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Solid Waste Management, Transformation and Research in

Gasabo DistrictSubmitted

ByRUKABU Benson,

Founder/Director, Watoto Vision on Africa (WVA)

Tel: +250 - 788307167 E-mail: watotovision,info@gmail.c

omJanuary 2019

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Table of Contents1. Introduction................................................................................................22. Context and Justification............................................................................33. Problem Analysis........................................................................................34. Mission of the Project.................................................................................65. Vision of the project...................................................................................66. Objectives of the Project............................................................................67. Proposed Activities in the project..............................................................611. Solid Wastes Collected for transformation..............................................912. Key Eco - Products transformed from these Solid Wastes by Watoto Vision on Africa................................................................................................913. Importance of this Project.....................................................................12

13.1. The project will also contribute to the following;.............................13

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1. Introduction

Watoto Vision on Africa (WVA) a national NGO was founded on 20th June 2011 in Kigali, by local Rwandan Nationals. The purpose was to provide sustainable livelihoods intervention opportunities to support the most vulnerable communities both in the urban and rural areas of the country consequently to have access to better education for our children, adequate primary health care, self-reliance and economic empowerment, environmental protection, respect the ideals of human rights, peace, good governance and eventually improved sustainable community development.

WVA is registered under the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) in the Department of Education and governance.

Its headquarters are situated in Cell of Akamatamu, Jabana Sector, Gasabo District

Subsequent to series of consultative meetings in Kigali and outside of Rwanda, the founders responded to the urgent need of Rwanda people and contributed into the development of their country rehabilitation and reconstruction after years of destructive conflicts and successive droughts and famines which led to the total collapse of socio-economic and political institutions.

WVA’s development intervention programs are holistic, people-cent led community and sustainable livelihoods approaches are adopted for all WVA strategic and short-term program focus in Rwanda.

WVA sustainable livelihoods program interventions only add to the current developmental commitments in Rwanda, by utilizing principally home-ground solutions to vulnerable community challenges and needs. WVA corresponds to the existing international and national development strategies.

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The organization puts into operation participatory approaches, strategic planning and community mobilization to find solutions to community problems. It offers a range of programming and support in;

Child protection and basic education Food Security and Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) , Micro-Enterprise Development (MED) and other Cross Cutting Issues:

o Environment Protection and Managemento Peace Building and Reconciliation, o Gender Promotion, o GBV o HIV/AIDS

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2. Context and Justification

Watoto Vision on Africa (WVA) through its cross cutting programs that it implements in Rwanda and outside is in the process of engaging in a project on Solid Waste Management, transformation (REUSE) in the pilot districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge later on the project to be expanded to the entire country.

3. Problem Analysis

Rwandan cities are rapidly urbanizing and rapid population increase, as population grows, so does the solid waste generation increases as well. These results in a relatively large quantity of solid waste remaining poorly managed and are a challenge to the society, Today Rwandese community are more concerned about the environment and are much more aware about its activities and the impact resulting from these activities on the environment. They are demanding that waste management must be sustainable. The proper management of solid waste needs appropriate technology, which is economically affordable, socially accepted and environmentally friendly

Solid waste management is the biggest environmental issue in Rwanda, highly dependent on landfilling as the main disposal method in managing this continuous increase of solid waste generation annually.

The future of solid waste management remains unsure of, even though there are potentials for other methods of managing and minimizing solid waste. The problems associated with the management of solid waste are complex due to various factors such as the amount and composition of waste generated, rapid expansion of urban areas, and occurrence of super markets, rapid technological advancement, as well as limited energy, it is not surprising that the amount of land available is becoming scarce.

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Thus, constructing new landfills is challenging, as with the land scarcity, other possible option for developing landfills would somehow be within the near vicinity of other household areas.

A typical solid waste management system in Rwanda is characterized with improper collection services (such as low collection coverage, irregular collection services), unsustainable disposal of waste without air and water pollution control (including open dumping, open burning), consequences of illegal dumping (e.g. breeding of flies and vermin), and scavenging activities

Accurate and well-established information of solid waste management and recycling in Rwanda is unfortunately unavailable due to unsystematic analysis and research among our academicians and other research centers in Rwanda, but substantial progress has been made by the government, local authorities, and private organizations to establish more comprehensive solid waste management system, source separation and recycling strategies, awareness campaigns and sensitization.

However, various issues remain unresolved despite the ongoing efforts as we face lack of public participation and commitment, lack of civic responsibility sense in managing solid waste, public perception towards solid waste as a local municipality problem, undermining the issues in solid waste management, and ineffective education.

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Separation at Source today in public places

Waste separation at source is very important before the waste is being collected. When wastes are mixed, they become contaminated and useless, hence needing more strategies and higher costs to manage. If wastes are separated at source, they are more amendable for more effective management strategies such as reusing, recycling, and composting.

