Kigali, Rwanda – June 19, 2024, Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) celebrated a major milestone in the country’s waste management journey by inaugurating pilot municipal waste valorisation facilities at the Nduba landfill in Kigali. This achievement is a key outcome of the “Waste to Resources Project,” which ran from July 2021 to July 2024 and aimed to enhance municipal solid and hazardous waste management in Rwanda.
Funded by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, this initiative marks a significant step towards sustainable waste management and building a vibrant circular economy in Rwanda.
The newly inaugurated infrastructure, which attendees had the opportunity to tour, includes a Waste Sorting and Separation Facility capable of handling 100 tons of waste per day, significantly improving the efficiency of sorting and recycling at Nduba. Additionally, a Bio-Waste Treatment Facility, with a capacity to treat five tons of organic waste per day, will convert organic waste into valuable organic fertilizers. A Truck Weighbridge, capable of weighing trucks up to 60 tons, will ensure accurate measurement of waste entering and leaving the Nduba landfill.
During the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, expressed pride in the project, highlighting its role in reducing environmental impact and creating new economic opportunities.
“The Waste to Resources Project demonstrates our commitment to innovative solutions and sustainable development. By converting waste into useful resources, we are not only reducing environmental impact and mitigating emissions, but we are also creating new economic opportunities,” she said.
The project also included household waste sorting pilots, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives that were conducted over the past three years. To further enhance recycling efforts, four reverse vending machines (RVMs) will soon be installed across Kigali, incentivizing residents to deposit used plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, and e-waste in exchange for rewards.
At the Bugesera Industrial Park, a Refrigerant Gas Reclamation System has been installed at Enviroserve Rwanda Green Park. This system reclaims and recycles refrigerant gasses from non-functional cooling appliances, reducing harmful emissions and promoting environmental sustainability.
Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Cooperation, H.E. Xavier Bettel, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in environmental protection.
“This project is a perfect example of how environmental protection can be combined with creating new circular economic opportunities that benefit the entire Rwandan population,” he stated.
In her opening remarks, Caroline Raes, Rwanda Country Representative of the Global Green Growth Institute, stressed the ongoing efforts needed to ensure the project’s success.
“In collaboration with key stakeholders, we will continue with testing and adjusting operations, refining the business models, and we will co-create a clear plan to ensure sustained operations of all facilities once GGGI exits. So, whilst we celebrate the completion of the hard infrastructure installed here, more work lies ahead of us to ensure that these facilities can be used efficiently and that their operations will be sustained,” she said.
The Waste to Resources Project supports Rwanda’s goals of achieving a zero-waste, circular economy by 2035. It is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 15,320 tCO2 annually once all facilities are fully operational. The project will also generate 74 new green jobs and enhance waste management services for 250,000 people.
As Rwanda continues its journey towards carbon neutrality by 2050, the Waste to Resources Project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing environmental challenges and fostering sustainable development.
Resources
● View photos from the Inauguration of the Nduba Waste Valorization Facilities here.
● Learn more about the project results here.
● View the Press Release here.