Former police officer mints millions from garbage

As he moved around the city while on duty as a police officer in the 90s and early 2000s, he would at times come across trash that was improperly disposed of. This was disturbing for Leon Benimana, a retired police officer. When he was demobilised in 2004, he formed a clearing firm. It was during this time that Benimana refined his idea of starting a garbage collection and processing firm. How he started Benimana, a resident of Iwacu, Kabusunzu in Nyarugenge District, says he had served the national police for 10 years before the 2004 demobilisation exercise. When he was retired, the 45-year-old invested his savings in the small clearing services business and also enrolled for a law degree course at Kigali Independent University (ULK). On graduation from the univeristy, most of his friends and family had expected Benimana to hit the courtroom to argue cases as a lawyer, but he had other plans. “I had decided to to put efforts in the business, something that shocked many of my peers,” Benimana adds. Benimana speaks during the interview at the processing plant in Nyarugenge. Benimana points out that the idea of setting up a cleaning firm was inspired by the garbage he used to see around the streets of Kigali. “The idea of establishing a cleaning company crossed my mind in 2008, but the initial objective was to collect and sell the garbage that I used to see around the city. “Besides being a source of income, we would also help keep our city clean. This is what mainly inspired my colleagues and I to venture into the business,” says the former cop. He says the growing urban population in Kigali was expected to be a sustainable source of garbage to feed the project. Adding value to rubbish “Initially, we used to collect garbage and damp it at designated sites without realising that it had huge potential as an enterprise,” he explains. “However, when I visited a friend in Kenya in 2008, I discovered that garbage can be processed and turned into charcoal (briquettes).” Benimana says he was amazed at this discovery and decided to learn the skills and technology used to turn garbage into cooking fuel. This was his turning point. “I was surprised to learn that Kenyans were turning trash into fuel (briquettes). So I decided to learn the skills while I was in Kenya and brought the concept here,” explains Benimana. He says when he returned home, he drafted a business proposal, which he presented to one of the local banks and secured a Rwf32 million to kick-start the enterprise. Benimana adds that he presented the same business plan to the City of Kigali authorities and was helped to secure a piece of land at Iwacu Kabusunzi, where the briquette project currently seats. “I bought two gridding and compacting machines and a small truck using the loan. I also hired 22 workers to operate on a large scale,” he says. He, however, says they were forced to close shop two years later due to unforeseeable challenges. “We had not done enough research on how the project would work in Rwanda and therefore paid a heavy price for copying and pasting. We closed for a year to reorganise ourselves,”says Benimana. A worker spreads garbage to dry. During that period, we conducted the necessary research to ensure that the enterprise benefits the country and safeguards the environment, among other issues. We also made sure that we recruited the right personnel. Achievements Benimana says since they reopened shop, they have not faced huge challenges, adding that business has been good. He says the biggest achievement was repaying the loan and sustaining production for the past three years. “We have been able to expand our production capacity, and now produce over one tonne of briquettes per day. The plant has also created 90 jobs, thanks to the support from development partners, including United Nations Development program (UNDP), the City of Kigali, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority,” he points out. Benimana adds that the firm has also bought a piece of land in Nyacyonga, Gasabo District to expand the project. “According to recent statistics, the country loses a third of the forest cover to firewood and charcoal burning. However, we have provided an alternative source of fuel that is hopefully easing pressure on our forests and could help save them from depletion,” says Benimana. Product pricing Benimana says a kilogramme of briquettes costs Rwf90, adding that the Rwanda Correctional Services (across the country) is one of the company’s biggest customers. Challenges During the rainy season, production is at its lowest, explains the father of three. “The wet season presents a big challenge, making it hard to dry the garbage…remember, the trash is fed into the machine only when it is properly dried,” he explains. Like the case with all the other industries, power shortage is a nightmare, Benimana says. Future plans Benimana points out that the firm looks to expand business to cover a bigger area, especially in the City of Kigali. He adds that the company also dreams of one day serving the regional market. “I want to see that become a reality,” he emphasises. A briquette. (All photos by Timothy Kisambira) Advice Benimana advises Rwandans to take advantage of the conducive business environment in the country and set up income generating projects that will ensure a sustainable source of income, as well as contribute to Rwanda’s development objectives. “Also, people must always remember that it is only through hard work that one can succeed,” he counsels. What people say... Patrick Nkundimana, a hotelier and customer There is a lot to learn from his innovation because, it is not only creating employment, but also saving the environment. Rwanda needs such innovations to be able to achieve its economic goals.

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Former police officer mints millions from garbage