For several weeks now, soldiers, officers, and civilian workers from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) have been leading the waste collection efforts in Havana. The growing piles of trash have heightened concerns among authorities and worsened the city's health crisis.
According to a post on Facebook by the Municipal Assembly of People's Power of Centro Habana, the Western Army troops launched a "hygiene strike" in the Colón People's Council on Friday as part of "Operation Clean-Up," an initiative aimed at improving the capital's sanitary conditions.
The military, working tirelessly alongside delegates and residents, conducted what was described as a "necessary action to safeguard public health." The president of the Colón People's Council, Eduardo Reyes Barrueto, and other local leaders expressed their gratitude to the military contingent, acknowledging that communal services are overwhelmed and unable to cope with the sheer volume of accumulated waste.
This military deployment coincides with the introduction of "Operation Bell," a pilot program for nighttime garbage collection in areas with underground electrical services, as outlined in another post by the Municipal Assembly of People's Power of Centro Habana. Authorities hope to expand the initiative if it proves effective in alleviating the most critical areas, although they admit that the lack of equipment and fuel shortages remain significant hurdles in stabilizing the system.
Havana's sanitary condition has become one of the nation's most pressing issues. Since early October, President Miguel Díaz-Canel has led several emergency meetings, demanding "control and discipline" in response to urban decay. During one such session, broadcast by state media, Díaz-Canel criticized many state agencies for not participating in clean-up operations and condemned the lack of timely response, saying, "The difficulties in Havana need to be identified by name."
Despite official rhetoric, the numbers reveal the extent of the collapse. Government data shows that by October 26, over 396,000 cubic meters of garbage had been collected as part of the intensive hygiene campaign that began at the start of the month. However, local media reports and social media posts indicate that makeshift dumps and overflowing containers continue to be a common sight in numerous neighborhoods.
In some outlying districts, the Ministry of Transport has started converting obsolete containers into "roll-off" dumpsters and using animal traction for waste collection—a desperate measure that underscores the system's inadequacy.
The military's involvement in civilian tasks like waste collection, food distribution, and emergency management has become a recurring theme in Cuba in recent years. In this instance, the militarization of communal services appears to have become institutionalized as a response to the capital's urban decay rather than a temporary fix.
Meanwhile, garbage continues to pile up on streets, lots, and sidewalks. For many Havana residents, the stench and mosquitoes have become part of their daily lives, as green uniforms increasingly replace municipal trucks in a city where cleanliness relies more on military discipline than on civil management.
Key Issues in Havana's Waste Management Crisis
Why is the military involved in waste collection in Havana?
The military is involved due to the severe accumulation of waste and the inability of communal services to manage it effectively. Their involvement is seen as a necessary measure to address the city's urgent health crisis.
What challenges do authorities face in stabilizing waste management in Havana?
Authorities face significant challenges such as a deficit of equipment and fuel shortages, which hinder efforts to stabilize the waste management system.
What is "Operation Bell" in the context of Havana's waste management?
"Operation Bell" is a pilot program aimed at collecting garbage at night in areas with underground electrical services, designed to alleviate critical waste accumulation points.