Reports of trash burning at Havana's Metropolitan Park are escalating, causing growing alarm among residents about the health risks of inhaling carbon dioxide fumes.
Yorni Cabrera, a resident of Puentes Grandes in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, shared his account of the pollution residents face daily through several Facebook posts.
“They couldn't care less about the Clínico Quirúrgico de 26! They couldn't care less about the entire Puentes Grandes community in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality! Besides annihilating the ecosystem, flora, and fauna of Havana's Metropolitan Park," Cabrera lamented, pointing fingers at the authorities.
“We are trapped inside our homes, surrounded by a thick cloud of toxic smoke from uncontrolled garbage burning. Thank goodness we have electricity today to at least run a fan... My mother is having an asthma attack, and I can't even take her to a hospital because if I try to leave, she might suffocate. There's no transportation, and our car is out of fuel,” he narrated.
Cabrera's complaint is not isolated. On Friday, Cibercuba reported a similar account from music producer Laura Martín Nieto, who also expressed her frustration over the smoke from the trash burning in the Metropolitan Park areas.
“This is the situation that has plagued the central Puentes Grandes area in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality for several days after someone had the bright idea to set up a waste incineration site in the Metropolitan Park areas,” she criticized on Facebook.
Martín Nieto emphasized that the burning is occurring “just 50 meters from the Clínico Quirúrgico de 26 hospital, right in the middle of a densely populated neighborhood of elderly and children.”
“Respiratory issues are now becoming apparent. Carbon monoxide KILLS. We are unaware of the health and environmental costs of burning all types of waste. I urge everyone to share this urgent citizen complaint!” she implored.
This complaint joins a chorus of others highlighting health hazards from the burning and accumulation of garbage in Havana, amid a backdrop of collapsing public services.
Recently in Lawton, residents also raised alarms about waste burning in residential areas due to a lack of fuel to transport it to landfills.
In Regla, another resident described a similar scenario: “They were burning garbage at the sandpit too. The smoke was so thick one couldn't even see the bay and Havana, and the smell was atrocious. They are slowly killing us.”
A resident from Diez de Octubre noted that the city is overflowing with trash due to a lack of daily collection. “And on top of that, Communal Services is creating an infectious hotspot, with their facilities emitting smoke and toxic gases, worsening the overall health of the population.”
Recently, a complaint sent to CiberCuba accused the municipal government of San Miguel del Padrón of instructing garbage trucks to dump “all the trash” from the municipality in front of a pre-university school in Havana.
Health and Environmental Impact of Waste Burning in Havana
What health risks are posed by burning garbage in Havana?
Burning garbage releases toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide, which can cause respiratory problems and exacerbate conditions like asthma. The inhalation of these fumes is particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.
Why is waste burning occurring in residential areas of Havana?
Due to a shortage of fuel, waste is not being transported to proper landfill sites, leading to the burning of trash in residential neighborhoods. This situation reflects the broader collapse of public services in the area.
How are residents responding to the trash burning issue?
Residents are raising their voices through social media and community complaints to highlight the severe health and environmental consequences of the ongoing waste burning. They are urging authorities to take immediate action.