Trash piles up in Beirut's streets as protesters demand closing the country's largest landfill

A Lebanese protester holds an Arabic placard that reads:"Time has come to put an end to our suffering and close the landfill forever, No to the landfill, Yes to closing it," as he stands at the entrance to the largest landfill, where activists and protesters set up an open sit-in, in the coastal town of Naameh, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Garbage began to pile up on the streets of Beirut on Tuesday after the main trash collecting company stopped picking it up after residents of areas south of the capital closed the road leading to Lebanon's largest landfill in protest against the smell and pollution from the site. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) (The Associated Press)

Lebanese protesters sit under a tent as part of their sit, as they close the entrance of the largest landfill, in the coastal town of Naameh, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Garbage began to pile up on the streets of Beirut on Tuesday after the main trash collecting company stopped picking it up after residents of areas south of the capital closed the road leading to Lebanon's largest landfill. The Arabic banner reads:"The Social Cultural Association, Aramoun, No to the landfill, Yes to closing it. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) (The Associated Press)

A general view of Lebanon's largest landfill, foreground, as Beirut city and the international airport are seen in the background, in the coastal town of Naameh, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. The Naameh landfill, just south of Beirut, has been functioning since 1997, and was scheduled to close on July 17. Since then, residents of Naameh and nearby villages have prevented trucks from reaching it. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) (The Associated Press)

Garbage is piling up on the streets of Beirut amid a growing dispute over tiny Lebanon's largest trash dump.

The main company in charge of picking up the trash, Sukleen, has its workers sweeping Beirut's streets, though not picking up any of the garbage. Its spokesman said Tuesday the company can't take any more waste to the Naameh landfill, just south of Beirut.

Naameh has been functioning since 1997, but it was scheduled to close July 17. Since then, residents of Naameh and nearby villages have prevented trucks from reaching it to unload trash.

Lebanon's notoriously gridlock government has yet to take any action on the issue. Meanwhile, the trash pile grows as workers spray them with white powder to knock back the smell and spread of pests.