It has been almost 36 days since the last time garbage has been picked up in the city of Toronto (Compare that to my hometown of Windsor, which has had a city strike going for over 15 weeks.). But nevertheless, it looks like the city and the union have stopped their bickering and are working toward amends.

For the people to the south, not only have we had to go through a city workers strike, but also a VIA (Amtrak equivalent) strike and a liquor strike (We only have Liquor Stores, and Beer Stores. Not gas stations, or drive through windows where you can get your beverage of choice.). Garbage pickup isn’t the only thing that has ceased. But also building permits, island ferries, reduced ambulance service, marriage licenses, park/gardens/squares/street maintenance — basically anything a city is responsible for.

I want to know why we are not getting a property tax rebate, because when you pay for a service any other time and it is not completed, then they return your money. So why is this any different?

So as the uion members go from picket lines back to their trucks, we can all rest assured our garbage will once again will be driven five hours into Michigan, where it is dumped.

from daily dose:

Toronto does have a good recycling and compost program. I think this strike could have been a lot worse if we didn’t recycle so much. I believe 70% of all the waste is to be diverted to composting or recycling by 2012. So imagine having 10 of bags garbage and only throwing out three of them.

We already have bans on plastic water bottles, coffee cups/drinking cups from fast food restaurants, and plastic bags. I always find it amusing when an American tourist comes to visit, and they start panicking when they are told they have to pay a tax on plastic bags. But I have to say that I am shocked when I go to most American cities and they don’t even have a recycling program for aluminum cans (Washington, New York, San Antonio, St. Louis, New Orleans, Buffalo, etc.).

The problem with our system is that everything is shipped to Michigan to get processed and destroyed. It’s a weekly occurrence that a garbage truck is in an accident on the highway going to Michigan.

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Justin Zawyrucha’s other blog posts:
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