With the aim of providing greater autonomy in the management of each of Havana’s 15 municipalities, the authorities have decided to disseminate the same number of Community Services enterprises in the city, which at present is suffering from serious deficiencies in solid waste collection.
This was explained by Osmín Abel Camejo Domínguez, vice president of the provincial administration body, in the local newspaper Tribuna de La Habana.
The capital, where about 2.13 million inhabitants live and where an average of 24,000 cubic meters of garbage is generated daily, in recent months has received several donations of waste collection means of transportation.
About 100 collection trucks donated by Japan have arrived on the island through the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation. Austria also donated another 10 trucks which were received last August.
From #Vienna to #Havana: urban solid waste collection trucksThe journey to Havana of the 10 trucks which collect solid…
Posted by EmbaCuba Austria on Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Out of the trucks received, 80 were assigned to the municipalities. There are also 40 dump trucks, 25 mini loaders (15 for the municipalities), 50 engine driven lawnmowers, 25 chainsaws and 15 vans.
This would mean meeting the current need for equipment, one of the causes wielded to explain the current catastrophic situation of garbage collection in the city.
Other reasons, according to the Havana authorities, are the lack of professionalism of the personnel, insufficient collecting tanks and social indiscipline.
From now on, in each Havana territory there will be an Aurora Municipal Enterprise responsible not only for the garbage but also for urban furniture, parks and plaques, green areas, and burial and funeral services where they exist.
According to a report by the Cuban News Agency (ACN), each municipality now has the necessary means for this business activity.
It is planned to place several boxes for the collection of rubble in each of Havana’s 105 People’s Councils.
The workers of the collection trucks already have their uniforms and the rest of the staff of the new municipal companies will be given overalls.
Each municipality will have a first service workshop for trucks: flat tires, washing and air.
A brigade in the Provincial Hygiene Enterprise is dedicated to catering to 22 of Havana’s main avenues, among them Calzada de Octubre 10, Santa Catalina, 25th Avenue, Malecón, 5th Avenue, Carlos III, Avenida de los Presidente (G), Paseo, Reina and Avenida del Puerto.
Garbage collection schedule: three days, three hours
In the context of the country’s fuel shortage, the capital’s authorities have summoned the population to dump their garbage on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 4:00 p.m. and before 7:00 p.m., at which time the mechanized collection will begin in the city.
