Republic Services and the Teamsters have been at a standoff since July 1, when 450 local workers went on strike after the union's contract expired. Teamsters are seeking better wages, benefits and stronger labor protections.

Three municipalities have notified the hauler it’s not meeting its contract, while the Massachusetts secretary of state questioned private companies’ ability to perform sanitation services.

As garbage continues to accumulate across roughly two dozen Bay Area cities impacted by a nationwide Teamsters strike, Republic Services has begun deploying "substitute drivers" in a limited effort to restore trash collection services.