The project created to collect trash with electric tricycles in the Rampa Popular Council in Havana has not succeeded in meeting the goal for which it was designed, as acknowledged by the president of the Rampa Popular Council himself, who pointed out issues with charging the vehicles and delays in finding alternatives.
Pedro Lizardo Garcés Escalona admitted this Tuesday the difficulties facing the Local Development Project El Rampeño: "Unfortunately, the initial idea and the goal for which the solid waste collection using electric tricycles has not been realized."
Among the causes mentioned, it was noted that the "solinera" at 23 and J has not yet been completed, which is designed to provide energy to electric vehicles, as well as what was termed "delays in seeking alternatives by the project" to address the energy needs the country is facing.
Garcés pointed out that some institutions and workplaces have collaborated by facilitating the loading of the tricycles, but that assistance has not allowed the initiative to function as originally intended.
The vehicles are part of a donation promoted by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and the central government for the El Rampeño project.
Less than two months after the pilot test of the project began in July, the official now acknowledges that the initial conception has not been able to materialize as planned.
After a meeting with the management of El Rampeño and in the presence of the municipal mayor, Garcés expressed hope that the agreements reached will soon resolve the difficulties.
Despite the project issues, he stated that they currently have a "mostly clean" popular council, although he acknowledged that it is still not in the "optimally" necessary conditions that, in his view, the residents deserve.
The official also held the so-called "social indiscipline" responsible for some of the hygiene issues and went on to describe it as "a cancer that is gradually consuming us".
In that regard, he made a specific call to residents in the areas of 25 and G, 19 and J, 19 and I, 17 and L, 17 and M, Línea and J, Línea and M, 21 between L and M, 27 and N, and J corner to 27, to "increase vigilance and take action" against those who throw waste.
Garcés stated that there is a "government intention" and willingness regarding the project to continue working, but he questioned the community's response in some of those areas.
"Nothing and no one will prevent our Rampa Popular Council from continuing to aspire to be the cleanest, healthiest, and most beautified council in the capital of all Cubans," he concluded.
When the initiative was presented months ago, it was announced that it included 30 electric tricycles to collect waste door-to-door in 14 districts, along with a charging station powered by solar panels on 23 and J.
The project generated skepticism among the neighbors from the very beginning, some of whom reacted to the announcement with a "hopefully it's true," given the history of difficulties surrounding waste collection in the capital.
At the beginning of July, the launch of the initiative once again sparked criticism and irony on social media.
By then, only five of the 30 tricycles planned were available, and an internet user summed up their reaction with the phrase: "The only country where collecting trash is news."
Days later, a pilot program was launched with two daily routes, one at 7:00 a.m. and the other at 8:00 p.m.
The service has established a fee of 100 pesos per month per household and starting at 15,000 pesos for private businesses, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and state entities, with exemptions planned for individuals in vulnerable situations.
At that time, Garcés himself had positively assessed the initial results: "It has been an exercise that allowed us to make some adjustments, but for now, it has worked very well," he stated.
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