In a stark display captured by the independent newspaper 14ymedio, two workers from the local development project (PDL) El Rampeño were seen collecting trash in the park at 19th and M in El Vedado, without any hand protection or fundamental tools. This scene, observed on Friday, stands in contrast to the promise of modernizing Havana's waste collection system with the introduction of electric tricycles.
One of the workers was holding a small plastic box while the other picked up papers and containers straight from the ground, with no brooms or dustpans in sight.
Upon returning to the loading vehicle parked at the curb, trash was still visible among the grass and surrounding trees. "Look at how the collectors are working, with their hands!" commented a local resident.
This situation contrasts sharply with the image shared by the EFE agency on the same day, which highlighted the operation of around 15 electric tricycles servicing restaurants, shops, markets, homes, and tourist establishments, including the renowned Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
Yasier Hernández, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, explained to the agency that the project merges private capital with sustainable technology to tackle the fuel shortage and the decline of communal services.
Launched in June, the El Rampeño PDL promised to introduce 30 electric tricycles, offer door-to-door collection in 14 districts of the Rampa Popular Council, and set up a solar charging station at the corner of 23rd and J.
Despite these plans, the service began on July 1st with only five vehicles, and the fleet has yet to reach half of the announced number.
The limitations extend beyond the number of tricycles. According to 14ymedio, some trash remains after cleaning operations. The vehicles make two daily rounds, at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, while the PDL employs 40 workers, charging residents 100 pesos monthly per household.
In August, Pedro Garcés, president of the Rampa Popular Council, acknowledged that the project has not met its initial objectives. "Unfortunately, the initial idea and the goal for collecting solid waste with electric tricycles have not been realized," he stated. He also criticized the delay in seeking alternative charging solutions amid power outages and noted that the solar station at 23rd and J remains unfinished.
Despite these setbacks, conditions in areas serviced by El Rampeño are better than in other parts of the capital. In Villanueva and Melones in Luyanó, a front loader had to clear a mountain of accumulated trash near the Miguel Enríquez Hospital, colloquially known as La Benéfica. "The pile of garbage was there for days," a neighbor recounted to 14ymedio.
Havana's communal service crisis predates these private initiatives. At the start of the year, only 44 of the capital's 106 garbage trucks were operational due to fuel shortages and deterioration.
The private management model with resident fees is also being implemented in other areas. In August, the small business Belmary started charging a fixed rate of 100 pesos monthly per household on the Isle of Youth for waste collection.
In September, it was reported that the small enterprise Almaley S.R.L. officially began the contracting process to collect and manage solid waste in Camagüey's Historic Center, amidst challenges faced by state-run communal services.
In response to the inability to use trucks for trash collection due to fuel shortages, residents and delegates of the Casino Deportivo neighborhood in the Cerro municipality have organized a community-based waste collection alternative.
Understanding Waste Collection Challenges in Havana
Why are El Rampeño workers collecting trash without basic tools?
El Rampeño workers are collecting trash without basic tools due to the lack of resources and equipment promised by the project, which has yet to be fully realized.
What was the initial promise of the El Rampeño project?
The project promised to introduce 30 electric tricycles for waste collection, door-to-door service in 14 districts, and a solar charging station, but these goals have not been met.
How are private waste management models being implemented in Cuba?
Private waste management models in Cuba involve charging residents a fixed fee for waste collection, as seen with businesses like Belmary and Almaley S.R.L., which are tackling inefficiencies in state-run services.