On Sunday, Cuban journalist Ana Teresa Badía took to Facebook to express her dismay over the overwhelming presence of trash in Havana, describing the city as reeking of garbage. Badía criticized the failure to promptly collect tons of waste that accumulate on streets and corners, highlighting that this issue is not just about flooding but a severe public health crisis and education concern. She questioned what values can be instilled in children and youth who are surrounded by piles of refuse.
"I would say there is rampant institutional indifference. Let's not just blame the embargo; there are elements like empathy, work, and respect for citizens that have nothing to do with any blockade. Aguas de La Habana has done its part, but what about the others?" she emphasized while sharing a post from the state-run company Aguas de La Habana about their efforts to clear drains and sewers in Central Havana's flood-prone Pontón area as part of preparations for the hurricane season.
According to Badía, "living with trash cannot be normalized," stressing that "Havana is a perpetual landfill waiting for someone to care. Too much indifference." Her post sparked numerous reactions, with professor María de los Ángeles González questioning the lack of practical solutions and pointing out that trash bins are broken, while scavengers empty them, leaving filth scattered in the streets.
Other commentators, like Darién Morales, criticized the inconsistency of the official narrative of "creative resistance" in the face of a problem that demands concrete action. Residents and commenters agreed that the accumulation of waste directly leads to flooding, the spread of vectors and diseases, in addition to presenting a terrible image to visitors. "Building luxury hotels is pointless if trash clogs the streets," warned seismologist Enrique Diego Arango.
Journalist Ania Ortega also addressed the proliferation of pests like rats, maggots, and mosquitoes, which only bring diseases and viruses. "What good is a public service announcement suggesting the need for self-monitoring? It's an inconsistency," she questioned. The frustration was also directed at the authorities' double standards. Users recalled that garbage is only swiftly collected when presidential visits are announced, only to be neglected again afterward.
Others noted that the chaos surrounding garbage is merely a symptom of a much deeper structural crisis, exacerbated by the deterioration of transportation, agriculture, and industry, while investment continues in empty hotels and inefficient conglomerates. The consensus among testimonies points to Havana's normalization of living among heaps of trash, official indifference, and empty slogans, a scenario that endangers the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of residents, especially during heavy rains.
These opinions contrast with recent statements by Johana Tablada, Deputy Director General for the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who downplayed Havana's filth by comparing it to other countries, while blaming the international media and U.S. policies for the criticism. "It's true there is trash on the streets, but we are not the country with the most garbage in the world," Tablada said recently on the Alma Plus videopodcast, led by journalist Laura Prada.
The claim that Cuba's capital is not a city with "that much trash" highlights the disconnect between the official discourse, which seeks to downplay a daily issue, and the reality experienced by citizens living amid micro-dumps and overflowing sewers, along with a waste collection system unable to address the hygienic-environmental crisis. One of the most notorious dumpsites, located on Virtudes Street near the former Havana Musical Theater, has gone viral on social media as a testament to the decline of the once-glorious capital.
Recently, the uncontrolled accumulation of garbage in several Vedado corners has alarmed residents of the central Havana neighborhood, who reported the prevailing unsanitary conditions and warned of the danger this poses ahead of the imminent hurricane season. The spread of waste across the city raises concerns about an evident out-of-control public health crisis, for which the government has yet to find a solution.
Havana's Trash Crisis and Public Health Concerns
What is the main cause of Havana's trash accumulation?
The primary cause of Havana's trash accumulation is institutional indifference and a lack of effective waste management systems, exacerbated by broader structural issues in the city's infrastructure.
How does the trash crisis affect public health in Havana?
The accumulation of trash contributes to the proliferation of pests such as rats and mosquitoes, which can spread diseases. It also exacerbates flooding and poses a significant public health risk, particularly during the rainy season.
What actions have been taken to address the garbage issue in Havana?
Efforts have been made by entities like Aguas de La Habana to clean drains and sewers, but these actions are insufficient to address the widespread trash problem. More comprehensive and sustained measures are necessary.