An unidentified man throws his garbage over the fence at the temporary dump on Lakeshore Blvd. (Nathan Denette/CP)

The strike by Toronto's municipal workers is now in its fifth week and the strain on some businesses is starting to show, especially businesses along the waterfront unfortunate enough to be located near temporary dump sites.

Corrie Stevens says this summer is not a good time to be a waitress at the Sunnyside Café.

Sitting on the shore of Lake Ontario, the café is usually bustling with customers in the middle of the summer, but not this year.

"Usually on weekends, it's completely full and we've cut it down, because it's, as you can see, empty," said Stevens.

The café is empty because its Lake Shore Boulevard parking lot is full of garbage. It's just one of Toronto's temporary dump sites and it's driving away business and tips.

"Usually [I] make, you know $200 to $300 a day. Down to $10 to $30," Stevens said.

"It's, you know, such a great job and it's such a drag, you know, because we don't get sick days."

Bartender Jessica Ballanger started a few months ago. She wanted to work at the café because she heard it's very popular.

"I heard all the time about how crazy it gets down here, but every single customer talks about the garbage and how everything is, so it's pretty bad," she said.

And it could get worse. Right now it only smells in the parking lot, not the restaurant. But staff worry that could change.

"You know, the temperatures haven't been as high as they should be. But I know next — this week — it's coming," said Stevens.