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Teenage mothers transform Waste to Revenue

Besides, materials that are of no use to the present owner could be a resource for another person and fed back into the economy, thus reducing wastage of money and natural resources, sadly enough; waste separation at source is not a common concept in Rwanda. It is reported that less than 1% of the country’s households separate their waste

4. Mission of the Project

To reduce Solid waste in Gasabo district and transform them into valuable products

5. Vision of the project

The vision of this project is to see Rwanda having Eco Cities

6. Objectives of the Project

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In order to reduce the amount of solid waste into the landfill and in the communities in Rwanda, the best solution is to implement the solid waste management based on the waste management hierarchy that give priority to the waste reduction through 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) program and

Implementing zero waste as a long term goal in order to eliminate waste and pollution in the manufacture, use, storage and recycling of materials.

7. Proposed Activities in the project7.1. Research and Needs Assessment on solid waste management and

transformation value chain 7.2. Identification and training of 50 Waste Management community

mobilizers in each district7.3. Distribution of Eco - friendly buckets/bins to identified model public

places for solid waste separation7.4. Waste generation and Collection7.5. Separation at Source7.6. Waste transfer and transport at the processing site7.7. Conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)7.8. Waste processing and transformation 7.9. Production of ecological, economical and high quality revenue

products from municipal solid wastes (from Trash to Revenue)7.10. Distribution of Eco – friendly products to the identified communities

on a subsidized price to limit the imports of plastic packaging

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8. Awareness and Information Campaigns as a tool for mindset change

An important step to motivate and engage the Community is via continuous public awareness campaigns based on a public IEC strategy. Activities will, for instance, include promotion of the 3R slogan – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – advertisement on publicity boards, on local radio channels, and in local newspapers, as well as workshops, exhibitions, lectures, street plays…...

In addition, Eco-Clubs at Universities, Schools and youth groups will be encouraged to take an active part in the project. Some of the themes to be discussed during public awareness and motivation campaigns are as follows:

8.1. Consumption patterns and a sustainable development; 8.2. The natural source of products; 8.3. Recycling and reuse; 8.4. Littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on open spaces,

footpaths, lanes, streets, and into drainage channels or water bodies;

8.5. Environmental degradation and its effects on human health.

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Bins to be distributed free of charge to households for separation at source

The project also implies that there are certain things to be taken care of by the public (ownership). In order to get full participation, special information campaigns will target the following areas:

9. Special information campaigns to be used9.1. Inform the public on how to separate at source, the four

buckets/bins (free of charge) in different colours for the Paper, Plastic, Cans and Glass respectively and this will be translated in Kinyarwanda; ( Photo Above)

9.2. Inform the public about the daily door-to-door waste collection and handing over of the waste to the collectors;

9.3. Inform the public about model communal bins for biodegradable waste in Academic institutions like Universities and Schools, Hospitals, Public Markets and Supermarkets, Community Cells, sectors and district offices

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9.4. Encourage the utilization of compost for farming and gardening. Increase the public’s awareness and knowledge about compost use and benefits in order to increase market demand.

10. Some of these municipal solid wastes include;

Solid Waste Seen as an opportunity not a disaster

11. Solid Wastes Collected for transformation

Plastics, Bottles, Straws, Paper bags, Packaging materials, Boxes, Envelopes, Wood, Waste Clothes, Leaves, Newspapers, Metals, Toys, Cans ,Tetra packs, Glass, tone shoes Etc……..

12. Key Eco - Products transformed from these Solid Wastes by Watoto Vision on Africa

Watoto Vision on Africa has expertise and human resource personnel who got their skills training in China and enough knowledge to manufacture these products has been obtained, over 30 ToTs from university have been trained in different skill to make different kinds of eco – friendly products.

Watoto Vision on Africa has land and infrastructure in Jabana Sector where separated solid waste will be deposited for transformation;

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Homemade Carpets Plastic Tiles Carry Bags

Packaging Materials Gifts Holder

Ornaments

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Lamp Holders

Flower Verse

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Flower Vase

13. Importance of this Project

Disposing solid waste is not really a fairly easy job. There are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration like public health, transportation, proper storage, proper collection, etc. Failure to abide by rules and protocols might lead to accidents or risk the health of people in the area.

Solid waste management is extremely important in our community mainly because it will prevent our household from experiencing the hazardous outcomes of solid waste material. By getting rid of most of these wastes

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properly, we can actually protect our community along with the environment.

This means that the communities are able to experience the good thing about nature. Possessing a community that understands this importance can unite as one in preserving the environment inside our areas. Since this is not simply for us personally, but also for the next generation as well.

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13.1.The project will also contribute to the following;13.1.1. Solid Waste reduction in communities and landfills 13.1.2. Employment opportunities to local communities13.1.3. Environment protection13.1.4. Production of ecological and economical products13.1.5. Community development and government revenues13.1.6. Technological transfer13.1.7. Land utilization13.1.8. Manure production13.1.9. ZERO solid Waste

Photos to support the Project

Teenage Mother during work

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Teenage Mothers during work with their kids

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