Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World

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Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
Rwanda:
A Global Leader in
Plastic Pollution Reduction
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
Acknowledgments
This case study was authored by Aphrodice Nshimiyimana and Innocent Musore. It was edited by
Carissa Marnce, Niven Reddy, Neil Tangri, Alexandra Rollings, and Claire Arkin. Other contributors and
reviewers Kenza Elazkem and Sherma Benosa. The report was designed by Doun Moon.
                                                                                                            Table of Contents
The report has been made possible in part through funding from the Plastic Solutions Fund (PSF). The
views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of PSF. This report or its parts may
be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction
for sale or commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holder.           Country information                     1
Cover photos: Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation (GER)                                    Background                             2
Available online at: zerowasteworld.org/rwanda_plastic_ban                                                  The need for a plastic ban             3
                                                                                                            Enforcement of the plastic bag ban     5
                                                                                                            Introducing alternatives               8
©2021 Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives                                                          Community resistance and challenges   10
500 Esther Roberts Road, Glenwood, Durban, 4001, South Africa
www.no-burn.org
                                                                                                            Current perceptions                    11
                                                                                                            Positive outcomes                     12
GAIA is a global network of more than 800 grassroots groups, NGOs, and individuals. We envision a           Local perspectives                    15
just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are
free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or             A way forward                         17
dumped. We work to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots
social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. www.no-burn.org                             References                            19
The #breakfreefromplastic (BFFP) Movement is a global movement envisioning a future free from
plastic pollution. Since its launch in 2016, more than 11,000 organisations and individual supporters
from across the world have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics
and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. www.breakfreefromplastic.org
Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation (GER) is a non-governmental organization based in
Rwanda. GER was founded in 2015 with the mission of contributing to peace and reconciliation
process and improving environmental conditions in Rwanda, Great lakes as well. The organisation
supports the existing reconciliation process, community recovery and prevention of future violence.
We facilitate interactions of communities, authorities , religous leaders, young people to address the
existing effects of the 1994 Genocide against the tutsi, and consider environment as a driving factor
of peace building, healing the past and improving relations and lives throught develoment actions.
www.globalr.org
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
1   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                                                                            GAIA ·GER (2021)   2

        Country
        information
         Rwanda is a small, land-locked country
         located in East Africa, dubbed ‘the
                                                                                                                                                   Background
         land of a thousand hills’, thanks to its
         mountainous topography (FAO, 2020).                                                                                                       In 2003, the Rwandan Ministry of Environment carried out
         The country shares borders with                                                                                                           an assessment on the country ’s plastic problem,
         Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the                                                                                                      highlighting the impacts of plastic waste. These
         east, Burundi in the south and the                                                                                                        observations mainly related to topics such as cleanliness,
         Democratic Republic of Congo in the                                                                                                       human health, agricultural productivity, drainage systems,
         west (REMA, 2018). The country ’s                                                                                                         cattle health, air quality, water quality, and safety for
         major economic sectors are                                                                                                                packaged food. In 2004, the government of Rwanda started
         agriculture, tourism, the industrial                                                                                                      the journey of banning plastic shopping bags through
         industry, trading and mining (National                                                                                                    raising awareness and launching education campaigns
         Institute of Statistics Rwanda, 2011).                                                                                                    regarding the side effects of plastics, with a special focus
                                                                                                                                                   on plastic shopping bags.

                                                                                                                                                   In August 2004, with the Ministry of Environment in charge,
                                                             Rwanda shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of
                                                                                                                                                   the country released instructions on the use and
                                                             Congo. © JonGorr/iStock                                                               manufacturing of plastic bags in Rwanda. Certain types of
                                                                                                                                                   plastics were prohibited and banned from manufacturing.
         Details                                                                                                                                   This ban began with shopping bags of less than 60 microns
                                                                                                                                                   in thickness. In 2008, the parliament established the Law
                                                                                                                                                   N57/2008 of 10 September 2008 relating to the prohibition
         Total area: 26,338 km 2 (National Institute of Statistics Rwanda, 2017)                                                                   of manufacturing, importation, use and sale of polyethylene
         Population density: 445 people/km 2 in 2018 (National Institute of Statistics Rwanda, 2012)                                               bags in Rwanda. This law was later extended to include
         Population: 12,374,397                                                                                                                    additional single-use plastic items in Law No.17/2019 of 10
         Capital city: Kigali                                                                                                                      August 2019. This law prohibits manufacturing, importation,
         National languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French and Kiswahili.                                                                           use and sale of single-use plastic such as straws, bottles
         Currency: Rwandan francs                                                                                                                  and food containers. Both laws provide penalties and strong
         Climate zone: Rwanda is located within the equatorial belt, but its climate is not of the                                                 means of their enforcement.
         equatorial rainy type. It has a modified humid climate including rain forest and Savannah
         ecotones. The central and eastern parts of the country are generally semi-arid as a result
         of the rain shadow caused by the western highlands (Rwanda Meteorology Agency, 2020)
         Time zone: Central African Time (CAT) GMT +2
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
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         The need for
         a plastic ban
         The Rwanda Environmental                            plastic being found inside many
         Management Authority (REMA),                        dead fish,” (The Dominion, 2011).
         which operates under the
         supervision of the Rwandan                          Local communities said that they
         Ministry of Environment,                            witnessed the lack of cleanliness
         acknowledges the various                            before the enforcement of the
         environmental challenges posed                      ban, as plastic bags were
         by single-use plastic items,                        scattered across the roadsides
         including plastic bags. These                       and in other public places.
         environmental challenges include:
         blocking of water channels;
         preventing water from infiltrating
         the soil; threatening biodiversity
         in water bodies like lakes and
         rivers; clogging of drainage
         systems, which triggers flooding;
         and air pollution from the burning
         of waste.

