The Cuban government announced a "clean-up day" this past Saturday, deploying military recruits, police officers, and state workers to address the garbage crisis overwhelming Havana. The scenes of young individuals attempting to clean a city overrun with trash resemble a post-war scenario.
A post on Facebook from the Centro Habana Municipal Assembly of People's Power stated, "The political and mass organizations in the CMPCC, FMC, and CDR territories joined the massive volunteer work early in the Popular Council of Colón, alongside Active Military Service soldiers, who participate with the community in beautifying and cleaning the streets." The post exuded the typical kitschy tone of state propaganda, adding, "Dressed in green uniforms, these energetic and committed young people arrived to transform the environment."
This week, Armando Rodríguez Batista, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA), publicly acknowledged the severe sanitary collapse in the capital, admitting on his Facebook page that "this trash is not contained: it's scattered throughout Havana." His admission marks one of the most candid acknowledgments by a high-ranking regime official regarding a daily plight for Habaneros—the accumulation of waste in streets, ditches, sidewalks, and lots, exacerbated by recent rains into a multifaceted hazard encompassing "health, environmental, social, and spiritual" risks.
In his post, Rodríguez Batista noted how the recent downpours have exposed "the mountains of trash, silent witnesses of our inertia, piled up on corners, lots, and edges." The minister described the waste floating in water, clinging to sidewalks, and blending "with mud and with life," compelling a direct confrontation with a problem that, as he conceded, affects everyone and cannot be hidden.
He acknowledged that trucks, crews, and containers alone aren't enough; a structural change is necessary, involving communities, institutions, and citizens. He proposed transforming Havana into a "living laboratory for transition to circularity," where waste could be recycled and utilized rather than become sources of infection and urban decay.
Threatening Lives Amidst a Crisis
The official acknowledgment comes amidst public complaints showing images reminiscent of a horror film. In Centro Habana, a dilapidated building at the corner of Belascoaín and San Miguel has become an impromptu dump, accumulating trash and debris that threaten to bury passersby.
The crisis extends to hospitals. Early in September, a video circulated on social media showed a massive garbage dump next to Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, one of Cuba's most iconic healthcare centers, which activists described as an open-air "pathogen incubator."
Similarly, hospitals in Mayabeque and Holguín have been affected, with overflowing containers left for weeks near maternity and pediatric wards, endangering mothers, newborns, and hospitalized children.
Garbage and Flooding: A Dangerous Mix
The waste collection breakdown worsens with each episode of heavy rain. Last week, torrential downpours turned the streets of Centro Habana, Diez de Octubre, and Vedado into rivers of trash carried by currents, as a citywide blackout plunged the city into darkness.
Residents shared images of containers adrift and contaminated waters entering porches and homes, underscoring that the waste issue transcends urban aesthetics, posing a direct threat to the health and safety of thousands of Habaneros.
In a nation where authorities often downplay or gloss over structural problems, Armando Rodríguez Batista's words are an unusual acknowledgment of the crisis's magnitude. "The trash strikes us, obliging us, as a country, to confront a problem affecting many," the minister wrote, calling on institutions, universities, companies, and communities to unite in reversing the collapse.
Meanwhile, Havana remains trapped among decaying buildings turned into dumps, hospitals besieged by waste, neighborhoods inundated with garbage, and a populace surviving amid ever-growing mounds of refuse.
Frequently Asked Questions about Havana's Trash Crisis
What is the current trash situation in Havana?
Havana is currently facing a severe waste management crisis, with trash accumulating on streets and public areas, exacerbated by recent rains and inadequate collection systems.
How is the Cuban government addressing the trash problem?
The government has mobilized military recruits, police, and state workers for clean-up efforts, and officials are calling for structural changes involving communities and institutions to manage waste more effectively.
What impact does the garbage crisis have on public health?
The accumulation of waste poses significant health risks, particularly near hospitals, as it can become breeding grounds for pathogens and endanger vulnerable populations such as mothers and children.