August 22, 2026 — Belly of the Beast
Garbage has piled up on Havana’s street corners for months, a byproduct of the fuel shortages that have ground the Cuban government’s waste collection to a halt since the Trump administration imposed its oil blockade on the island.
In Vedado, one local business has stepped up to provide a solution — solar-powered tricycles.
El Rampeño uses electric tricycles and trucks to collect trash door-to-door. Customers pay 100 pesos a month, or roughly 14 cents. Vulnerable households receive the service for free.
“Due to the situation with the United States, especially the fuel issue, the government doesn’t have enough fuel to collect the garbage,” said Yasiel Hernández, El Rampeño’s president.
The neighbors have noticed the difference.
“This corner was full of trash,” one resident said. “Now it’s not anymore.”
Watch the video HERE.
