A video shared on Friday vividly displays the alarming state of Trillo Park in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Centro Habana, overrun with trash—a stark indication of the crumbling municipal services in Cuba's capital.
Posted by user Maykel Chapotín on Facebook under the hashtag #cayohuesoalvivo, the footage reveals the park's perimeter engulfed by mountains of cardboard boxes, plastic bags, clothes, and organic waste. This unsightly spectacle stretches across the park while residential buildings loom in the background.
"Between the stench and the maggots, where are we headed?" queried the video’s author, capturing the frustration felt by many residents of Havana over the declining urban sanitation.
The post quickly garnered comments echoing that the issue extends far beyond this single park. "This is how all of Havana looks, in every municipality," one user lamented.
Another comment succinctly captured the situation, "Look at the capital of Cuba, what horror."
Trillo Park: A Cultural Landmark Amidst Crisis
Trillo Park is a well-known location in Centro Habana, nestled between San Rafael, San Miguel, Aramburu, and Hospital streets. Since 2009, it has housed the Palacio de la Rumba and the statue of Quintín Bandera. In 2016, UNESCO recognized the rumba promoted here as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Despite its cultural significance, the park is now a symbol of neglect. The waste collection system in Havana has been severely compromised for months, hampered by fuel shortages and a deteriorating fleet of garbage trucks. Of the 106 trucks available, only 44 are operational, representing just 41% of the fleet.
The Broader Environmental and Health Crisis
Havana produces between 24,000 to 30,000 cubic meters of solid waste daily, yet the collection capacity falls short, leaving thousands of cubic meters uncollected each day. Compounding the issue is a severe shortage of containers; the city has only about 10,000 of the 20,000 to 30,000 needed to manage its waste output.
This sanitary decline has fueled fears of disease outbreaks. At the close of 2025, Cuba reported at least 81,909 official cases of dengue and chikungunya, with 65 fatalities. In June, the Ministry of Public Health heightened epidemiological surveillance in anticipation of further outbreaks.
Desperation has driven residents in neighborhoods like Lawton and Alamar to resort to burning accumulated trash due to the lack of collection services. In late July, journalist Yoani Sánchez highlighted the open-air burning of waste in El Vedado, warning of the pollution threatening residents.
This garbage crisis coincides with other deteriorating conditions impacting Havana's quality of life. Over 500,000 residents were left without regular water supply in July, while prolonged power outages continue to disrupt essential services.
Historian Julio César González Pagés succinctly captured the city's woes: "Havana, surrounded by garbage and feces, greets the summer with scarce water, hygiene, and medicines, reviving its colonial-era struggles."
Understanding the Environmental and Health Challenges in Havana
Why is trash collection in Havana so problematic?
Trash collection in Havana is severely impacted by a shortage of fuel and a deteriorated fleet of garbage trucks, with only 44 out of 106 trucks operational.
How does the trash issue affect public health in Havana?
The accumulation of waste increases the risk of disease outbreaks such as dengue and chikungunya, with thousands of cases already reported.
What cultural significance does Trillo Park hold?
Trillo Park hosts the Palacio de la Rumba and the statue of Quintín Bandera. In 2016, the rumba here was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.