The City of North Bend announced it has requested customer billing credits and reimbursements from the trash collection company it contracts with, following weeks of missed service last month.

Republic Services, a waste management company the city contracts with for garbage pick-up, suspended several weeks of service to city residences at first due to a snow-storm and then because of an out-of-state labor strike that began Jan. 12.

In total, some city residents went between three and five weeks without service from late December to early January, leading North Bend Mayor Rob McFarland to issue an emergency deceleration for the city on Jan. 13.

“The disruption of solid waste collection service within the city since Dec. 26, 2021 has created a threat to life and property,” the proclamation reads.

During the suspended service, the city coordinated with Republic to set-up a two day trash drop off at Torguson Park. One of those days had to be suspended early due to high demand.

In a statement, the city said it believes it’s appropriate for the company to provide credits to residents and that Republic is obligated, under its contract, to reimburse the city and offset incurred costs.

According to the city, Republic has previously decline to provide reimbursement, telling the city it was unwilling to provide pick-up services during the multi-week span due to high avalanche risk on I-90.

Republic did provide Sammamish residents with a reimbursement for a service due to missed pick-ups from inclement weather and the labor strike, according to a Sammamish news release. They did not however provide Sammamish residents with a disposal fee reimbursement.

In a statement to the Valley Record, Republic said it continues to work with those impacted by weather and work stoppage delays.

“Each municipal contract is unique, and we are working with our partners individually on the issue of credits,” the statement says. “We understand the inconvenience these unexpected service disruptions have caused for many customers, and appreciate their patience as we worked with our community partners through these challenging, compounding situations.”

Republic – an Arizona-based company – has served the city since at least 2012 and is under contract until March of 2024. The city’s contract with Republic was set to expire in March 2022, before it was renewed for an additional two years last October.