Trash Collection Resumes in East Whittier After Emergency Declaration

Whittier, CA — After several days of uncollected trash piling up across East Whittier, city officials declared a local public health emergency late Wednesday night, giving Republic Services a strict deadline to resume service or face municipal action. By early Thursday morning, Republic notified the city that drivers had returned to work and cleanup efforts were officially underway.

The emergency began when a labor dispute involving Republic Services’ workforce outside Whittier caused a temporary but significant disruption in solid waste collection. Although the City of Whittier is not involved in the labor negotiations between the company and its employees, the city council acted swiftly in response to community concerns about the growing health risks from missed trash pickups.

Residents reported overflowing bins, contaminated sidewalks, and foul odors—prompting the City Council to convene an emergency closed session at 6:00 p.m. on July 16. During that session, the Council declared a local public health emergency and set a hard deadline: services must resume no later than Saturday, July 19.

In an effort to ease the burden on residents, the city also waived landfill fees at Savage Canyon Landfill for any resident served by Republic who can provide proof of address. The waiver will remain in effect through Wednesday, July 23.

“Trash pickup, clean water, 911 response, paved roads and sidewalks, green parks – these are the basic services under the control of the City of Whittier and the fundamental responsibility of the Whittier City Council,” said Mayor Joe Vinatieri in a public statement Thursday afternoon.

By 4:00 a.m. Thursday, July 17, Republic Services confirmed its drivers had returned and would begin a three-day catch-up plan to clean up the backlog:

• July 17: All commercial routes; Monday & partial Tuesday residential routes

• July 18: All commercial routes; remaining Tuesday & as much of Wednesday as possible

• July 19: All commercial routes; remaining Wednesday, full Thursday & Friday residential routes

The City will continue to monitor the situation to ensure public health is safeguarded and that trash services stay on track. Residents with questions can contact Republic Services directly at 800-299-4898.

Service agreements for both of Whittier’s contracted waste haulers—Republic and Athens—are available on the City of Whittier’s website. Inquiries may also be directed to admin@cityofwhittier.org.

Editor’s Note: This report will be updated as new information becomes available. Whittier 360 News Network thanks the community for their continued vigilance and encourages residents to remain engaged on local matters that directly affect our quality of life.