A recent video uploaded on Facebook by the channel JSant TV, featuring digital content creator Dyango Pulido, sheds light on what he claims are organized groups controlling access to Cuban garbage trucks and landfills, driven by the value of the waste they carry.
Pulido claims in the video, which has garnered over 123,000 views and more than 109 comments, that "of course there are mafias, and garbage trucks have owners. These are organized by clans, and these clans own certain types of waste." Many viewers, particularly Cubans, have echoed similar experiences in their comments.
The Economics of Waste
The value of garbage, according to the narrator, varies based on its origin. Trucks coming from poorer areas are less desirable, whereas those carrying waste from cigar factories or laboratories are highly sought after.
"It's not the same for a garbage truck from a humble area, where the trash is not highly valued, to be from a cigar factory, where they can use the waste to produce cigars independently," Pulido elaborated.
Hazards in the Landfills
Pulido also warned about the dangers of entering these areas. In the video, he advises against accessing the zones used by recyclers, stating that those who venture in could face dangerous situations.
Comments accompanying the video provide further insights, particularly focusing on the Boyeros landfill. One user noted that drivers have designated areas for dumping based on the waste's origin, claiming the site administrator even has bodyguards.
Violence Among Garbage Collectors
Recollections from a commentator who visited the Boyeros landfill in 2004 and 2005 describe altercations over waste, with children, women, and the elderly working there, and some people constructing homes from cardboard and other materials found in the trash.
Other accounts detail violent incidents associated with waste disputes. One user recounted confrontations among workers linked to garbage trucks from Havana's airport over crematory waste, which resulted in knife injuries and police intervention.
The Situation Beyond Havana
Similar stories are not confined to Havana. Users reported experiencing comparable conditions in landfills in Varadero and Camagüey. One claimed that "battles for garbage" occurred at the Varadero dump, and some discarded food was used to feed pigs in Cárdenas.
These practices date back to the Special Period of the 1990s when scarcity turned certain waste into valuable resources. Among the memories are the so-called "tupamaros," a term used by some Cubans to refer to artisanal cigars made from reprocessed tobacco waste.
While the comments do not independently verify each event, they highlight experiences of disputes, informal recycling, and resource utilization that many users claim to have witnessed in various Cuban dumps.
Systemic Garbage Collection Breakdown
This underground world operates amid a systemic collapse in waste collection that authorities themselves have acknowledged. Early this year, only 44 of 106 garbage trucks were operational in Havana due to a diesel shortage.
The largest landfill in the country, known as El Bote, located at Calle 100 and Boyeros, spans 104 hectares, has been in operation since 1976, and receives nearly 80% of the capital's waste.
Over a decade ago, independent journalist Carlos Manuel Álvarez documented machete attacks, stabbings, and even corpse discoveries in an extensive report about the area.
The street sale of items salvaged from trash has become commonplace in Cuba, with the sidewalks of Havana's main streets now transformed into informal markets selling everything from broken appliances to items found among the waste.
Understanding Cuba's Waste Management Challenges
What are the main causes of Cuba's garbage management issues?
The primary causes include a systemic breakdown in waste collection services, a shortage of operational garbage trucks due to diesel scarcity, and inadequate infrastructure to handle waste effectively.
How do organized groups control Cuban landfills?
According to reports, organized clans manage access to landfills and garbage trucks, dictating where waste can be dumped and exploiting valuable materials for personal gain.
Why is garbage from certain areas more valuable?
Garbage from areas like cigar factories or laboratories is more valuable due to the potential to repurpose materials like tobacco scraps, which can be used to make artisanal cigars.