The accumulation of garbage in Paris has now caused a health crisis
Tons of foul-smelling trash and debris piled up on the streets of Paris as cleaners went on strike against pension reform. BBC reported. 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, garbage bags can be seen piling up on the city’s otherwise pristine streets, creating shoulder-high piles of debris. As of Monday, more than 5,600 tonnes of uncollected garbage has piled up on the city’s roads. Three sewage treatment plants have been blocked and a fourth has been closed.
Watch the videos here:
Yesterday marked the 7th consecutive day of strike against the press by Paris waste collectors. Macron’s pension reforms. 5,400 metric tons of garbage piled up on the streets of Paris. La vie en rose!pic.twitter.com/WkRJgoqpW6
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) March 13, 2023
Garbage pickers’ strike – is this Paris? pic.twitter.com/AoaNiKBxRD
— Mandakini Narain (@mandakininarain) March 13, 2023
🇫🇷 Garbage litters the streets of Paris due to an indefinite general strike. pic.twitter.com/gh12hpLrzp
— Truth Seeker (@Xx17965797N) March 14, 2023
Garbage piled up in Paris has now sparked health concerns among Parisians, with many fearing a rat invasion is imminent. “It’s dirty, it attracts rats and cockroaches,” complained a Parisian on French radio.
“The strike causes a change in the behavior of the rats. They will rummage in the bins, breed there, leave urine and waste. There is a worrying health risk for waste collectors and the general public.” Expert Romain Lasseur told Le Parisien newspaper.
Here are some other pictures:
Welcome to Paris 🗼😊 pic.twitter.com/1JvNwqblen
— Tayo Aina (@tayoainafilms) March 11, 2023
This is where I will deliver my speech this afternoon. Maison de la Recherche @Sorbonne_Univ_
Garbage piles up due to strike action against pension reform. pic.twitter.com/LDWGFjLZMG— Elisabeth Pick is in the Netherlands (@MicrobiomDigest) March 13, 2023
Paris garbage men have been on strike for 4 days and now every street corner is like this 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/S29ZwhyBsI
– †. (@tianabaaby) March 10, 2023
Not only Paris, cities like Rennes, Le Havre and Nantes, Rennes were also hit by the strike.
The reform will raise the retirement age for garbage collectors. They are now retiring at the age of 57 with tough working conditions and two more years to work under the reforms.
According to Le Parisien newspaper, the strike will last until at least Wednesday, when union representatives are set to vote on whether to continue the strike.