Kigali city seeks $14m to construct modern environmental friendly landfill

The City of Kigali has announced that it is looking for $14m (Rwf11bn) in order to construct a modern landfill in Kigali Sector in Nyarugenge district replacing Nduba landfill located in Nduba sector of Gasabo District to replace the one i Nduba Sector, Gasabo District which authorities say does not meet environmental standards. Nduba dumpsite was set up without first conducting environmental impact assessment after the closure of Nyanza dumpsite in Kicukiro District. However, people neighbouring Nduba dumpsite almost immediately started to complain about a foul smell and fetching dirty water generated by the landfill. In an exclusive interview with Sunday Times, Parfait Busabizwa, the Vice-Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Development in Kigali city, said that the funds will be obtained in partnership with development partners who pledged support for the construction of a modern and environmentally friendly landfill. “We want to close Nduba landfill and build a modern landfill. We are in the process of resource mobilisation and we expect support from partners such as United Nations and Development Programme (UNDP), Green Climate Fund (GCF), and Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). A proposal has already been designed showing that we need at least $14m to construct a modern landfill,” he explained. He explained that they are also assessing how expropriation that mainly include trees and plots of land will be carried out. The modern landfill will have separation techniques to discern solid waste from soft waste for treatment “We want to turn waste into resources such as energy and fertiliser” he said. At least 300 tonnes of waste is collected in the City of Kigali a day. Environmentalists say besides water, soil and human health contamination, landfills also emit greenhouse gases, such as methane gas, representing the largest source of emissions worldwide that contributes to global warming. Rwanda, under Paris Climate Agreement, pledged to develop landfill regulations in all urban areas, extraction and utilisation of landfill gas (LFG) for power generation so as to reduce 586,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. Under EDPRS2, urbanisation is expected to grow from 19 per cent to 35 per cent in Rwanda by 2020 which requires clear control of waste to make the cities green According to 2016 report by C40 Cities (Network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing environment), cities are facing environment challenges such as solid waste processing and disposal, dumped household waste, sewage treatment, and disposal, among others. According to Kigali city, the expropriation is gaining momentum, remaining with 10 households will be relocated at least 400 meters from the landfill. Busabizwa also said that after closing Nduba dumpsite, they will employ modern techniques so that waste do not pose environmental hazards to people. “We spend about Rwf100m every month in expropriation activities around Nduba dumpsite”. The city has also been seeking an investor who can turn waste material at Nduba landfill into energy to be used in factories. According to Rwanda Environment Management Authority, districts should also integrate environment hazards management in their performance contracts and action plans. REMA says that eleven districts did not plan for waste management and pollution control, while 19 districts did so in the 2015-2016 fiscal year. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Kigali city seeks $14m to construct modern environmental friendly landfill