A resident of Bayamo reported on Wednesday the accumulation of garbage and the presence of pollution hotspots at a corner of the city, a situation they deem hazardous to the health of those living in the vicinity.
The post, accompanied by a brief video shared on Facebook by the Alma Granmense page, showcases the state of a corner in the capital of Granma province, filled with accumulated waste and showing signs of having been set on fire. This sparked a wave of citizen reactions describing one of the cities that prided itself on being one of the cleanest in Cuba as a dumping ground out of control.
According to what is shown in the video, passing by the corner located after Guajiro Natural, one finds the area, "as has almost become customary, filled with garbage," with smoke still visible from a recent fire.
According to the text, the area is surrounded by homes inhabited by elderly individuals and minors, sectors that are especially vulnerable to diseases associated with the accumulation of waste and the proliferation of insects.
"We know that the responsible institutions do not meet all the needs, but who are the affected parties?" questioned the publication, while also warning about the presence of flies and other vectors that can transmit diseases.
It also drew attention to the proximity of food vendors located on the other side of the road. In his opinion, the products being sold are exposed to the same flies that breed in the garbage dump, which poses a risk to public health.
Although he criticized the lack of response from the authorities responsible for waste collection, he also pointed out the responsibility of the citizens in exacerbating the problem. "We allow cleaning to happen, yet we ourselves throw garbage carelessly," he stated.
The publication concluded with a call for collective reflection on the deterioration of urban hygiene in Bayamo, historically known as the "Cradle of Cuban nationality," and on the consequences that the accumulation of garbage can have for those living near these pollution hotspots.
The comments on the video reflect a profound loss of collective identity. "My God, my people are lost in the garbage. They were always a very clean people," wrote a resident.
Another person pointed out, "It was one of the cleanest cities, and now it’s a dump." A third person was more forceful: "It's not just Bayamo; all of Cuba is a complete mess. And who cares about this situation?"
Several citizens also pointed out the health risk. "You can no longer walk there, and people driving by are inhaling the bacteria," warned a resident.
Another comment pointed directly to the root of the problem: "The culprit is disgusting communism and all its leaders."
"That’s how all of Cuba is," summarized a citizen in the comments of the video, a phrase that encapsulates what is no longer a local crisis but rather a portrait of an entire country sinking in its own garbage.
The contrast with the past is documentable. In January 2019, the official press described Bayamo as a national example of urban organization, with 667 cleaning workers daily and 339 street sweepers starting their shifts at 3:00 a.m. Today, that reputation is history.
The complaint adds to the growing public outcries regarding the accumulation of waste in various locations across the country, a problem that is increasingly visible amid the challenges faced by municipal services in ensuring the systematic collection of garbage
In April 2026, garbage and debris blocked the railway line connecting the city to Havana, affecting more than half of the rail service.
In Holguín, the landfills have been burning every night for months, releasing toxic gases over residential areas.
This Wednesday, it was also reported that in Cienfuegos, an improvised landfill in front of residential buildings poses a threat to the health of dozens of families.
In Havana, only 44 out of the 106 garbage collection trucks were operational in February, and the situation has not improved either.
The causes are structural, stemming from the chronic shortage of fuel, the deterioration of the vehicle fleet, and a lack of planning.
The Prime Minister Manuel Marrero himself acknowledged the institutional failure on December 31, 2025. The accumulation of waste across the island is directly linked to outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, which the Ministry of Public Health officially recognized with 33 fatalities, while independent organizations raise the figure to thousands.
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