Environmental hazards posed by unsafe disposal of electronic and solid waste could be mitigated as government moves to implement a three-year project to recycle e-waste in the country, trade ministry  officials have said.

The project, which will be implemented under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), will involve setting up of collection centres for the electronics and a factory to recycle this waste depending on its nature.

The project, dubbed, "National e-waste Management Strategy for Rwanda to Support the Establishment of Sustainable Recycling Industries”, is expected to cost Rwf1.1 billion.

Steven Niyonzima, who will be coordinating the centre, said the big chunk of the project financing was provided by National Climate Change and Environment Fund (FONERWA).

Other funders include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), MINICOM and Rwanda Development Board.

 "Studies about the project have been on since last year. We will set up collection centres for e-waste in the districts of Huye, Nyabihu and Bugesera to collect waste from the neighbouring districts. After, we will set up a dismantling factory in Bugesera Industrial Park by the beginning of 2017,” he said, adding that other centres will be in the City of Kigali.

The dismantling facility will be linked to  recycling industries such as STEEL RWA that makes steel materials.

The collection centres, Niyonzima said, will be managed by people in the private sector, after undergoing training, and that they will work with other processing facilities to ensure the segments of the e-waste that cannot be processed in Rwanda or even Africa, can be shipped to a responsible facility using requisite technology.

Green jobs

"Special interest groups like women, youth and people with disabilities will be considered during the project implementation and we will work with them through their associations and cooperatives. We want to create green jobs because the project aims at encouraging development of SMEs  in e-waste management,” Niyonzima added.

He explained that an e-waste management association will be formed under the Private Sector Federation, bringing together groups of collectors, private companies, producers and retailers associations.

According to an assessment of e-waste status in Rwanda, there has been an increase in the electronic and electrical equipment imported, while the ICT imported equipment increased by over five times between 2001 and 2010.

The electronic and electrical equipment inventory in public institution shows that 85 per cent of the equipment are laptops, and of these, 14 per cent are not working.

Waste and climate change

According to the 2010 report by UNEP dubbed, ‘Waste and Climate Change: Global Trends and Strategy Framework,’ methane gas from landfill represent the largest source of emissions from the waste sector contributing around 700 tonnes.

Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases whose presence in the atmosphere contributes to global warming and climate change.

However, methane is a potential cause of global warming according to the report.

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) says some of wastes like old televisions and computers have ‘Persistent Organic Pollutants which affect water and soil and have to be considered under the action plan until 2025.

REMA says the setting up of waste collection centers, proper disposal, raising public awareness and involving private sector will be a major relief.

Remy Duhuze, the director of environment regulations and pollution control unit at REMA says they have advised districts to plan for communal landfills while the institution will monitor and provide technical guidance.