Peel Region garbage collectors go on strike, affecting 60% of households
Affected collection routes include all of Caledon, much of Brampton and Mississauga west of the Credit River.

TheStar.com
Nov. 17, 2016
Emma McIntosh

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.

Emterra Environmental, the contractor handling more than half of the region’s garbage and recycling collection, gave more than 100 employees until midnight Wednesday to accept their final offer in an ongoing 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.

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

In a statement Wednesday night, the company said it defended the compensation package.

“It has also 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.

In Brampton, areas west of Highway 401 and north of Boivard Dr. will be without garbage pick-up. 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.)

Peel Region is asking residents in the strike area to continue following their normal garbage schedule. Waste can either be left at the curb or brought to a community recycling centre, where hours will be extended.

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.