Greater Boston communities at the center of the ongoing sanitation worker strike are taking Republic Services to court, seeking immediate relief as trash piles mount, attracting rats and giving

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.

State leaders urge Republic Services to finalize contract with striking Teamsters as uncollected garbage piles up in Massachusetts communities and other states across the country.

Negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters broke down late last week. Talks are set to resume Tuesday, but the impacts of the trash strike are growing more pronounced.

Fullerton officials said crews are starting with the areas that missed pickups first and one- to two-day delays are expected early in the week. Street sweeping will continue, but the city has paused enforcement for trash bins and street sweeping violations through the end of the week.

Some Bay Area communities have had to come up with solutions like replacement workers and drop-off locations as the piling trash and heat make for a smelly mix amid the work stoppage for Republic Services garbage collectors.

A work stoppage by Teamsters working for Republic Service in Boston has since spread to involve several thousand workers across the country.