Large piles of garbage are taking over France's capital, sparking health concerns among residents.
Thousands of tonnes of rubbish have been left untouched due to protests over the rise in retirement age.
The French Government last week pushed through controversial legislation that would raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64 for most workers.
But while many are supporting the smelly strike action the only Parisians enjoying it are the rats.
Fashion statements be damned. Parisians are prioritising a political one - stinky style.
"I think it's a good way to make people listen," one local told Newshub.
Garbage is everywhere with mounds of it at every turn.
The towering mountains of black bags dwarf those who walk by.
"I think it's a horrible mess," one woman told Newshub.
The famous aesthetics of Paris looked more "disgusting" than designer.
It's less chic and more revolting with a toilet on the sidewalk.
"I think it's a pity in Paris," one local told Newshub.
Sixteen days into the garbage collectors' strike on pension reform and over 10,000 tonnes of rubbish have piled up around the capital of France.
It's not just a visual blight on the city of light but it is a costly one too.
When Newshub asked if the rubbish piles were bad for business, one local said "a little bit yes but I think it's important as well to make yourself be heard for the government and everything."
The Government can't afford to keep spending 14 percent of its economic output on retirees.
And not everybody thinks the rise in age is a bad idea.
"I'm boring every day I don't know what to do with my free time, so I go to the cinema every day haha," one elderly woman said.
But the majority vehemently oppose the bill which would have most workers retiring at 64 and garbage workers at 59.
A persistent stench wafts through the city and in narrow alleys and is completely unbearable. Paris's rat problem is getting worse by the day with growing concerns over the unsanitary conditions.
With the health hazard rising - the government has used controversial powers to force some trash collectors back to work.
But cleaning up the entire city will take up to two weeks.
"It's ugly, it's dangerous, it has been for such a long time. We don't know when it will end," local woman Marie told Newshub.
Marie is among many others who are eager for postcard Paris to be back in the spotlight without rotting rubbish getting in the way.
