A nighttime photograph circulating on social media reveals a massive heap of trash piling up on a sidewalk in Holguín. The accumulation includes black bags, cardboard, wood, and assorted waste in an area surrounded by bars, food kiosks, and even a children's daycare.
"It's shameful what's happening with the trash at the corner of Plaza de la Marqueta," lamented Claudia Pérez Suárez on the Facebook group "Calle 13 Holguín Los Mejores Precios."
"Nobody seems to care—not the plaza managers nor Communal Services. The garbage truck makes its rounds in the morning but doesn't collect it. Plaza de la Marqueta managers, you make quite a profit with those bars, find a solution because Communal Services isn't interested," she demanded.
The photo sparked a flood of comments, holding the Empresa de Servicios Comunales accountable, along with the local private businesses.
One user pointed out that much of the waste comes from the bars. "If Communal Services won't pick it up, then the businesses should pay to have it removed since they earn millions of pesos daily," another suggested.
"Impose taxes on everyone running businesses in that area so the entire space stays clean, and set conditions for depositing their generated waste," another proposed.
A third person criticized, "I call this a lack of management and neglect; there are plenty of carriage workers willing to work if paid well."
Community Concerns Over Sanitation and Health Risks
Contrary to blaming fuel shortages, several residents noted that garbage collection trucks regularly make trips to the Sanfiel landfill. "There are trucks upon trucks, so it's not a lack of fuel; it's a lack of organization and interest in keeping our city clean," a user wrote.
"Living there has become unbearable, with a daycare full of young children susceptible to illness. Plus, the food kiosks are swarming with flies, making it disgusting to buy anything," warned another commentator.
Another resident offered a broader perspective: "Our city is an eyesore; enormous trash piles are everywhere—in the central plaza, in front of the old Santiago Habana terminal, on Martí Street, every corner has garbage. Behind the Moncada Hall, it's disgusting to walk by, even in the city center."
This complaint is not an isolated incident. At the end of September, residents in the Lenin neighborhood reported over a month without trash collection near a daycare and a school. In August, a primary school was surrounded by garbage just days before the school year began.
The health implications are dire. Holguín is dealing with active Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding sites, and the Pan American Health Organization donated 50 fumigation machines to the province in September. The Ministry of Public Health acknowledged an increase in dengue, diarrhea, and hepatitis, directly connected to sanitation and waste disposal issues.
Once known as one of Cuba's cleanest cities, Holguín has lost that reputation entirely.
Addressing Waste Management Challenges in Holguín
What is causing the trash problem in Holguín?
The trash issue in Holguín is attributed to a lack of interest and poor organization by Communal Services, as well as waste generated by local businesses, particularly bars.
How are residents responding to the waste management crisis?
Residents have taken to social media to express their outrage and are calling for solutions, such as imposing taxes on businesses or hiring private services for waste removal.
What health risks are associated with the trash problem?
The accumulation of waste poses health risks such as increased mosquito breeding sites, leading to higher incidences of diseases like dengue, diarrhea, and hepatitis.