Newly released videos on social media have unveiled the severe waste crisis plaguing Havana, with impromptu dumpsites emerging across the city. Streets are littered with garbage, and sewage water flows freely, as residents lament the unbearable stench and a worsening situation.
In one clip, identified by users as filmed on Monte Street in Central Havana, piles of trash are seen on both sides of a corner. "The smell is overwhelming, just terrible. You can find anything in that garbage," remarks the person recording the footage, which was shared on the Facebook page Cuba Today last Friday.
Earlier, another video on the same platform documented a similar scene in a different part of the capital, where waste overflowed into traffic lanes. These visuals add to a string of recent complaints about the rise of makeshift dumpsites in various Havana neighborhoods.
Public Outrage Over Urban Decay
User comments mirrored the frustration over the city's deterioration. "NEVER, not even under the harshest governments, has Havana, the capital of all Cubans, been in such filthy decay," one person wrote. Another summed up the situation with a phrase that drew widespread reactions: "In every block a CDR, now in every block a dumpsite."
Several users linked the garbage accumulation to health issues. "Children's hospitals are full of severely ill kids of all ages, suffering due to the government's total disregard," one commenter stated, blaming the authorities for the lack of solutions. "This is how all of Cuba is, and the government doesn't care," added another user.
Government's Ineffective Measures
The waste collection crisis also has a material aspect acknowledged by the authorities themselves. By early 2026, only 44 out of Havana's 106 garbage trucks were operational, representing 41% of the fleet, due to diesel shortages and mechanical problems.
Official announcements have failed to resolve the issue. In early September, state media introduced 20 new trucks and over 240 containers from China, representing an investment exceeding a million euros. However, city officials admitted these resources were "not a definitive solution."
A pilot project using electric tricycles for garbage collection in the Popular Council Rampa failed because the solar charging station remained unfinished.
Health Crisis and Past Failures
Previous investments have not yielded better results. In 2019, Japan donated 100 garbage trucks to Havana, which later fell into disrepair due to maintenance and fuel issues. The worsening sanitary conditions add pressure to a challenging epidemiological situation. Cuba ended 2025 with at least 81,909 cases of dengue and chikungunya and 65 deaths, while a report by The New York Times linked the outbreak to waste accumulation.
Recently, the U.S. Embassy in Havana issued health alerts due to a significant rise in diarrheal diseases.
A massive dumpsite was reported at the intersection of Águila and Estrella in Central Havana days ago. This month, a fire at an improvised dump destroyed the side door of the Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Nicholas of Bari in Los Sitios.
Brother Ernesto Cuba of the Piarist community attributed the incident to "neglect by the Havana Government, particularly in Central Havana, the Party, and Communal Services," accusing them of failing to fulfill their promises.
The ongoing complaints and persistence of dumpsites highlight the gap between official statements and the reality on Havana's streets.
Understanding Havana's Garbage Crisis
What is causing the garbage crisis in Havana?
The garbage crisis in Havana is primarily due to the lack of operational garbage trucks, diesel shortages, and mechanical issues, compounded by the government's ineffective measures to address the situation.
How is the waste situation affecting public health in Havana?
The unmanaged waste is leading to significant health issues, with children's hospitals overcrowded with severely ill patients. The accumulation of garbage is also linked to the spread of diseases like dengue and chikungunya.