On Monday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel openly criticized the lack of civic engagement in several Havana neighborhoods during a state-organized cleanup initiative aimed at addressing the severe garbage accumulation plaguing the capital. In a meeting with senior officials from the State, Government, and Communist Party, Díaz-Canel specifically named districts where, according to him, trash was not collected nor did residents participate in the so-called "voluntary work."
"While there was a positive response from state institutions, there are neighborhoods where no one stepped up to help with the garbage collection," stated Díaz-Canel. "In Diez de Octubre, one of the areas we struggle the most with trash, there was no action. There were places in Playa where nothing was done. In La Lisa, which is quite problematic, no one participated either. Do we not have district delegates there? Are there no political coordinators? They all need to come forward and be accountable, with names and surnames," he demanded.
Over 35,000 cubic meters of garbage were cleared this past weekend in Havana as part of the cleanup operation, which included state workers, local residents, army recruits, and the National Revolutionary Police. However, more than a thousand districts remain uncleaned, according to official reports.
The regime managed to clean only about 300 districts, a small fraction of the city. Díaz-Canel acknowledged the absence of a sustainable plan to combat the issue and emphasized the need for "systematization" of these efforts. "We made an effort this weekend, but we aren't going to solve everything. People have seen some action. Now, the question everyone is asking is how we are going to maintain this. Well, we'll sustain it if everyone gets involved," he remarked on Sunday.
The breakdown in waste collection in Havana has been highlighted by citizens and experts, who warn of health risks in a city home to over two million inhabitants. Despite cleanup operations, the accumulation of waste remains a persistent issue with no structural solutions on the horizon.
Havana Waste Management Challenges
What is causing the waste management crisis in Havana?
The crisis is largely due to the lack of a sustainable waste management plan and insufficient participation from both state institutions and local residents in cleanup efforts.
How many districts in Havana remain uncleaned?
According to official figures, more than a thousand districts still have uncollected garbage.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the waste issue?
The government has organized cleanup operations involving state workers, local residents, army recruits, and the National Revolutionary Police, yet these efforts have not been sufficient to tackle the problem comprehensively.