Despite the intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba, the Las Tunas Raw Materials Recovery Company (ERMP in Spanish) continues to operate, demonstrating that innovation and perseverance are key to contributing to the national economy. With an outstanding year-end performance and ambitious projections for 2026, the entity has become a pillar in generating income and promoting a culture of recycling in the region.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- This was confirmed by Keldhi Rolando Fonstesilla Matos, general director of ERMP Las Tunas, who detailed the results achieved at the end of 2025. “At the end of last year, the company achieved 99 percent compliance with the total sales plan and 106 percent compliance with the export sales plan.”

One of the most significant indicators is recovery at the grassroots level, a fundamental link that depends directly on public awareness. According to Fonstesilla, a strengthening of recovery channels was achieved that had an impact on all sectors of the population of Las Tunas.
"We collected 0.5 kilograms per inhabitant per month, a figure that is in line with and above the national average. Even so, we have to continue working on this recovery to increase recovery in the population."

Far from paralyzing the industry, the context of shortages has stimulated the search for creative solutions. Aliesky de la Rosa Ayala, the entity's director of production and recycling, explained how they have redirected their processes in the face of the complex energy and fuel situation the country is experiencing.

"The company has managed to recover, assert itself, and fulfill its export plans, which were our main productive contribution to the province's economy in 2025.

Compliance with export plans reached 106 percent in physical terms and 110 percent in value, a result that has a direct impact on the country's finances.

“In the export of non-ferrous products, which are the products we export directly, 70 percent of every peso that is recovered or that goes into our account goes directly to our state budget. And 30 percent remains in the hands of our business group to develop our companies in terms of infrastructure and conditions for our workers,” said the executive.

This year's strategy is not only based on maintaining the numbers, but also on transforming methods. By 2026, our fundamental challenge is to convert recyclable waste into valuable resources. This premise is supported by strengthening recycling awareness in the industrial sector and among the population, incorporating technology, and diversifying production.

"We have all the financial resources to carry out this activity. Last year, we received an investment in electric and internal combustion tricycles to cope with the increase in roadside collection, a measure that optimizes fuel consumption and brings the service closer to communities through door-to-door collection.

“We are also working on computer applications, with the Reciklando web application, a key tool for streamlining interaction with citizens, which is one of the computer applications that the Recycling Business Group has to make recovery more dynamic with respect to the population,” said the director general.

The work of the ERMP goes beyond export. At its fixed recycling points, the population can access necessities made from recovered raw materials, a tangible example of the circular economy in terms of domestic consumption.

De la Rosa Ayala explained that they have managed to incorporate new products into their retail network. "This has enabled us to replace some basic products that our population needs in these times, such as glasses of different sizes made from recovered glass containers, ropes made from nylon, and recovered sacks.

"Added to this are low-cost, high-social-impact initiatives, such as the production of charcoal stoves recovered from our ferrous scrap yard at almost zero cost. We make traditional stoves available to our population at affordable prices and in line with what our people are asking for in these times.

In an environment of electricity and fuel constraints, ERMP has prioritized exportable items and optimized every resource. They have also redirected their work to make the most of the working day, always protecting peak hours and complying with the country's guidelines on energy saving.