In Camagüey, a Cuban man humorously filmed himself outside his home at the corner of 20 de Mayo and Vázquez, announcing that he was the proud owner of a new "small business" dedicated to trash collection, charging 20 pesos per bag.
The 29-second video, shared on Facebook by Omar Hernández, serves as a satirical snapshot of the breakdown in Cuba's state-run waste management services.
"I've started a new small business, yes, and I charge for taking out trash bags here. I'm charging 20 pesos per bag," the man says with a light-hearted tone.
"I'm an entrepreneurial guy, and now it's going on social media so people know I like to make money," he jokes, pointing to a massive pile of garbage spilling into both streets at the corner.
What Omar presents as a joke is, in fact, mirroring the Cuban regime's official approach to the issue. Recently, it came to light that a small enterprise on the Isle of Youth began charging 100 Cuban pesos monthly per household to collect garbage in the Juan Delio Chacón Aldana neighborhood and the town of Sierra Caballos.
From Public Service to Private Enterprise
In July, Havana's Plaza de la Revolución municipality launched a local initiative using electric tricycles for door-to-door waste collection, with varying fees for homes, private businesses, and state entities. This shift has turned what was once a free public service into a profitable venture.
The Camagüey local's video underscores the frustration of a populace enduring months of living alongside mountains of garbage on streets, sidewalks, and parks.
Several factors contribute to this crisis: an inadequate number of garbage trucks, many of which are in disrepair; a shortage of containers; and a lack of fuel. These issues have stalled waste collection in numerous municipalities.
Health Risks and Emergency Measures
The result is heaps of trash and the spread of pests associated with diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and leptospirosis. The population's only recourse has been to burn waste in the open air.
Faced with this collapse, the government resorted to an emergency measure in June: deploying young men from the military to collect trash. The move failed to solve the problem. That same month, a video capturing a trash-filled block went viral, with someone sarcastically stating, "This is resistance and creativity...," mocking Miguel Díaz-Canel's official slogan.
Understanding the Waste Management Crisis in Cuba
Why is there a garbage collection problem in Cuba?
The garbage collection issue in Cuba stems from a lack of functional garbage trucks, insufficient containers, and a scarcity of fuel, which have all disrupted waste collection services.
What has been the government's response to the waste management crisis?
The government attempted to address the crisis by deploying military personnel to collect trash and by supporting small businesses to charge for waste collection services, but these measures have not fully resolved the issue.