Concerns growing over Republic trash strike as new school year approaches

Concern is growing among Massachusetts communities as a Republic trash workers strike has reached its seventh week, even as local students are set to go back to school in less than a month.Waste has been piling up at dumpsters and along streets in more than a dozen communities.Officials in Malden say that because of the delays, people have been looking for any dumpster to toss their trash, attracting animals and bugs that could be dangerous. “It’s a public health hazard, no doubt about it. We all know rats carry diseases, bugs, and mice. I don’t want my kids around that,” said Karen Colon Hayes, Malden City Councilor At Large. “My friends that I’m with right now, they all have kids that are school-aged, and they are very concerned.”Malden High School is not an official trash drop-off location, but there is a recycling drop-off location at the Ferryway School.The city says that it will end that next week to accommodate the start of school. Malden officials are looking for a new recycling drop-off location and will have a meeting with Republic on Monday to discuss getting more resources to the city.