A large landfill has been accumulating waste for over four months near the Pepe Barrientos Recreational and Sports Center, in the Luyanó neighborhood, Diez de Octubre municipality, Havana, according to a citizen complaint shared by the channel NiO Reportando Un Crimen on Facebook.
The dump is located in front of a technical and vocational school for Physical Education, which particularly increases the risk for students, teachers, and families who pass through the area daily.
According to the testimony received by the platform, the accumulation of waste is causing foul odors and a troubling increase in flies.
"Residents describe the situation as unbearable and fear that this health hazard will promote the spread of diseases, especially due to its proximity to an educational center and a sports facility," the channel reported.
The complaint quickly went viral: the video amassed over a million views, nearly 19,000 "likes," and almost 1,900 comments on Facebook, reflecting the magnitude of public outrage.
The platform demanded an urgent response from the authorities: "Where are the Community Services? Where are the Public Health authorities responsible for preventing outbreaks of infection?"
The situation in Luyanó is not an isolated incident, but rather the local manifestation of a structural waste management crisis that has been sinking Havana for years. At the beginning of 2026, only 44 out of 106 collection trucks in the capital were operational — just 41.5% of the fleet — due to a lack of diesel and mechanical failures.
The city generates between 24,000 and 30,000 cubic meters of solid waste daily, of which over 20,000 could go uncollected every day. The shortage of containers worsens the situation: the capital would need between 20,000 and 30,000, but currently has around 10,000, many of which are damaged.
In response to the system's collapse, the authorities resorted to emergency measures that did not address the underlying issue: in May, they authorized the open-air burning of waste, and in June, they enlisted young people from the Active Military Service for collection tasks using shovels and sacks.
The municipality of Diez de Octubre has been one of the hardest hit by this crisis. In September, heavy rains washed muddy water and debris down General Lee Street, while accumulated garbage blocked drains and sewers. Luyanó, in particular, has numerous documented complaints dating back to 2019, when the garbage bins could go up to two weeks without being emptied.
The health situation is critical. Cuba reported 11,235 cases of dengue as of October 4, 2026, a number equivalent to 9.2 times the average of the previous five years, with all four serotypes circulating simultaneously.
The Ministry of Public Health also acknowledged increases in acute diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, and respiratory infections, conditions directly linked to the accumulation of waste and the proliferation of pests.
NiO Reporting a Crime was emphatic in its demand: "The accumulation of garbage is not just an issue of urban image. It poses a public health risk that requires immediate attention."
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