Paris: Paris, which is known as the city of romance, has turned into a garbage dump as binmen continued their strike for the past several days.
According to reports, the city has been overwhelmed by more than 5,000 tons of waste.
The mess follows discontent and protests against President Emmanuel Macrons plan to raise the general retirement age from 62 to 64, and from 57 to 59 for sanitation workers, reports Sky News.
Macron has pushed the pension reform bill through parliament and it is set to reach its climax despite strong opposition, the news channel reported.
Not only Paris, similar situation has been reported from other cities like Nantes, Rennes and Le Havre.
Refuse collectors joined the pension strikes a week ago and the Paris authority says half of the citys districts, which are covered by council workers, have been hit by the action. Three waste treatment sites have been blockaded and a fourth partially closed, reports BBC.
Tourist Nadiia Turkay told Sky News: Its a bit too much because it was even hard to navigate some streets.
Paris garbage men have been on strike for 4 days and now every street corner looks like this ?? pic.twitter.com/S29ZvhyBsI
. (@Tianabaaaby) March 10, 2023
However, Nadiia empathised with the strikers and said it was for a good cause.
Even the protesters, which include binmen, voiced their concern that the citys condition was deteriorating without their participation.
It makes me sick, Gursel Durnaz, who protested for nine days, told Sky News. There are bins everywhere, stuff all over. People cant get past. Were completely aware.
