A video published this Friday shows Trillo Park, in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Centro Habnaa, completely overwhelmed with trash, further evidence of the decline in municipal services in the Cuban capital.
The images shared through the Facebook profile of user Maykel Chapotín under the hashtag #cayohuesoalvivo, show the perimeter of the aforementioned site completely overwhelmed by cardboard boxes, plastic bags, clothing, and organic waste that spread throughout the park area.
In the background, residential buildings can be seen while trash invades the public space.
"Between the plague and the worms, where are we going to end up?" wrote the author alongside the video, a question that encapsulates the discontent of many Havana residents regarding the decline of urban hygiene.
The comments quickly multiplied and agreed that the situation exceeds the limits of that park. "This is how all of Havana is across all its municipalities," stated a user.
Another summed up the situation with a phrase that quickly gained traction. "Look at the capital of Cuba, what a horror."
Trillo Park is one of the most well-known spaces in Central Havana. Located between San Rafael, San Miguel, Aramburu, and Hospital streets, it has housed the Palace of Rumba since 2009 and also features the statue of Quintín Bandera.
The rumba promoted at that site was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Waste collection in Havana remains seriously affected for months due to a lack of fuel and the deterioration of the truck fleet. Of the 106 collection vehicles available in the capital, only 44 are operational, barely 41% of the total.
The city generates between 24,000 and 30,000 cubic meters of solid waste daily, but the collection capacity is insufficient, leaving thousands of cubic meters accumulated each day.
This is compounded by a shortage of containers, as Havana has about 10,000 when it needs between 20,000 and 30,000 to manage the volume of waste it produces.
The deterioration of sanitary conditions has also increased concerns about the spread of diseases. Cuba closed 2025 with at least 81,909 official cases of dengue and chikungunya and 65 deaths. In June of this year, the Ministry of Public Health activated epidemiological surveillance in response to the risk of new outbreaks.
Desperation has driven residents of neighborhoods like Lawton and Alamar to burn the accumulated garbage due to the lack of collection.
At the end of July, journalist Yoani Sánchez reported the open burning of waste in El Vedado and warned about the pollution affecting the residents.
The waste crisis coincides with other issues that undermine the quality of life in the capital. Over 500,000 residents of Havana were without regular water supply during July, while prolonged blackouts continue to impact the functioning of essential services.
The historian Julio César González Pagés summarized the situation with a phrase that reflects the city's decline. "Havana among garbage and feces arrives in summer with little water, hygiene, and medicine, reviving the worst of its colonial era."
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