Tons of garbage have been left uncollected in Athens and other major Greek cities as municipal sanitation workers have joined in a series of strikes protesting a development bill currently debated in parliament.
POE-OTA, the Panhellenic Federation of Employees in Local Government, held a march in the Greek capital on Wednesday, with demonstrators demanding the withdrawal of an article which they claim opens the way for the privatization of sanitation, maintenance of public parks and street lighting services.
Municipal authorities appealed to residents to try to keep their trash in their homes as long as possible, as all city dumpsters are now overflowing.
The unseasonably warm weather is aggravating the problem as well, with Athenians complaining of the foul smells and health hazards arising from the trash piled up along the streets.