A video shared on social media this past Saturday captured a rubbish pile engulfed in flames at the junction of Sitios and División streets, in the Los Sitios neighborhood of Central Havana. The footage revealed intense flames and a thick column of black smoke rising above a street plagued by neglect and trash accumulation.
The video, posted by Danny González La Rosa on Facebook, was accompanied by a caption that underscores the normalization of the crisis among Havana's residents: "The Capital of Trash... This has become Normal."
The footage displays a massive heap of burning garbage, consisting of wood, plastic, and household waste, situated next to visibly decaying buildings and cracked pavement.
The Ongoing Sanitation Crisis in Central Havana
This incident once again highlights the severe sanitation and urban crisis afflicting Central Havana, where trash often remains uncollected for weeks, and fires at makeshift dumps have become a common sight in daily life.
In 2026 alone, there has been a surge in garbage fires throughout the densely populated municipality: one occurred at Águila and Monte on April 1, another at Maloja and Lealtad during a blackout on April 6, and two incidents endangered the San Judas Tadeo and San Nicolás de Bari Parish, also in Los Sitios, on April 9 and April 23.
Desperation Breeds Dangerous Practices
Recently, comedian Rigoberto Ferrera recorded another trash fire at La Pera Park in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality at six in the evening. The frustration has driven some residents to deliberately set fire to garbage piles to summon firefighters and utilize the water from their trucks.
The Food Monitor Program documented this practice in the Reina neighborhood, describing it as "a desperate measure born out of necessity and lack of institutional response."
Systemic Issues Underpin the Waste Problem
The root of the problem is structural. Havana produces between 24,000 and 30,000 cubic meters of solid waste daily, yet only 44 of its 106 garbage trucks are operational due to a diesel shortage, leaving up to 23,814 cubic meters uncollected each day.
Even the regime has admitted its failure. In September 2025, Armando Rodríguez Batista, Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment, acknowledged that "this garbage is not contained, it's scattered throughout Havana."
In December, the government conceded it cannot clean the capital or adequately compensate street sweepers, and out of 126 planned trash bins, only 31 were produced, while only 40 of 1,000 promised carts were completed.
In February, authorities unveiled a plan of 49 measures, promising to import 15,000 containers and deploy 450 brigades, including military units. Yet, the trash fires continue to blaze on the same street corners.
Understanding the Waste Management Challenges in Havana
What is causing the waste crisis in Central Havana?
The crisis is primarily due to structural issues, including a severe shortage of operational garbage trucks and the government's inability to manage waste effectively, resulting in massive backlogs of uncollected trash.
Why are residents setting fire to garbage piles?
Residents are resorting to burning trash piles in desperation, hoping to prompt a response from firefighters and access water resources from their trucks.
What measures has the government proposed to address the issue?
The government introduced a plan involving 15,000 new containers, 450 brigades, and even military units, but the implementation has been ineffective, with fires continuing to occur.