Cuba fuel crisis turns into waste emergency as trash piles up in Havana amid energy blockade

Cuba’s fuel crisis has turned into a waste crisis, with garbage piling up on most street corners in Havana as many collection trucks lack enough petrol to operate.

Trash was seen accumulating across the capital as the country grapples with fuel shortages.

Cuba is facing supply problems after the United States moved to choke off its oil supplies. Russia said it was preparing to send crude oil and fuel cargoes to Cuba in the near future, the Izvestia newspaper reported on Thursday, citing the Russian embassy in Cuba.

The country has long relied on Venezuela for much of its jet fuel, but it has not received crude or refined products from its closest ally since mid-December, when Washington moved to block Venezuelan exports.

Cuban media have reported that other towns are also seeing trash pile up and said residents have used social media to raise the alarm over the risk to public health.

Pro-government outlet Cubadebate reported earlier in February that Havana is operating at between 37% and 44% of its technical capacity to collect waste. Of 106 garbage trucks, only 44 remain in operation, quoting a Cuban official.

Residents say the situation has worsened as fuel shortages deepen.

Havana residents say the accumulation of garbage has significantly worsened due to the ongoing fuel shortage, with trash piling up across neighbourhoods and raising concerns about public health. Ileana Calderon said the volume of waste has increased because of the oil problem, suggesting authorities find alternative solutions — including mobilising unemployed youth or prisoners — to help with collection. She warned that without action, the spread of viruses will continue unchecked.

Dominga Puga stressed that the garbage issue began even before the fuel crisis but has now become “serious” and “very critical.” She cautioned that the buildup of waste creates conditions for disease and urged officials to intervene urgently to resolve the situation. Puga dded that: “They collect it every five... from a week to five days... but it continues, continues, continues because there are no tanks, there is nothing."

“Here in Havana, it's everywhere. I don't know what the energy problem is, whether it's a problem with oil or something else, but that's how it is, all over the city. I think they should collect it, because here, it's been more than 10 days since a garbage truck came, and you can see that there are at least seven or eight garbage trucks there.” says Jose Ramon Cruz, Havana resident.

The fuel shortages have disrupted waste collection across the capital, leaving residents concerned about hygiene and public health risks as trash continues to accumulate.

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