LONDON (AP) 鈥� Stinking piles of garbage on the streets of Edinburgh are threatening the health and safety of the public, a health authority warned Saturday as strikes by garbage collectors in the Scottish capital moved into their ninth day.
The warning from Public Health Scotland came as garbage collectors in Newham, a borough of London, also walked out for a week over a pay dispute.
Images of food waste and diapers rotting on the streets is just adding to scenes of chaos in U.K. as industrial disputes multiply amid soaring food and energy costs. to stay away from dozens of beaches as heavy rain flushed raw sewage into rivers and seas.
Public Health Scotland told local authorities that the 鈥渄econtamination of public areas where bins have overflowed may be required.鈥� It warned that 鈥渋f organic waste builds up, it can become a risk to human health.鈥�
Garbage collectors walked out on Aug. 18 and plan to stay off work until Aug. 30. Even more strikes lay ahead if the pay dispute is not resolved.
, with wage increases failing to keep up with inflation, which last week stood at 10.1%. Those financial challenges have only been increased due to soaring energy costs 鈥� authorities say
The country has seen waves of strikes this summer, with the on several days due to rail strikes. Primary schools and nurseries in Glasgow, Scotland鈥檚 biggest city, will be forced to close for several days next month if a strike from council workers goes ahead.
In London, garbage drivers in Newham Council began a week of walkouts on Saturday, with union officials warning there could be more. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, said those workers were paid less than others in neighboring councils.
鈥淭he council must now focus on reaching a deal with the workers, who face a financial crisis,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淚f they don鈥檛, then the coming days will undoubtedly mean more industrial action.鈥�
Britain鈥檚 image has taken a battering this summer. French lawmakers in the European Parliament complained this week that the , fishing grounds and biodiversity in the European Union as well.
Parts of Britain鈥檚 sewage system became overwhelmed after several days of unseasonably heavy rainfall.
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