Wilfried Devillers, edited by Loane Nader 2:18 p.m., March 13, 2023

Nearly 5,000 tonnes of waste have piled up since Sunday following the garbage collectors' strike, which continues in Paris and some of its suburbs.

If some Parisians are exasperated by the nuisance caused by the situation, others understand the garbage collectors and even congratulate their initiative, at the microphone of Europe 1.

This Monday morning, Parisians were able to find tons of garbage bags not picked up by the garbage collectors, who are on their seventh day of strike against the pension reform.

Sunday, nearly 5,000 tons of waste were collected in the streets of Paris and some suburbs.

In the 16th arrondissement of Paris, restaurant customers are first and foremost greeted by a pile of black garbage bags, enough to cut their appetites, as the owner of an establishment fears. 

"Everything is full to the brim, it overflows and suddenly that raises the question of bad smells, hygiene. We have customers who come and start talking to us about pests like rats. So for a restaurant, that makes a bad image," admits Etienne, who fears seeing his clientele dwindle, a feeling shared by many restaurateurs.

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"It's dirty, it attracts rats, cockroaches"

As for individuals, it becomes complicated to move to access their residence.

Lise, a resident of the neighborhood, describes with annoyance the situation: "I am trying to clear the way because there are strollers in the neighborhood. There are people who are in wheelchairs and in fact, that prevents you from being able to pass. It's dirty, it attracts rats, cockroaches."

But despite the tensions, some residents, like Dominique, show solidarity and understanding with the garbage collectors on strike.

"Of course it's not very pretty to see piles of rubbish all over Paris. But anyway, I think the staff strike is justified. Personally, I think it's not bad that the garbage collectors [are on strike], it is immediately visible, it immediately poses a problem.", concedes the Parisian, at the edge of a terrace.

This waste strike and the blocking of three incinerators in the Paris region have been voted for an extension until Wednesday at least, a day which will be especially marked by a strike and general mobilization.