The Philippines didn’t declare war against Canada, but it has ordered its ambassador and consuls to come home.

The Manila Times is reporting that the recall came after Canada failed to meet a May 15 deadline to take back garbage that was shipped to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 by an Ontario company.

Journalist Bernadette Tamayo reported that Philippine foreign affairs chief Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced on social media that “letters for the recall of our ambassador and consuls to Canada went out”.

“Canada missed the May 15 deadline. And we shall maintain a diminished diplomatic presence in Canada until its garbage is ship bound there,” Tamayo quoted Locsin’s post on Twitter.

Last month, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte slammed Canada over the garbage issue that has strained relations between the two countries.

“Let’s quarrel with Canada. I will declare war against them,” Duterte said in mixed Tagalog and English remarks.

“We can face them. I’ll really return that trash. Just wait. Load that up on a ship and I will advise Canada that your garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand reception. Eat it if you want to.”

On May 7, media reports indicated that the Canadian government has offered to pay for the shipping cost of bringing back the waste.

According to reports, the garbage will be returned through the Port of Vancouver.

A total of 103 shipping containers of garbage labeled as plastics for recycling were sent to the Philippines from Canada.

Sixty-nine containers remained of that shipment, and Canada has pledged to take these back.