A day after garbage collectors went on strike, the Region of Peel has advised residents to continue putting their garbage out. But it’s unclear who will collect it.

Almost two-thirds of households in the Peel Region are without garbage collection as of Thursday morning after collectors went on strike at midnight. The strike affects all collection routes in Caledon, along with most routes in Brampton and those in Mississauga west of the Credit River.

The Region of Peel released a statement telling residents, “If your waste is not collected, leave it on the curb until it is . . . .”

“We will be aware of missed areas and will collect from those households as quickly as possible.”

But a spokesperson for the Region of Peel told the Star they were “not privy to the details” of a contingency plan, and that “it’s being crafted by Emterra.”

Emterra Environmental, the contractor whose employees went on strike, referred all questions about “collection updates” back to the Region of Peel.

Emterra, which handles more than half the region’s garbage and recycling collection, said “we are doing our utmost to continue providing the full range of solid-waste collection services in a safe, reliable, and sustainable manner that our customers and residents have come to expect, even during the current labour disruption.”

Natasha Thompson, a 32 year old resident of Brampton, said she saw Peel Region’s release urging residents to leave their trash out.

“They said they’ll try and get it by the end of the day but . . . if it’s not today, how long should we leave it out?” Thompson said. “It’s frustrating because there’s compost out and garbage out, and I’ve personally had issues with raccoons so it gets to the point where it’s unsanitary and unsafe.”

Emterra gave more than 100 employees until midnight Wednesday to accept its final offer in the continuing labour dispute.

Talks between LiUNA Local 183, the union representing the workers, and Emterra broke down Wednesday. Neither the company or the union are still at the table, a spokesman for LiUNA Local 183 said.

LiUNA spokesman Jason Ottey said members of the union rejected management’s latest offer Tuesday evening and have not heard from them since.

“We reached out to the company and said we’d like to sit down and talk, we’d like to continue negotiations and they never replied to our request,” Ottey said.

Members of the union are asking for “parity with the other service provider in the region,” according to Ottey.

He said the focus of their negotiations are around what elements are in benefit packages, and also on overtime hours, and pension and retirement saving plan contributions. He said members of the union are committed to reaching a settlement.

“The last offer was so strongly rejected, it’s a strong indication of how important this issue is,” Ottey said. “So our members are willing to go the distance and do whatever it takes.”

The company referred the Star to a statement it released Wednesday night in which it defended the compensation package: “It has . . . been our longstanding practice not to negotiate contract terms through the media out of due respect for our staff and the process,” the statement said.

Workers picketed beginning early Thursday morning, marching near the company’s office on Britannia Rd. E., near Dixie Rd.

By midday Thursday they remained in front of the company’s two entrances on Britannia Rd. E.

Dressed in an assortment of neon yellow and neon orange clothing, some had signs reading “On Strike” hung around their necks. Every few minutes passing cars or trucks honked as they passed, prompting the group of workers to wave in response and occasionally cheer.

In Brampton, areas west of Hwy. 410 and north of Bovaird Dr. will be affected by the strike. All of Caledon will also be affected, as will parts of Mississauga west of the Credit River and Fletcher’s Creek. (To see if you live in a potentially affected area, visit this link.)

In addition to asking residents to follow the normal garbage schedule, Peel Region said residents can bring their waste to a community recycling centre, where hours will be extended.

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Emterra is responsible for about 60 per cent of garbage collection in the Peel Region. The private company collects garbage for about 210,000 homes in the area.

Residents who receive waste collection services from the region’s other collection contractor, or live in a multi-residential building, should not be affected by the strike.

With files from Mississauga News

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