Rwanda is a land of contrasts, with mountainous terrain, ancient rainforests, and national parks that host iconic wildlife such as mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. At the same time, it is a fast-growing industrial hub and one of the world’s rapidly expanding economies, balancing economic development with environmental stewardship.
The country has long prioritized sustainability, exemplified by its 2008 ban on single-use plastic bags and bottles, and the effective waste-management system in Kigali, considered one of Africa’s cleanest capitals. Rwanda is now extending this focus to its industrial sectors by promoting cleaner production, safer alternatives to toxic materials, and improved management of hazardous waste.
To support these efforts, the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, launched the five-year initiative “Supporting a Green Economy – Decoupling Hazardous Waste Generation from Economic Growth in Rwanda.” Funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented with UNDP, the project aims to create pollution-free value chains while strengthening systems for hazardous waste management and circular economy practices.
Since 2022, the initiative has achieved tangible results, including the collection and safe treatment of hazardous waste such as plastics with toxic chemicals, obsolete pesticides, mercury, and expired laboratory chemicals from schools, in partnership with specialized waste-management companies. Capacity-building programs have trained over 4,000 stakeholders, including teachers, healthcare workers, and environmental practitioners, while public awareness campaigns have reached more than 2.3 million people to promote responsible waste management.
The project is also enhancing Rwanda’s institutional and regulatory capacity for long-term sustainability. Efforts include strengthening frameworks for hazardous chemicals like mercury and PCBs and creating an online platform to track the import, use, and sale of plastic and toxic materials. A national inventory of potential hazardous waste sources is underway, spanning agriculture, manufacturing, hospitals, and schools.
Producers and importers are being prepared to take greater responsibility for managing their waste through an Extended Producer Responsibility framework. Alongside this, industries are encouraged to adopt cleaner production methods and circular economy practices based on the “4R” principles: reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. Customs authorities are receiving specialized training to detect hazardous substances at the border, supporting regulatory compliance.
Plans are also advancing to establish a national interim storage facility for hazardous waste, ensuring safe storage until final disposal, alongside enhancing private sector capacity for long-term treatment. By integrating hazardous waste management, cleaner production, and circular economy principles into development planning, Rwanda is providing a scalable model for other rapidly industrializing countries in Africa.
Through innovation, policy leadership, and international partnerships, Rwanda is demonstrating how economic growth can align with global environmental commitments, setting a path toward a circular, resilient, and pollution-free future.
