The cleaning of a landfill in the city of Holguín sparked a debate on social media, where residents called for a systematic garbage collection to prevent waste from piling up again.
A video shared on Wednesday by the Facebook page Soy Holguín showcased the recent cleanup of an illegal dumping site in the Alcides Pino neighborhood, a scene that elicited both satisfaction among residents and criticism over the ongoing garbage collection crisis in the city.
The message accompanying the post celebrated that the area was left clean and raised a question that quickly spread through the comments: whether the area would remain this way or if it would turn back into a dump in a few days.
The page also urged local residents to take care of the space, reminding them of the importance of cleanliness for the health of those living nearby.
However, most reactions pointed to a problem that the neighbors consider structural: the inconsistency in waste collection by the municipal services.
"How are they going to keep it clean if they don't come to pick up the trash?" questioned one of the users, reflecting a concern shared by many commentators.
Others insisted that the responsibility cannot fall solely on the population when the waste collection system does not function regularly.
"When the communal workers collected the waste, there were no trash bins," said another user, while some neighbors reported that the area was already showing signs of garbage accumulation just hours after the cleanup.
Several comments recalled that Holguín was considered one of the cleanest cities in Cuba for many years, a reputation that today seems increasingly distant due to the proliferation of improvised dumps in neighborhoods and public spaces.
The opinions also reflected the debate between citizen indiscipline and institutional shortcomings.
While some users criticized those who throw trash outside of containers or dump waste in any space, others insisted that without regular collection, it is impossible to prevent waste from piling up.
The concerns extend beyond urban decay. Residents have pointed out that the garbage dumps generate unpleasant odors, the proliferation of pests, and health risks for nearby communities.
The problem is not new. In November 2025, residents of the Lenin neighborhood reported that the accumulation of garbage and the proliferation of mosquitoes were making adults and children ill amidst an outbreak of arboviral diseases affecting the province.
Amid this scenario, specific cleaning initiatives such as the one in the Alcides Pino neighborhood provide temporary relief but also raise a question that many residents are echoing on social media: whether the city will ever regain the clean image that distinguished it within Cuba for decades without a systematic waste collection system.
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