A Cuban resident captured the sight of a street overwhelmed by garbage using his phone, sharing the footage on Facebook with a statement that encapsulates the simmering anger of many: "This is the so-called creative resistance from that incompetent fool."
In just 37 seconds, Jorgemiguel Trujillocuriel, the user behind the video, turns Miguel Díaz-Canel’s favored slogan into a testament of his failures. "Resistance, continuity, and creativity of the disrespectful communists," he remarks as the camera pans across heaps of trash lining the sidewalk.
The irony is palpable: mere days before the video surfaced, Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged during an Extraordinary Plenary of the PCC that "creative resistance is no longer enough," unveiling an emergency plan. Yet on the streets, the garbage continues to pile up.
The Empty Promises of "Creative Resistance"
The slogan, systematically promoted by the leader since at least 2022, was often invoked. In January of this year, Díaz-Canel celebrated "67 years of creative resistance," in February urged facing shortages with "creative resistance, effort, and talent," and in March suggested cooking with charcoal and wood amidst 15-hour blackouts as an expression of that same resistance.
The video’s depiction is far from an anomaly; it's a common sight throughout much of Havana. By February 2026, the garbage crisis in the capital had caught international attention with statistics illustrating why the collapse is structural rather than temporary.
A Systemic Crisis in Havana
At that time, only 44 of Havana's 106 garbage trucks were operational, a mere 41.5%, due to mechanical failures and lack of parts. The city generates between 24,000 and 30,000 cubic meters of waste daily, yet up to 23,814 cubic meters go uncollected each day. The shortage of containers is equally dire: 20,000 to 30,000 are needed, but only 10,000 exist, most in poor condition.
The diesel shortage—worsened by the end of Venezuelan supplies—leaves trucks idle for days. By May 2026, the government sanctioned open-air burning of trash due to collection challenges. In June, young men from the Active Military Service were deployed to gather waste using shovels and sacks.
Health Risks and Community Efforts
The health repercussions are severe. Accumulated garbage has created breeding grounds for flies and rodents, fueling outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya. In May 2026, The New York Times documented the direct link between Havana's trash piles and numerous deaths from these diseases in Cuba.
In October and November 2025, the government launched "Operation Cleanup," mobilizing soldiers, recruits, and police to remove 396,157 cubic meters of waste in 20 days. However, the operation failed to provide a lasting solution: weeks later, the streets were once again engulfed in unsanitary mounds of garbage.
Residents in Central Havana resorted to paying two youths out of their own pockets to guard corners and prevent further dumping, in the face of official inaction. A local woman’s comment, featured in recent reports, captures the sentiment: "Every day is worse."
Understanding Havana's Garbage Crisis
What is causing the garbage crisis in Havana?
The crisis is due to a combination of factors including mechanical failures of garbage trucks, a severe shortage of waste containers, and a lack of diesel fuel, which has led to inefficiencies in waste collection.
How has the Cuban government responded to the garbage crisis?
The government has implemented measures such as "Operation Cleanup" and authorized open-air burning of garbage. Despite these efforts, the crisis persists due to systemic issues.
What are the health impacts of the garbage crisis in Havana?
The accumulation of garbage has led to the proliferation of disease vectors like flies and rodents, contributing to outbreaks of illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya, with severe health consequences for the population.