A fuel blockade in Cuba has worsened the already inconsistent garbage collection services, leading to large piles of trash in Havana.
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Havana streets are experiencing stubborn trash accumulation, exacerbated by a fuel blockade that limits garbage truck operations. Enormous piles of waste, stretching four feet high and half a block long, are now a common sight in the city.
José Fernández Zaldívar works as a street sweeper on San Rafael Boulevard, a busy pedestrian area in Havana. He earns around $9 a month collecting trash. Despite his efforts, he returns home to find his entryway clogged with garbage, making it difficult for him to leave.
The constant presence of litter, including plastic bottles and corn husks, attracts swarms of flies, adding to the unsanitary conditions. Mr. Fernández expressed his frustration, noting, “Sometimes the garbage overflows so much that it covers the entrance to my house, and I can’t get out. I have to clear a path through.”
Due to the lack of fuel for garbage collection vehicles, residents have begun burning trash to reduce the waste. Mr. Fernández noted the overwhelming amount of garbage and expressed his bewilderment, saying, “There is too much trash. I don’t know where it comes from.”