Public health response to striking solid waste management

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health Management
• Waste Management

Background:

• A 2009 labor disruption in Toronto involved 24,000 city workers, including solid waste and public health employees.
• This led to the establishment of 24 temporary garbage storage sites across the city to manage household waste and prevent illegal dumping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the public health implications of operating numerous temporary waste storage sites during a municipal labor disruption.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of intensive oversight in mitigating public health risks associated with temporary waste management solutions.

Main Methods:

• Daily inspections of temporary garbage storage sites by Toronto Public Health's Healthy Environments staff.
• Community engagement, including responding to resident questions and issuing public health orders.
• Collaboration with Solid Waste Management and the Ministry of the Environment to manage public health concerns.

Main Results:

• Intensive oversight by public health and non-union staff successfully mitigated potential public health risks.
• Temporary garbage storage sites provided a functional solution for household waste disposal during the six-week labor disruption.
• No widespread public health issues were reported in relation to the temporary waste sites.

Conclusions:

• The proactive management and intensive oversight by Toronto Public Health were crucial in ensuring public safety.
• The strategy demonstrated an effective and safe method for managing large-scale temporary waste storage during municipal service disruptions.
• This approach offers a model for other municipalities facing similar challenges in waste management during labor disputes.