrence and leaving a stench in the air.

Neighbors told Boston 25 News they haven’t understood why their trash, yard waste and recycles aren’t being picked up on time.

The city of Lawrence said the issue stems from a company it has a multi-million dollar contract with.

Former company JRM Hauling & Recycling merged with Arizona-based Republic Services in April.

“JRM has always done a good job with the trash pickup,” said Lawrence spokesperson Nestor Castillo. “A new company Republic Services has the contract now.”

Castillo told Boston 25 News that the city has been working with Republic Services to resolve the on-going problem.

He assures residents that the trash will be picked up by Wednesday, October 5th.

“We don’t want to be blaming anybody but if we have to, it’s the company to blame,” he said. “The city of Lawrence is doing its best to finally fix this issue.”

The trash accumulation has been bothering residents who say the odor of trash isn’t the only problem.

“It’s bad. [There’s] dead rats all over the place,” said neighbor Yarleny Diaz. “It’s disgusting.”

Boston 25 News received the following statement from Republic Services:

Thank you for your inquiry. During this time of transition, Republic Services of Northern Massachusetts has experienced some service delays. We understand the inconvenience this has caused to our customers, and we are working diligently to get back on schedule. Our team has been in communication with the City of Lawrence and has developed a plan mitigate any further issues. We are committed to this community, we are proud to serve this community, and we thank them for their patience during this time.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW