The Paris city government has unveiled a plan to restore cleanliness to the streets, addressing complaints about garbage and rats.

Typical postcards of Paris, the capital of France and one of the most visited cities in the world, usually feature the Eiffel Tower, located next to the Trocadéro Gardens; the Arc de Triomphe, situated on the luxurious Champs-Élysées avenue; or Montmartre, the bohemian and artistic district. However, there is a less glamorous side that has caused numerous complaints from citizens: the accumulation of garbage and the resulting presence of rats. In this context, the new mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, announced that he will implement a new plan to restore order and hygiene in the city. The goal is to "restore the right to beauty to the neighborhoods" of Paris, explained the former socialist deputy in an interview with the French media outlet Le Figaro. The city faces this problem—which also affects many of the world's most popular capitals—partly due to the increase in tourism it has experienced in recent years, especially after the isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Domestic waste near Notre-Dame Cathedral. ALAIN JOCARD - AFP. The complaints from residents—which could be seen not only on social media with the hashtag #SaccageParis ("Paris in chaos," in French), but also on posters and banners in the streets—accused the former mayor, the socialist Anne Hidalgo, of neglecting the city and focusing her policies solely on climate change. "I am aware of the discontent of many Parisians regarding the quality of public spaces, and sometimes I share it," agreed the newly appointed official, who also promised to continue the "transformations undertaken" by the previous administration, but "improving the overall quality of life" and with a "demand for cleanliness and well-being." According to the mayor, who took office in March of this year, the measures he will present at the first ordinary session of the Paris City Council, from May 19 to 22, will focus not only on cleaning the streets but also on preserving historical facades and protecting the city's heritage. To this end, he plans to address the "1000 problem areas" in problematic areas, as he defined them, where public spaces are "degrading." These areas are the most visited by tourists, so their preservation requires a more comprehensive program. The mayor of the Socialist Party, who defended a "demand for cleanliness and comfort," pledged to pay "greater attention to the streets and sidewalks, bridges, works of art, and terraces." Garbage is a problem that affects almost all capitals of the world. ALAIN JOCARD - AFP. Almost 50 million people visited Paris in 2025, according to figures from the regional tourism promotion agency Visit Paris Region, so these areas defined as "areas of high tourist traffic"—such as historical monuments or the areas around train stations—will be the main focus of the plan. In this regard, Grégoire assured that he will also seek to take into account the "ordinary heritage" that forms "the identity of Paris." To this end, a "general delegate for design and aesthetics" will be specifically responsible for implementing the plan. Paris, France, Urbanization.