Havana garbage crisis due to US blockade

Cuba — Havana, Cuba, is grappling with a severe garbage crisis, with piles of waste accumulating on streets due to a U.S. energy blockade that has caused widespread fuel shortages and paralyzed state-run garbage collection. Residents, including María Odalys Ramírez, are experiencing unsanitary conditions, leading to public health concerns as people resort to burning trash, creating toxic smoke. Odalys Goicochea, an official from the Cuba — Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Cuba), has identified improper waste management as a critical national challenge, warning that rising temperatures and the impending hurricane season could worsen the situation by increasing disease-carrying insects. In response, citizen initiatives like El Batazo, championed by collaborators such as Evelyn Martínez, are emerging to organize neighborhood cleanups, recycling, and repurposing waste, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the deepening crisis.