Striking Impact: Over 10,000 Tons of Rubbish Accumulate in Paris Streets

Paris, March 17 – More than 10,000 tons of waste has accumulated in the streets of the French capital on Friday, the 13th day of the garbage collectors’ strike against pension reform, Figaro reported, citing the Paris City Council.

In turn, the Prefecture of Paris warned that “the accumulation of waste, especially food, poses health risks to the population, and also works to spread rats that carry various diseases.”

The garbage workers’ strike began on March 7 and was supposed to last a week, but the unions announced an extension of the protest until March 20.

French authorities have called on the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to order the forced return to work of employees of state-owned cleaning companies. But the socialist mayor said that “the government is asking the local authorities to solve the problem they have created” and he refused to comply with this request.

Paris prefect Laurent Nunez ordered some 400 garbage collectors back to work the day before, but the waste is piling up faster than it can be removed.

Three incinerators on the city limits – in Ivry-sur-Seine, Issy-les-Moulenos and Saint-Ouen – remain out of service.

On the eve of French Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne vigorously implemented the pension reform law without a vote in Parliament. Opposition parties submitted a vote of no confidence in the government, which will be considered in the National Assembly on Monday. If they are not supported by a majority of votes, the law is considered approved.