Facing growing piles of garbage from a truck drivers' strike, a Waste Management spokeswoman says the company has decided to begin hiring permanent replacement drivers.

Company spokeswoman Robin Freedman told reporters late Tuesday afternoon that Waste Management was taking its best candidates from a recent job fair and running recruitment ads. She also said the company planned to expand its waste pickups on Wednesday.

The strike that began July 25 affects 217,000 customers in King and Snohomish counties.

Seattle announced earlier Tuesday that it will allow people with proof of a city address to bring up to six bags of garbage or yard waste at a time to transfer stations, starting Wednesday.

Teamsters Union yard waste and recycling drivers walked out over wages and other issues. Garbage truck drivers have been honoring their picket lines.

The union extended picketing Tuesday to a Waste Management facility in Burlington.

Online:

http://www.cityofseattle.net/util/

http://www.teamsters117.org/

http://wmnorthwest.com/servicedelays.html