Large piles of rubbish have accumulated across Havana, a city of nearly two million people, raising growing concerns about public health and sanitation. Local authorities say fuel shortages have curtailed the operation of state-run collection lorries, leaving waste uncollected for prolonged periods. Residents report that overflowing rubbish mounds have become a common sight in both central districts and outlying neighbourhoods, particularly as temperatures climb ahead of the summer months.
The situation has deteriorated amid wider economic difficulties that have contributed to power outages, water shortages and transport disruption across Cuba. Municipal data published last year showed that Havana generated the equivalent of around 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools of solid waste each day, while only 57 per cent was collected.
