Saturday, July 11, 2009

PhotoHunt - garbage

Today marks Day 20 of the municipal strike in Toronto. Day 20 of no garbage pick up. About 24,000 inside and outside municipal workers walked off the job in Toronto on the first day of summer, stopping garbage pickup and issuing of licenses and permits. Also shut down are city-run daycares, parks and recreation programs, community centres, swimming pools and ferry service to the island.Several parks throughout the city have been designated as "dumping grounds" with the inevitable protests from the neighbours who object to the loss of their green space and/or the use of pesticides to keep the rats and insects away from the piles of rotting garbage. Not to mention the smell that keeps people from being able to open their windows or sit in their own yards. I did not venture near any of these parks for this PhotoHunt as I was not in the mood for the smell or the pickets. At the moment I am just glad to not actually be living in Toronto. Since no-one is backing down, this could be a long, smelly, frustrating summer for the nearly 3 million people who do live there.
for more garbage

29 comments:

  1. What a stinky coincidence that todays hunt was garbage!

    ReplyDelete
  2. OH no..i guess the workers are on strike. I can just imagine the fowl smell.

    My garbage (not stinky though) is now up.

    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's too bad they are dumping it in the parks :(

    Thanks for stopping by mine.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to live in TO and remember many summertime garbage strikes. And the stench. Poor you, hope it's over soon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It seems like an irresponsible action and I'm sure they're not making themselves very well liked. How much are they asking for? Are they being unreasonable?

    ReplyDelete
  6. a reminder of the amount of garbage that is generated!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a mess! Such a sad situation. Hope it is resolved soon. Perfect pix for this week's theme.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yep - the negative side of the strikes - for everyone to see and smell ;-)

    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I read something about this. It must be truly horrible to live with it. A photo-opportunity you could do without.

    Thanks for visiting mine. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! This could get really gross, really fast... oh, it looks like it already has... Imagine what garbage the fans at the Toronto Blue Jays games produce... Wow.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ugh, I can't even imagine what this is like! I remember very well when the several grocery stores were on strike for 6 mo.- and that was already so frustrating!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Colleen: yes I took advantage - and actually deliberately ventured into the city to take photos.

    Arlene: the areas around the dump sites and some alleyways are rather pungent.

    Teena: I know - how stupid is that? surely there are better alternatives.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Azahar: the last one in 2002 didn't last as long, but the weather was hotter.

    Irene: garbage collection should be an essential service, IMHO. and no, they are not popular. the sticking point, and the most unpopular, are the banked sick days (i.e. if you never take a paid sick day you get reimbursed the money)

    ReplyDelete
  14. magiceye: a constant reminder. the papers are full of fresh ideas for reducing or storing or recycling your garbage.

    Tara: it was easy to get!

    Snoopy: and the sad irony is that many of the people who would be using some of these parks live in apartments and have no access to backyards, but do have private garbage pickup.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A: yes, it is. I am fortunate to be living far enough away to not be affected.

    RJ Flamingo: oh but you could still come to visit - it isn't all that bad in many areas.

    srp: and these were the nice pictures.

    Jeannette: you had a grocery strike? for 6 months?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Aaarghhh. I think our 21st century western civilization should be way beyond strikes. They're so barbaric and pointless. Get over yourselves already. We have lawyers. labour experts and professional negotiators to settle labour issues. There's no need for this thuggery. I hate this shite.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Frankly altho' this is obviously causing inconvenience often this is the only way workers can get attention to their problems. Employers rarely do anything for workers out of the kindness of their own corporate hearts, and lawyers can only do so much.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I guess I'm glad this isn't the summer we planned on visiting Toronto! Amazing what a challenge will get people out to photograph! Great pics!

    ReplyDelete
  19. It is a terrible situation in Toronto and I am glad I don't live there too. I can't imagine how bad it must be.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yuck! I'm glad we're not having that problem here.

    Love your texture photos in the Sunday post, by the way.

    ReplyDelete
  21. XUP: after your bus strike last winter no wonder you have a bit of anger towards unions!

    Alice Audrey: it is a nightmare for many.

    Amanda: yes, BUT some of the demands are rather petty and with the timing, a little absurd.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oliag: I know, my friend could not believe it when I said I wanted to find some of the overflowing garbage to photograph. In many touristy parts of the city it isn't too bad because of private contractors.

    Dawn: I know people near one of the big parks... no pleasant evening strolls for them.

    Sherry: thanks

    Jazz. yes.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow. Not something that has happened here in VA, from what I've been told. Makes me wonder what would happen if it did/does. Glad my contribution to the trash is minimal.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm a little behind in my reading and so have been trying to catch up!

    I recall when NY had a terrible strike like this. It was just horrific. :( I hope it all get resolved soon for the Toronto folks. Phewie.....

    ReplyDelete
  25. Annette: something like this makes you think a little more seriously about your own garbage.

    Sistertex: tempers are flaring, made worse by such antics as the strikers being told to make people wait when they come by the dump sites.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh my gosh!!! I think you win the post for Best PH Garbage Post. Wow. And a strike!! lol, how's it going?

    *sniff sniff* I can smell Canada from here...

    Thanks for visiting my Garbage post last week. :)

    Mrs. Mecomber
    http://newyorktraveler.net

    ReplyDelete

Glad you stopped by. For anyone who stumbled here, don't be shy to say 'hi' and let me know you've visited!