“For two decades, Rwanda has demonstrated its’ commitment to tackling plastic pollution through bold national policies and regional leadership. We are now taking these home-grown innovations to the world.”
The statement was made by Dr Valentine Uwamariya, former Minister of Environment, at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024. The INC-5 session aimed to develop an International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI) to address plastic pollution.
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to both human health and the environment, ranking among the most pressing issues of our time. Plastic has contaminated our waterways, air, and food, with detrimental impacts on ecosystems and human livelihoods.
Since 2004, Rwanda has implemented national bans to reduce the consumption and production of single-use plastics in the country. Rwanda was the first country in Africa to introduce a law banning plastic bags and is now recognized globally for its proactive approach to addressing plastic pollution.
According to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) document, “Guidelines on the Use of Plastic Bags,” Law No. 57/2008 of September 10, 2008, prohibited the manufacturing, import, use, and sale of polyethylene bags in Rwanda. The law aimed to reduce the increasing consumption and disposal of single-use plastics, which pose a significant burden on the environment.
In August 2022, the governments of Rwanda and Norway, along with numerous other nations, launched the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution. The coalition’s goal is to end plastic pollution by 2040.
At the launch, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, former Minister of Environment of the Republic of Rwanda, remarked: “Rwanda began its journey to end plastic pollution in 2004. Unfortunately, plastic waste remains visible in the country’s waterways, underscoring the need for global efforts toward a common goal of ending plastic pollution.
This is an unacceptable burden to place on future generations. Plastic pollution constitutes a planetary crisis with impacts on human health, biodiversity, and the climate system.” Despite these legislative and collaborative efforts, managing existing waste remains a challenge. Waste from households and businesses is collected and disposed of at the Nduba landfill.
A 2022 report by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) found that the landfill’s composition is 70% organic waste, 13% non-recyclable waste, 5% plastic (including bottles), 5% cartons, and 1% each of metals, electronic waste, and hazardous waste. This plastic waste includes items like plates, straws, stirrers, balloons, food containers, beverage cups and bottles, packets, wrappers, wet wipes, and sanitary products.
Plastic waste includes items like plates, straws, stirrers, balloons, food containers, beverage cups and bottles, packets, wrappers, wet wipes, and sanitary products.
Over the past two decades, Rwanda has not only implemented stringent policies but also established recycling companies and modern landfills to address plastic pollution.
Today, the Government of Rwanda mobilizes shopkeepers to package goods in paper envelopes instead of polyethylene bags and promotes the use of glasses for drinking water in meetings instead of plastic bottles. According to the Global Green Growth Institute, by replacing plastic products with biodegradable alternatives, Rwanda will be closer to reaching its goal of sending zero plastic to landfills by 2030.
