Hundreds of Puget Sound trash haulers remained off the job Saturday as Waste Management officials and leaders of the recycling drivers union could not agree to resume contract negotiations.

The drivers have been on strike since Wednesday. Replacement workers on Friday began collecting trash from hospitals, day cares and nursing homes, but the company has not announced any plans for restoring residential service.

Brenda Wiest, a spokeswoman for Teamsters Local 117, said the union has no plans to lift its pickets at Waste Management facilities until the company begins to negotiate in good faith.

Waste Management officials have said they won't negotiate with picketing employees.

The company is telling its customers to continue putting out bins only on normal collection days and to remove them at night.

The main sticking point between the two sides relates to the wage difference between recycling workers and garbage haulers. The first group is paid less than the second even though they do the same work and are exposed to the same hazards, according to the union.

Negotiations ended June 11, according to the union; the contract ended May 31.

More than 150 recycling drivers are on strike, while about 350 garbage-truck drivers are refusing to work in support of the strike.

Waste Management serves 220,000 customers in King and South Snohomish counties.

Brian M. Rosenthal: 206-464-3195 or brosenthal@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @brianmrosenthal.