A trash collectors strike is disrupting service in 14 cities and towns across Massachusetts. 

More than 400 workers from Republic Services walked off the job early Tuesday morning. The union, Teamsters Local 25, is demanding better pay and benefits.

According to the company, garbage collection service will be affected by the strike in these communities:

• Beverly
• Canton
• Danvers
• Gloucester
• Ipswich
• Lynnfield
• Malden
• Manchester-By-The-Sea
• Marblehead
• North Reading
• Peabody
• Swampscott
• Wakefield
• Watertown 

, and Canton told residents that trash and recycling would not be picked up Tuesday because of the strike. Canton told its residents that replacement workers would begin collecting trash in the town on Monday, almost a week away.

"We understand the frustration this sudden disruption may cause and appreciate residents' patience as we work closely with Republic Services to restore collection services as quickly and safely as possible," said Canton Town Administrator Charles Doody.

Arlington had a contract with Republic Services, but that expired Monday night.

"Modified service schedule"

Republic Services issued a statement Tuesday saying it's "disappointing that the union called a work stoppage rather than continue negotiating."

"A work stoppage does not benefit our employees or the communities we serve," the company said. "We planned for the possibility of a work stoppage and have taken several steps to continue providing service, including securing Republic Services employees from other areas, prioritizing routes and optimizing routing efficiency."

"Many customers may experience a modified service schedule as a result of the union's work stoppage. We will communicate any schedule changes to customers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," Republic said. "We do have other company locations that are not impacted. We are finalizing service schedules today."

Additional strikes?

The union said "hundreds of additional Teamsters across the country" are having similar contract disputes with Republic and they could also go on strike soon.

"If your rubbish is piling up on the Fourth of July, remember who's responsible for it: the white-collar criminals who run Republic Services," said Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien in a statement. "Republic Teamsters didn't start this fight, but we will finish it. Our members will do whatever it takes to finally get the respect they're owed."

Republic Services said they're "hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon."

"We value our employees and entered negotiations intending to raise wages," the company said.

"Complete mess"

"The trash issue is a complete mess," said Nick Dixon, the culinary director with Broadway Restaurant Group.

Republic Services told WBZ-TV that it had a contingency plan so trash would still get picked up. But when no one showed up by 6 a.m., Dixon said he had to hire a third party.

"It's a lot of money," he said. "Trash is like a huge part of every single business, especially the restaurant business, and it's just a disaster."

In Watertown, residents navigated sidewalks full of overflowing trash bins.

"We had our 1-year-old birthday party Saturday, we had 50 people here, so trash was going to be bad already," said David Pierce, a Watertown resident. 

Pierce also tried to bring his trash to the transfer station, but that didn't work. "They have a sign up on the gate that says due to the strike, no luck."

Watertown resident Walter Morris knew something was wrong when his two dogs were quiet on Tuesday morning. 

"They bark when they hear them, so they weren't barking this morning," Morris said of his dogs. "It's a necessity. It's not just we're putting out trash just to put it out."

• Massachusetts