The city says that if the contractor currently tasked with picking up garbage and recycling does not catch up with collection work by the start of next week, another company could be hired to get the job done.

The city said Thursday that garbage and recycling collection is still behind by a day.

Current contractor Emterra would be charged the cost to hire the temporary contractor, said city officials.

“It could be providing other contractors to do the work to make sure our goal is to get the material off the street, get it off in a timely manner," said  Darryl Drohomerski, manager of solid waste for the City of Winnipeg.

The city says it hopes collection will be caught up within the next few days with crews set to work through the weekend.

"We certainly have some bumps in the road that we're experiencing with our new collection contractor, more so than the system,” said Drohomerski.

City officials also revealed Emterra was charged a financial penalty in September for late collection in neighbourhoods where autobins were replaced by the automated carts.

A spokesperson for Emterra said the contractor is adding additional staff and resources to catch up by Sunday.

She said they’re behind because of new drivers, new routes, new equipment and the improper placement of carts. She said they take contract penalties very seriously and that the company apologizes to Winnipeggers and is asking for patience.

Winnipegger Darren Corlette said the issue is not about penalties, but whether the system is saving any money at all.

He said the truck used in his back lane still needs three workers on it because the newer trucks won’t fit.

“We had three guys on a truck with the previous system and we still have three guys on a truck with the new system. I’m not sure where the cost saving is for the taxpayer,” he said.

Resident Richard deChevigny, meanwhile, said he’s facing a penalty of a different sort.

He said someone emptied his garbage onto the ground and stole his bin. Now, he has to pay $85 to get a replacement.

“I don’t think we should have to pay for replacement bins if they go missing a week after they’ve issued the bins,” he said.