Waste Management Strike: What You Need to Know

The Causes of the Sanitation Worker Strike

If you’re a resident of Durham, NC, you may be aware of the sanitation strike that happened in early September 2023. The cause? Sanitation workers demanded better pay for working in dangerous conditions and performing duties outside of their job titles. The North Carolina Public Service Workers Union outlined their demands, including a $5,000 bonus and a permanent position for all temporary workers. And as the trash strike waged on, collection bins piled higher and higher.

For a while there, no one was sure how things would turn out. The striking workers even made their way to a city council meeting, where the mayor herself spoke in favor of the striking workers. Even still, not all of the city council could come to a consensus. Ultimately, though, the garbage worker strike came to an end after 6 days, as the workers wanted “to keep their commitment to the community.”

How the Sanitation Worker Strike Affects You

So, crisis averted, right? You might think that, but as it turns out, things aren’t “back to normal” so quickly. You might still have an overfilled collection bin. Or, if you’ve been stashing your garbage somewhere else while waiting for waste management workers to get back to work, you have an even bigger problem on your hands. It’s even possible that you’re a business owner who is now dealing with an overflowing trash receptacle.

During the trash strike, many Durham, NC residents were left scratching their heads, wondering how to get rid of junk. Some had to take it upon themselves to gather up that excess trash and move it to a nearby landfill. However, not everyone has the time or vehicle for this work. What are you supposed to do when you’re swimming with trash? There are a couple of solutions that may benefit you in the event that the trash strike resumes. Dumpster rentals are a great alternative for businesses and homes as a long-term solution, but they can be costly and an odd site in front of your home or business. Hiring a junk removal company may be a better solution for residents as some may even offer weekly trash pickup services.

Overflowing trash can in Durham during the 2023 waste management strike

Contact Junk Removal Companies for Immediate Assistance

When it feels like the garbage worker strike may never end, full-service junk removal companies can come to your rescue. What’s nice about these companies is that they take on one job at a time. When you schedule an appointment with a junk removal business, they’re not servicing your entire block. They’re serving you and no one else. This means no waiting around all day for a junk pickup and no getting skipped over altogether. So wipe that sweat off your brow. You can get rid of excess trash as soon as today or tomorrow!

There are many local junk removal businesses for you to choose from. Junk Doctors (that’s us!) is one of them. If you’re still dealing with an overflowing trash bin, we’re more than happy to collect your bags while you wait for your weekly services to resume. You don’t even have to take it to the curb for us. Just guide us to wherever you’ve stored it, and we’ll lug it to our truck in a flash. While junk removal services aren’t free, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg as long as you choose the right company. Most local junk removal companies charge you for the amount of junk you need removed and nothing more. But, if you suspect your sanitation workers are resuming operations in your area, don’t be afraid to give them a call if your trash seems to be looked over.