By Rene Anthere Rwanyange
Rwanda has made environmental protection a national priority through public campaigns, community activities and environmental regulations. However, the growing volume of waste and continued pollution show that awareness must translate into everyday action.
The challenge is no longer simply to encourage people to protect the environment. It is to make responsible environmental management part of daily life in homes, businesses, schools and public institutions.
Recent government figures and official statements highlight the need for stronger public participation, better waste management and sustained action beyond organised campaigns.
Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), published in 2025, shows that 48.5 per cent of households use compost heaps as their main waste-disposal method. Another 38.5 per cent dispose of rubbish in household fields or bushes, while only 11 per cent rely on waste collection services.
Interestingly, 85 per cent of households receive information about environmental issues. This raises questions about the gap between environmental awareness and everyday practices.
Authorities call for behavioural change
On September 20, 2026, Minister of Local Government Dominique Habimana joined Kigali City authorities and residents in a community clean-up exercise in Nyabugogo, Nyarugenge District.
The activity, held under the theme Kigali Free from Waste, focused on improving sanitation and preventing improper waste disposal. Habimana called on residents to work with local authorities to maintain clean neighbourhoods.
“Cleanliness is one of the characteristics of Kigali residents and Rwandans in general. We urge residents to continue working with authorities to maintain cleanliness in Kigali and elsewhere in the country,” he said.
He also warned businesses and residents against dumping waste into drainage channels and waterways. “We will not tolerate people who take waste out of their premises and direct it into drainage channels or streams, or those who fail to maintain the cleanliness of their commercial buildings,” he said.
The minister urged households to separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and work with authorised waste collection companies. He also reminded commercial property owners to maintain proper waste collection facilities, drainage systems and wastewater management infrastructure.
Waste presents an economic and environmental challenge
The scale of waste generation in Kigali makes the issue increasingly urgent. A report by The New Times published in August 2026 estimates that waste deposited at Kigali’s landfill sites has increased more than threefold, from 141.38 tonnes daily in 2006 to 495.76 tonnes.
The Ministry of Environment also estimates that Rwanda generates 3,661 tonnes of organic waste daily. About 80 per cent of the country’s waste consists of organic materials, including food remains and plant materials.
Philippe Kwitonda, Director General in charge of Land, Water and Forestry at the Ministry of Environment, has called for better waste separation at source.
“Waste is a treasure. Waste has to be recycled into various products. Organic waste provides organic fertiliser. If not properly managed, waste pollutes the air, soil and water. There is a need for sorting waste at source,” he said.
The figures point to opportunities for recycling, compost production and other circular-economy activities. They also show the need to strengthen collection services and invest in waste-processing facilities.
A separate initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the City of Kigali and the Rwanda Standards Board in March 2026 focuses on improving organic and food waste management.
According to FAO, organic waste accounts for approximately 60 to 80 per cent of Kigali’s solid waste, and can reach 83 per cent in households. The initiative promotes waste separation, composting and the recovery of useful materials. It also highlights the potential to turn organic waste into fertiliser and energy instead of sending it to landfill.
Environmental protection goes beyond planting trees
The need for consistent environmental action also applies to forest conservation. On November 9, 2026, Rwanda launched its 2026–2027 tree-planting season under the theme My Tree, My Legacy. The country expects to plant approximately 100 million tree seedlings during the season.
Fidèle Bingwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, emphasised that planting trees is only the beginning. Communities must also nurture and protect them.
He stressed that the country’s environmental legacy should not be measured by the number of seedlings planted but by the number of healthy, productive trees left for future generations. The message places greater emphasis on tree survival and long-term protection rather than planting campaigns alone.
Kigali wetlands need protection
Environmental responsibility also extends to protecting wetlands and water resources. Kigali is rehabilitating five major wetlands covering a combined 491 hectares: Nyabugogo, Kibumba, Rugenge-Rwintare, Rwampara and Gikondo.
However, the discharge of untreated wastewater and other pollutants threatens these restoration efforts. The spokesperson of City of Kigali, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, warned that wastewater must not enter drainage channels and waterways.
“Wastewater must not be discharged into drainage channels or waterways. It is strictly prohibited and punishable,” she said. She also called on residents and businesses to use appropriate wastewater management systems to prevent pollution.
Make environmental responsibility a daily practice
The evidence points to a need for environmental campaigns that produce lasting behavioural change. Households can contribute by separating waste, reducing unnecessary plastic use, maintaining clean surroundings and avoiding improper disposal. Businesses can improve waste collection, recycling and wastewater management.
Schools, universities and community organisations can also strengthen environmental education through practical activities that encourage responsible behaviour. Women-led cooperatives and youth enterprises have opportunities to turn waste collection, recycling and compost production into income-generating activities.
However, citizens also need support. Local authorities must ensure reliable waste collection, accessible disposal facilities and effective monitoring. Businesses need incentives and appropriate infrastructure to invest in recycling and cleaner production.
Environmental progress should therefore be measured beyond the number of campaigns organised, trees planted or people reached through awareness programmes. The real indicators include reduced waste pollution, increased recycling, improved waste collection, higher tree survival rates and cleaner waterways. Rwanda’s environmental ambitions will depend not only on government policies and public campaigns but also on what people do every day.
“Environmental protection must become a habit, not an occasional campaign”.