Nyanza landfill finally closes, new site opens

The City of Kigali, on Wednesday announced it has closed and temporarily relocated the Kicukiro-based dumping site to Nduba Sector in Gasabo District.

Friday, May 25, 2012
The dumping site had become a health hazard. The New Times / File.

The City of Kigali, on Wednesday announced it has closed and temporarily relocated the Kicukiro-based dumping site to Nduba Sector in Gasabo District.Bruno Rangira, the Director of Communication and Media, announced the new development in an interview."The Nyanza landfill is no longer in use and plans are underway to find a company that will carry out the official closure to avoid any disasters. Garbage is now taken to a newly constructed landfill in Nduba,” Rangira said.The closure of the Nyanza dumping site comes as an answer to local residents, who have long petitioned the government to relocate it citing health hazards.It also comes as a relief to concerned government officials who have, for years now, faced criticisms from members of parliament for incompetence after failing to relocate it, though it was being budgeted for in the previous budgets. The former land fill, Rangira explained, will be turned into a public park, in line with the master plan."There is a study that has to be conducted before the gas is released and how to treat the water from it that might be hazardous, before it is turned into a public park,” noted Rangira, adding that the closure will cost Rwf 38 million.Nyanza site, inherited from the previous regime, was put up without any prior planning.Plans are underway to build a permanent landfill in Nyarugenge District, expected to be completed within 2-3 years.