Piling up of trash in Paris has now sparked health concerns
Tons of stinky rubbish and rubbish have piled up on the streets of Paris as sanitation workers continue their strike against pension reform, BBC reported. In particular, the city’s garbage collectors have been on strike since March 6 against President Emmanuel Macron’s proposals to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
In photos and videos shared on social media, trash bags could be seen piling up on the city’s normally scenic streets, forming shoulder-high heaps of rubbish. Until Monday, more than 5,600 tons of uncollected waste were piling up on the city’s roads. Three waste treatment sites were blocked and a fourth partially closed.
Watch the videos here:
Yesterday marked the 7th consecutive day of a strike by Parisian garbage collectors against the Prés. Macron’s pension reform. More than 5,400 tons of waste have accumulated in the streets of Paris. Through rose-colored glasses!pic.twitter.com/WkRJgoqpW6
—Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) March 13, 2023
Garbage collectors’ strike – Is it Paris? pic.twitter.com/AoaNiKBxRD
— mandakini narain (@mandakininarain) March 13, 2023
🇬🇧Waste in the streets of Paris due to the unlimited general strike. pic.twitter.com/gh12hpLrzp
– Truth Seeker (@ Xx17965797N) March 14, 2023
The accumulation of rubbish in Paris has now raised concerns for the health of Parisians, with many fearing that an invasion of rats is imminent. “It’s dirty, it attracts rats and cockroaches,” complained a Parisian on French radio.
“The strike triggers a change in the behavior of rats. They will rummage through garbage cans, breed there, leave their urine and excrement there. We have a worrying health risk for garbage collectors and the general population.” said specialist Romain Lasseur to the newspaper Le Parisien.
Here are some other photos:
Welcome to Paris 🗼😊 pic.twitter.com/1JvNwqblen
— Tayo Aina (@tayoainafilms) March 11, 2023
It is here that I will give my lecture this afternoon. Research House @Sorbonne_Univ_
The piles of rubbish are due to a strike in protest against the pension reform. pic.twitter.com/LDWGFjLZMG— Elisabeth Bik is in the Netherlands (@MicrobiomDigest) March 13, 2023
The garbage collectors of Paris have been on strike for 4 days and now every street corner looks like this 😵 💫 pic.twitter.com/S29ZvhyBsI
— † . (@Tianabaaaby) March 10, 2023
Not just Paris, cities like Rennes, Le Havre and Nantes, Rennes were also affected by the strike.
The reform would increase the retirement age of garbage collectors. They are currently retiring at the age of 57 due to difficult working conditions and, under the reforms, they are expected to work for another two years.
According to the daily Le Parisien, the strike will last at least until Wednesday, when union representatives must vote on whether or not to continue the strike.