Beginning Monday, August 1, Republic Services will introduce a new customer service phone number, dedicated to Arlington residents: 781-289-0500.
There will no longer be an email contact for customer service.
Using this new number, residents can call to report missed trash, recycling or yard waste collection, set up an appointment for a pickup of a major appliance (and pay the $20 fee), or to get a private-pay estimate for collection of excess trash, furniture, or construction and demolition debris.
Republic Services is also rolling out an online portal system so that residents and building management companies can set up online accounts to report missed collections and schedule appliance collection.
We recognize this is a big change for residents. We ask the public for patience during this transition to improve customer service.
While residents are also able to speak with Town employees about reuse options, recycling, and questionable materials disposal, the fastest way to have a missed pickup addressed, starting August 1, is to report it directly to the Republic customer service phone number: 781-289-0500.
Continue to use 1-800-323-4285 or customerservice@jrmhauling.com until July 31st. On August 1, these methods will no longer work.
Up to date program rules can be found 24/7 at arlingtonma.gov/recycle.
More About the Transition to Republic Services
Republic Services is a national provider that purchased the smaller, regional JRM Hauling and Recycling company that used to serve our community. The purchasing of smaller trash companies by larger entities is a national trend in waste management.
In addition to the new blue Republic trucks, the public will notice Premier trucks, which are filling in for older JRM trucks that have been retired from service after ten years. More of the newer blue Republic trucks are expected.
The public may also notice that their trash, recycling, and yard waste collection times may have shifted. While no route changes have been made (we all have the same collection day we've had for thirty years) the order in which a route is collected may have been tweaked by the new management.
These are a lot of changes, and it has taken a few months for the order of collection to be finalized, the drivers to be trained, and the kinks to be worked through. We still have a few hot spots that need attention, but please know that we are working on it in partnership with Republic, including upgrading the older JRM dumpsters.
