The situation on the streets of Havana has become untenable. Mountains of decomposing waste, uncollected for weeks, are not only obstructing traffic but are also blanketing residential neighborhoods in suffocating clouds of smoke. Due to an acute fuel shortage, the majority of the city’s garbage collection fleet is stationary, leading both desperate citizens and authorities to resort to fire as a solution. Locals are leveling serious accusations against the state-owned enterprise “Comunales,” claiming that instead of removing the trash, workers are setting fire to dump sites, causing irreversible health damage to the population.
By February 2026, trash heaps have become a permanent fixture of the Havana cityscape. In the tropical heat, residents are struggling against the stench of rotting organic matter and infestations of rodents. However, the latest reports indicate that these are no longer just isolated actions by frustrated citizens; the official sanitation services are allegedly using incineration as a systematic method of “waste management.”
Serious Allegations Against the State Utility
According to citizen reports and footage circulating on social media in several Havana districts—including Guanabacoa and Vedado—residents are directly blaming the state sanitation company (Comunales) for starting the fires.
One mother in Havana, speaking to CiberCuba, stated: “The people from Comunales come out, and instead of loading the trash, they simply light the piles on fire. The smoke is unbearable; my children are having asthma attacks, and there is nowhere to flee.” Residents claim that state employees cite the lack of fuel as the reason they cannot transport the waste to central landfills outside the city. By burning the trash, they radically reduce its volume to “make room” for new refuse, all while releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Quantitative Data: The Logistics of Collapse
Figures acknowledged by Cuban authorities and confirmed by independent sources highlight the depth of the crisis:
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Inoperable Fleet: More than 60% of Havana’s waste collection vehicles are out of service. Of the 106 available trucks, often as few as 40 to 44 are able to go into service daily due to a lack of spare parts and diesel.
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Container Shortage: The capital requires at least 20,000 new trash containers to manage current waste levels; however, less than half that number is available, and many of those are in a state of decay.
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Daily Waste Volume: Havana generates approximately 30,000 cubic meters of waste per day. With current capacities, only 15,000 to 18,000 cubic meters are being collected, leading to an exponential accumulation of refuse.
Toxic Smoke and Health Hazards
Street burning involves unsegregated waste, including high volumes of plastics, rubber tires, and electronic scrap. The combustion of these materials releases dioxins, furans, and heavy metals.
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Respiratory Illness: Havana hospitals have reported an increase in cases of asthma and chronic bronchitis, particularly among children and the elderly.
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Fire Hazards: Burning often occurs directly under electrical wires or against the walls of residential buildings, leading to several small apartment fires and power outages across the city.
The Root Cause: Fuel and Energy Instability
The waste management catastrophe is rooted in the total instability of the Cuban energy system. The country is not receiving sufficient oil shipments from its primary allies, and domestic refineries—including the Havana facility that suffered a fire in early February—cannot meet demand. The government has prioritized fuel for agriculture and hospital electricity, leaving public sanitation at the bottom of the priority list.
Summary: A Desperate Reality
Havana is currently teetering on the edge of an ecological and humanitarian disaster. As long as there is insufficient fuel to operate the fleet and authorities continue to tacitly (or actively) support street burning, residents will be forced to live amidst toxic fog. Public anger is mounting as state media often remains silent regarding the responsibility of Comunales, even as the toxic mist blanketing the city remains an undeniable reality.
Official Sources and References:
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CiberCuba – Denuncian humo por quema de basura en La Habana: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-02-21-u1-e208512-s27061-nid321393-denuncian-humo-quema-basurero-habana-comienzan
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CiberCuba – Toxic smoke in Havana: Resident accuses Comunales of burning: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-02-19-u1-e43231-s27061-nid321237-humo-toxico-habana-vecina-acusa-comunales-quemar
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Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP): https://www.minsap.gob.cu/
