rfmcdonald | [URBAN NOTE] Great, a garbage strike (Reply)

The Toronto garbage strike is not pleasing many Torontonians.

As garbage continued to pile up in Toronto's streets amid widespread illegal dumping, the city's top politicians said Tuesday they were still optimistic they could soon reach an agreement with striking municipal workers.

Garbage bins across the city have been stuffed with trash. Most are now filled to overflowing.

Tuesday is usually the first day of regular garbage pickup in Toronto — and the city has asked residents to keep trash in their homes for at least a week before trying to dispose of it.

But some people wouldn't wait.

Garbage bins have been crammed full, and green garbage bags filled with trash are starting to pile up on the streets.

Mayor David Miller pleaded with the city's residents not to make the situation worse.

"It is becoming clear that there is a small group of people that are taking advantage of this strike to use Toronto as their personal dumping ground," he told reporters at a Tuesday news conference.

"This is not and should not be acceptable to any of us. I would ask people to be patient."

That the striking workers and the city are negotiating is "a good sign," said Miller.

But Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, which represents outdoor workers, said Monday the two sides were still "miles apart" from a deal.

A garbage bin wrapped in plastic
Originally uploaded by rfmcdpei

A girl next to a Christie Pits pile
Originally uploaded by rfmcdpei

I took these photos on the first day of the strike. I also remember the stench in Toronto in that summer's garbage strike. I am not looking forward to that stench this summer at all.