Saturday 14th October , Kigali, Rwanda – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), The Rwanda Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT, and their esteemed partners organized a E-waste Awareness Roadshow at one of Kigali’s busiest markets Kimironko Market, to celebrate the 2023 International E-waste Day. This event was dedicated to sensitizing the public on sustainable and responsible e-waste management practices, guided by the 2023 theme, “You can recycle anything with a plug, battery, and cable!” This awareness campaign is part of series of activities under the project with The Ministry of Environment of the Government of Rwanda initiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development of the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to strengthen cooperation and technology transfer between the two countries titled project Waste to Resources: Improving Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Hazardous Waste Management in Rwanda.
The event had a tripartite objective:
1) to raise awareness about proper e-waste management,
2) to augment e-waste collection rates, particularly concerning old and inefficient cooling equipment that contributes to Ozone depletion and global warming, and
3) to promote responsible e-waste handling at the household level, where change begins.
This event marked a substantial milestone within the “Waste to Resources Project: Improving Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Hazardous Waste Management in Rwanda,” a collaborative initiative led by GGGI Rwanda in partnership with the Ministry of Environment of the Government of Rwanda, and funded by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Sustainable Development of the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. A core aspect of this project involves enhancing capacity building in household-level waste management practices. In this context, GGGI collaborated with the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), City of Kigali (CoK), Rwanda Utility Regulation Authority (RURA), Rwanda Cooling Initiative (R-Cool), and Enviroserve to launch an awareness campaign on e-waste for 6 months under the theme: “Proper E-waste Disposal for a Healthier Future”. To date, community awareness creation activities have been concluded including Public Talks on TV and Radio, social media campaign, and dedicated community works (Umuganda Rusange) .
The E-waste Awareness Roadshow had distinguished speakers including the Permanent Secretary from MINICT, the Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanization and Infrastructure from the City of Kigali (CoK), the General Manager of ICT Regulation from RURA, as well as representatives from GGGI, R-Cool and Enviroserve. Collectively, these speakers conveyed a message to the community and market users, emphasizing the critical importance of proper e-waste management. Furthermore, the event offered engaging discussions led by an emcee and captivating dance performances, all designed to inspire and motivate the public to dispose off their e-waste in a proper manner. Individuals who have deposited more than 10kg of e-waste were awarded with refurbished tablets at the even t . An estimated 800 people gathered, to learn more about environmental and health effects of storing old e-waste at home and work. and a total of 168.9kgs of e-waste was collected.
E-waste, or waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), is a pressing global concern intensified by the rapid turnover of electronic devices. It encompasses discarded electronic gadgets, like smartphones and computers, often laden with hazardous materials that pose environmental and health risks if improperly managed. This critical issue stems from its environmental impact, health hazards, potential for resource recovery, and global scale. To address this challenge, specialized disposal methods, skills, and treatment facilities are essential. Rwanda, aligning with its goal of a zero-waste, circular economy by 2035, recognizes the need for an inclusive waste management system and a shift in community perception of e-waste from a problem to a valuable resource. Proper e-waste management is paramount to protect both human health and the environment.
In line with our enduring commitment to raising awareness of e-waste management, our next steps will involve hosting a second roadshows in the secondary cities, and conduct a second Umuganda community outreach in an another secondary city, and launching TV and radio advertising campaigns to further enhance public awareness and education. .
