A recent video shared by independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada on Saturday highlights a significant garbage accumulation on Finlay Avenue, right in front of a 12-story building in the José Martí neighborhood, one of the key thoroughfares in Camagüey.
The report, shared on platform X with the hashtag #TanteandoCuba, is part of an ongoing series of similar reports that chronicle the breakdown of waste collection services in the city throughout 2026.
This crisis is neither new nor isolated. According to estimates from October, the municipal company responsible for communal services manages to collect only between 35% and 40% of the waste produced by the city, which amounts to roughly 220 tons daily; leaving between 77 and 143 tons uncollected each day.
Local authorities have blamed the issue on a "severe fuel shortage" and the deterioration of the state-owned vehicle fleet, without offering concrete short-term solutions.
Throughout the year, various parts of Camagüey have seen significant garbage pileups: on Camujiro Street, a resident reported a two-month lapse in waste collection, resulting in garbage blocking the entire street; on General Gómez Street, residents counted up to nine dumpsites, some even near a childcare center.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred on July 17th, when a garbage pile on Las Palmas Street caught fire, causing explosions and thick smoke that forced families to seek refuge in neighboring homes. Authorities labeled this as "social indiscipline."
The historic center of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also suffered from large waste accumulations throughout the year.
In a partial response, the private company Almaley S.R.L. began efforts in September to manage waste collection in the Historic Center, preparing three collection trucks and installing containers. However, the initiative did not fully materialize due to equipment deterioration and disagreements over fees.
The garbage buildup has also been linked in reports to a rise in hepatitis A cases in the municipality during April, though the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Julio Guerra, denied the existence of a national epidemic.
Tan Estrada, the creator of the video, is an independent journalist from Camagüey who has been exiled in Mexico since late 2024, after facing detention by State Security, fines under Decree-Law 370, and regime pressures. His series #TanteandoCuba systematically documents the decline of public services in the province, turning each report into a record of a crisis that the Cuban government either cannot—or will not—address.
Camagüey Waste Crisis: Key Questions
What are the primary reasons for the garbage crisis in Camagüey?
The main reasons cited for the garbage crisis in Camagüey include a severe fuel shortage and the deterioration of the state-owned vehicle fleet, which hampers effective waste collection.
How much waste is left uncollected in Camagüey daily?
Approximately between 77 and 143 tons of waste are left uncollected each day in Camagüey, as the city generates around 220 tons of waste daily, but only 35% to 40% is collected.
What actions have been taken to address the waste problem in Camagüey?
Efforts include a private company, Almaley S.R.L., attempting to manage waste collection in the Historic Center of Camagüey, though these efforts have faced challenges due to equipment issues and fee disagreements.