This report is an integrated result of initial assessment and study on solid waste management
sector in Huye and Muhanga in Rwanda, conducted by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

The aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth assessment of solid waste management value
chains and the policy and regulatory framework in secondary cities of Rwanda. This has been
completed to inform and identify potential intervention areas to develop a sustainable waste
management system in support of waste-to-resource approaches.

The assessment demonstrates that municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Muhanga and
Huye is at rudimentary levels, with collection coverage rates at less than 10% (6% in urban areas
of Huye, 7% in serviced areas of Muhanga), and with the limited infrastructure for waste treatment
and disposal. The majority of urban residents still follow the traditional ways of handling waste,
such as open dumping and burning. This traditional practice of handling waste has negative
impacts on health and environment through methane and carbon emissions from burning and
uncontrolled dumpsites. Both in Huye and Muhanga, municipal waste collection services are
provided by private companies that are facing challenges associated with limited physical and
financial capacities due to limited local demand, and low willingness-to-pay for the service. There
remains a lack of awareness on municipal waste collection services while households are unlikely
to use services due to unaffordability and dissatisfaction with irregularity of the services. While
there is a certain degree of organic waste recovery managed at the landfill site in Huye, there is
no significant municipality-led waste-to-resource initiatives evident in Muhanga. The waste
collected in Muhanga is disposed of at an uncontrolled dumpsite with no opportunities for
resource recovery