Residents near a temporary dump site at Christie Pits say they are filing complaints with the Ministry of the Environment as trash continues to pile up during the 11th day of the City of Toronto's civic worker strike.

Currently, 19 sites around Toronto are being used for residents and businesses to toss their garbage while 24,000 inside and outside workers are on strike.

The labour action has cancelled several services including garbage collection, childcare and parks and recreation services. Paramedic services have also been affected.

Residents say they are concerned about the health hazards posed by the garbage - and the chemicals being sprayed on the decomposing trash. They allege the dump is illegal.

Local resident Govind Rao says he was one of many who complained to the Ministry of the Environment. He alleges the city broke rules under a Temporary Dump Permit because the site needs to be sprayed every 24 hours.

"Well today it was especially rancid," he says of the dump "It's extremely smelly."

He also says residents are worried about the risk posed by chemicals being sprayed in the area, adding that an expectant mother lives within metres of the temporary dump.

However, a spokesperson for the Ministry says the city hasn't broken the rules regarding required spraying.

"The certificate says (the city) only need to spray 'as needed,'" says spokesperson Kate Jordan.

Both Jordan and Rao say the site hasn't been sprayed in about three days because the area was blocked by either striking protesters or upset residents.

Pesticides are sprayed for non-cosmetic use, to control pests and odours.

The city has also taken steps to prevent the chemicals from leaking out of the contained arena, blocking catchbasins and using an absorbent boom around the garbage.

Jordan says the Ministry of Environment will send an environmental officer to the park this afternoon to check out the situation.

At a temporary dump site on Eglinton Avenue West near Avenue Road, city striker was arrested on Thursday after an altercation with an area resident who was dropping off garbage.

Meanwhile, union leaders remain at the bargaining table but say they don't see much of a path toward a settlement, and residents and businesses could be in for the long haul.

Members of the community near the park spent Canada Day protesting at City Hall against the dump in their neighbourhood.

The group dumped black plastic bags at Nathan Phillips' Square, carrying messages such as "this is your city" and "this is your trash." They carried placards with messages reading "parks not dumps."

Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David McKeown, was seen at the dump site. He did not speak with the media, however.