Waste Management in Kigali: Top lessons to learn from Africa’s cleanest City
I stopped asking questions years back any time I come across Nigerians who behave as though they are angry with the entire Nation. The obvious truth is that so many things annoy Nigerians - from a systematic failure in education to a corrupted and compromised government; nonexistent social security, poverty, personality cult spree, and insurgency. All these are booming in the watchful eyes of the people entrusted with the mandate to chart a new course for over 200 million people.
Now, a new beast has been fully nurtured - environmental pollution. My sojourn through Lagos and Abuja in the past weeks gave me better insight into what the country looks like. I see millions of Nigerians who lack knowledge of the consequences of poor waste management, a government that has wooden poles stuck in their ears, and regulators that sleep till pay day.
In this episode, I have taken time to comparatively dissect waste management situation in Africa, the current state in Nigeria and Rwanda, the successes of Rwanda, and lessons for other African countries.
The situation
Waste management is a major issue in numerous African countries, with poor waste management leading to severe environmental and health consequences such as soil degradation, environmental pollution, and water and air contamination. However, Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, has demonstrated that it is possible to tackle this challenge by implementing innovative waste management strategies, policies, and programs. This article will examine what sets Kigali apart in its waste management efforts, the strategies and policies that it has implemented, and the lessons that other African countries can learn from Kigali's experience.
Kigali's Waste Management Strategies:
Kigali’s waste management strategies are aimed at reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, promoting recycling and reuse, and fostering a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Some of the strategies that the city has implemented include:
Segregation at the source: Kigali has launched a program to segregate waste at the source. Households and businesses are required to separate their waste into different categories such as organic waste, plastics, and paper. This practice reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and facilitates the recycling process.
Recycling: Kigali has a robust recycling program focused on converting waste into useful products. Recycling facilities have been established in various parts of the city to process different types of waste. For example, plastics are transformed into construction materials, while organic waste is turned into compost.
Waste-to-energy: Kigali has initiated a waste-to-energy program that converts waste into electricity. This reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and provides a dependable source of energy.
This project is managed by "Waste to Energy Solutions Rwanda" (WES-R), which is a joint venture between two companies: "Methane Power Rwanda Limited" and "Hakan Agro DMCC." The WES-R plant is located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, in the city of Kayonza. The plant converts organic waste into renewable energy in the form of electricity and biogas. The project is part of Rwanda’s efforts to promote sustainable development and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Landfills: Kigali has multiple landfills designed to handle non-recyclable waste. These landfills are lined with impermeable materials to prevent pollution of the surrounding environment. Efforts are being made to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills through recycling and waste-to-energy programs.
Community engagement:
Kigali has established several community-based waste management programs to encourage residents to take responsibility for managing their waste. These programs include education and awareness campaigns, community clean-up events, and incentives for households and businesses that adopt proper waste management practices.
Policies and Programs
Kigali's waste management strategies are supported by policies and programs that promote sustainable waste management practices. Some of these policies and programs include:
The Kigali City Waste Management Strategy: This strategy was developed to guide the city's waste management practices. The strategy focuses on reducing waste generation, promoting recycling and reuse, and improving waste collection and disposal.
The Kigali Clean and Green City Program: This program was launched to promote environmental sustainability in the city. It includes initiatives such as community clean-up events, tree planting, and waste management education campaigns.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA): NEMA is responsible for enforcing environmental regulations and policies in Rwanda. The authority works closely with Kigali City to ensure that waste management practices are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Lessons for Other African Countries
Certainly, Kigali's approach to managing waste holds valuable lessons for other African countries, such as Nigeria, that are facing chronic waste management challenges. Nigeria's waste management challenges have had severe environmental and health consequences, including pollution, soil degradation, and water and air contamination. By adopting some of Kigali's waste management strategies, policies, and programs, Nigeria can tackle its waste management challenges head-on.
One critical lesson that Nigeria can learn from Kigali is the importance of segregating waste at the source. Encouraging households and businesses to sort their waste into different categories such as organic waste, plastics, and paper can help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and facilitate the recycling process.
Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, has already adopted this strategy through the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), which was introduced in 2017. The CLI aimed to revolutionize the city's waste management system by constructing waste management facilities and providing door-to-door waste collection services. The initiative also emphasized the need for segregation at the source to enable effective waste management.
Another crucial lesson that Nigeria can learn from Kigali is the importance of community engagement. Engaging communities is critical for promoting sustainable waste management practices. Nigeria can borrow from Kigali's community-based waste management programs and educational campaigns, which encourage residents to take responsibility for managing their waste. The CLI has not been successful in Lagos due to lack of proper education and sensitization, complacent attitude of Lagosians and lack of sustained enforcement by the government.
Waste-to-energy is also a viable option for Nigeria, which has a significant energy deficit. Kigali's waste-to-energy program has provided a reliable source of energy and reduced the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Nigeria can learn from this program and implement similar waste-to-energy projects. The Lagos State Government launched a waste-to-energy project in 2020 that involves constructing waste-to-energy plants capable of converting waste into electricity. This initiative will reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and provide a reliable source of energy for Lagos residents.
In conclusion, Nigeria can benefit from Kigali’s waste management strategies. By implementing segregation at the source, community engagement programs, and waste-to-energy projects, Nigeria can effectively address its waste management challenges. Lagos' shaky CLI and the waste-to-energy project demonstrate that Nigeria is already taking steps towards sustainable waste management practices and can continue to build on these initiatives for greater success.