The city says it will open at least 19 more waste transfer stations by this weekend if a strike by Toronto's municipal workers isn't ended within the next two days.
Some will be available for use by tomorrow afternoon, and the rest on Friday morning, as the city attempts to deal with the ever-increasing amount of garbage in resident's homes and city public spaces.
Officials say they will announce the new locations on Thursday, which will be the fourth day of the strike by the city's outside and inside workers. Sunnyside Beach is expected to be one of the new temporary dump sites.
City officials hope by designating specific locations where residents can drop off their trash, it will prevent people from dumping their garbage illegally.
Mayor David Miller says illegal dumping will not be tolerated and is urging anyone who witnesses illegal dumping to call City Hall at 416-338-0338. The fines for individuals caught dumping illegally is set at $380.
On Wednesday, bags of trash and fast-food containers were sprinkled throughout downtown alleys and garbage spilled from crammed bins along the curb.
The city's 24,000 inside and outside workers walked off the job on Monday, forcing residents to line up for hours if they wanted to throw out their trash at one of the seven transfer stations currently accepting garbage.
Tensions have been high at the dump sites since the strike began, with confrontations erupting between residents and picketers patrolling the gates. Striking workings also rallied outside Toronto's city hall on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, talks are continuing in an effort to end the strike, which has also closed 57 city-run childcare centres, swimming pools and several other city programs.
Many parents are scrambling to find child care since the cancellations displaced almost 3,000 children. Critics are calling to end the strike with back-to-work legislation.
Officials have cancelled any Canada Day events that had been scheduled to be held on city property on July 1.
Toronto's last city workers' strike, in 2002, stretched for 16 days.
Meanwhile in Windsor, hundreds of workers responsible for road work, gardening and recycling collection have been on strike since April 15.
Another 1,400 workers in daycare, social services, by-law enforcement and clerical work went on strike several days later.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says he has no plans to legislate any of the province's striking workers back to work.16-338-0889
Anyone with questions about the city's contingency plan can call 416-338-0338/TTY 4.
