Alert - Garbage Collection Strike Toronto Canada
 

It appears that there will be a garbage collection strike here beginning on Monday June 22, 2009. This coupled with our warm summer weather will make things rather unpleasant in the city. We have no idea how long this strike will last or how much refuse will accumulate on the streets.

Are negotiations ended? Are they definitely going on strike?

Yes it will be unpleasant but the weather here has been unseasonably cool to date, though you never know when that's going to change.

Last time we had a garbage strike, each neighbourhood had a collection point and we all just took our garbage there. I may be mis-remembering, but I don't recall huge piles of garbage on the main streets.

Hi, the latest news casts say the unions have agreed to continue negotiations past their Monday deadline - so although no agreement has been reached portraying the city as awash in uncollected garbage seems a tad alarmist to my mind.

Tourists arriving by air (at the big suburban airport) and bringing garbage with them from home should deposit the garbage at the big airport, because this is not really in Toronto.

If you come by train, you might be able to jump off really quickly at a stop near Toronto -- some trains stop at Oakville -- and deposit your garbage there.

Most hotels, by the way, have their garbage picked up by commercial outfits.

BAK

BAK

Agree with you, lucyp. And goddess is correct - the last time there were no piles of garbage in the streets.

Sadly, it appears the strike of municipal workers began at 12:01 Monday morning EST (today). Let's hope it is resolved soon.
tC

Please still come visit our city. We'll manage the situation -- we did last time -- and with luck the strike won't last too long.

We will be doing garbage pick up on Saturday June 27/09 in west TO. We will be charging a nominal rate per bag but will pick up diectly from your home. If anyone has any interest please let me know. [email protected].

I live in the downtown core of the city and just walked around here on the hottest day yet. At this point, you can't even tell there is a strike, except that public litter bins are closed to passersby.

No smell, no litter on streets: hotels and most tourist venues and events, like the Gay Pride Parade, have made private arrangements.

I just kept my empty pop can in my bag to bring home for the re-cycling...it can wait!

Well, last time the garbage strike happened just before Toronto was hosting the World Youth Conference, which was attended by Pope John Paul II, back to work legislation were passed quickly, forcing striking workers to clean up the city for the big event. I do remember piles of garbage on sidewalks in some areas, but not everwhere and fortunately, not anywhere near where I live. I hope we've learnt from this and things are better this time.