Employees from industries across the country have been urged to protect the environment.

The request was made yesterday during a three-day workshop on the importance of Cleaner Production Programme for Rwanda Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The seminar was organised by Green and Clean Solutions Limited and financed by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

Dr Farid Hegazy, Deputy Head of Program at GIZ, requested participants to reduce the degradation of the environment through clean production.

"Each industrial activity has a negative impact on the environment like pollution. I therefore encourage you as stakeholders to prioritise environmental protection while carrying out your respective duties,” Hegazy said.

"Cleaner production is useful and should be promoted because it minimises the use of resources and reduces waste products which are hazardous to the environment”.

 He added that the method of cleaner production would help technical staff and operation managers of SMEs to make better use of resources in the industrial production processes so that more capital can be invested in other ventures.

Marie Jeanne Iyakaremye from Rwanda Plastic Industry, who was among the trainees said: "This workshop is important because it will equip us with skills on how to protect the environment through fighting pollution and other hazardous things.”

She told The New Times that her firm encourages residents to recycle plastic items like empty bottles and old plastic containers to protect the environment.

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