         Moreover, plastic stays in the soil
         for a long time, resulting in soil
         degradation, which poses a big
         challenge for the agricultural
         sector in Rwanda. The former
         Director of REMA, Dr. Rose
         Mukankomje said that the problem
         with plastic was beyond what was
         just seen on the surface: “Layers
         of plastic were found under the
         surface and in our soil, hindering
         agricultural production in
         Rwanda, as plants cannot grow
         with its roots past the plastic.
         Our water sources were
         becoming highly polluted with                                                           An illustration depicting the environmental challenges caused by plastic bags in Rwanda. © Doun Moon
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
GAIA ·GER (2021)   6

                                                                                                             plastic management, exhibitions       The ban was further enforced by
                                                                                                             on plastic recycling, as well as      strict control at the borders and
                                                                                                             flight announcements before           at all the country ’s entry points,
                                                                                                             flying and landing in Rwanda, of      along with regular enforcement
                                                                                                             which the announcements stated        inspections. One of the challenges
                                                                                                             ‘please refrain from bringing         that arose from the strict
                                                                                                             plastic bags to Rwanda. Banned by     monitoring of plastic bags was a
                                                                                                             law since 2008, any plastic bags      black market. Plastic bags were
                                                                                                             in your luggage will be               smuggled into the country from
                                                                                                             confiscated at the airport or other   neighboring countries and then
                                                                                                             point of entry.’ Furthermore, the     sold illegally (Global Citizen, 2015).
                                                                                                             ‘Visit Rwanda’ website, which         While the country ’s enforcement
                                                                                                             encourages visitors to come to        of the plastic bag ban has been
                                                                                                             Rwanda, displays a message            successfully implemented, it has
                                                                                                             stating, ‘as a country we strive to   also been met with international
As a result of the plastic bag ban, shoppers now bring reusable bags to the market. © OscarEspinosa/iStock
                                                                                                             protect, safeguard and promote        criticism for the strict measures
                                                                                                             the environment – a matter which      put in place, to ensure national
                                                                                                             is written into our constitution      compliance.

               Enforcement of
                                                                                                             and carefully observed by our         Law No.57/2008 bears strong
                                                                                                             citizens, who all participate in a    fines for manufacturers and
                                                                                                             community service on the last         dealers of plastic bags (Republic
                                                                                                             Saturday of every month,’ (Visit      of Rwanda, 2008).

               the plastic bag ban                                                                           Rwanda, 2020).

              The 2008 law created national                    aimed at raising community
              sensation and raised awareness to                awareness and behavior change
              implement the ban on plastic                     on the negative impacts that
              bags. This ban was enacted using                 plastic has on human health, and
              various channels, such as                        biodiversity, as well as on                            Offense                            Punishment
              community work, media                            community development.
              campaigns on television, radio,                  Campaigns included activities
                                                                                                                                        Fine of between RWF 100,000 (USD 101.95) and
              and print. Furthermore, training,                lined up during the national                    Factories using
                                                                                                                                        RWF 500,000 (USD 509.77) and owners facing jail
              school environmental clubs,                      environment weeks, countrywide                  plastic bags
                                                                                                                                        time of 6-12 months
              environmental committees, and                    inspection of the illegal use of
              the involvement of different                     plastic bags, community work
              stakeholders in the private sector,              (Umuganda), ‘Beat Plastic                       Individual selling       Fine between RWF 10,000 (USD 10.20) and RWF
              revenue authorities, local                       Pollution Walk’ in Kigali during Car            banned bags              300,000 (USD 305.86)
              government, standards bureau,                    Free Day, media campaigns and
              and security sector were                         roadside billboards (FONERWA,
                                                                                                               Individual purchasing    Fine between RWF 5,000 (USD 5.10) and RWF
              implemented.                                     2018). There were also ‘Green
                                                                                                               banned bags              100,000 (USD 101.95)
              The government began campaigns                   Drinks Kigali’ discussions on
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
7   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                                                   GAIA ·GER (2021)   8

       The law states that any person                        enforcement and control. Anyone
       found manufacturing, selling or                       seeking an exception to use
       using prohibited polyethylene                         polyethylene bags should request
       bags shall be dispossessed of                         a signed authorization from REMA.
       their bags, and the bags shall be                     The private sector recognises this
       taken to the appropriate stores                       as the fairness of the law and its
       established by REMA (Republic of                      enforcement, since campaigns
       Rwanda, 2008). In the case of                         included the preparedness of the
       repeated incidents, the penalty                       private sector and community to
       shall be doubled (Republic of                         adapt to the law and seek
       Rwanda, 2008).                                        sustainable alternatives.

       Agents of REMA and the Ministry
       of Environment in collaboration
       with Rwanda National Police and
       other social security
       organisations carried out law                                                                A food market in Huye Rwanda, operating without single-use plastic. © OscarEspinosa/iStock

         Policy exceptions
                                                                                                  Introducing
                                                                                                  alternatives
         The law banning plastic bags allows exceptions for
         packaging of meat, chicken, fish and milled cassava
         leaves because it makes it easier to refrigerate them. An
         Order of the Prime Minister establishes a list of
         polyethylene bags necessary to be used in exceptional                                    Since introducing the law                   Resources Assessment (2020)
         cases for particular goods (Republic of Rwanda, 2008).                                   banning plastic bags, the                   reported "an estimated 420
         Furthermore, the law states that the list of polyethylene                                Rwandan government began                    million hectares of forest has
         bags shall be updated at any time where it is deemed                                     supporting local factories that             been lost worldwide through
         necessary.                                                                               started the transition to                   deforestation since 1990." In
                                                                                                  producing materials made out of             response to this, the country has
         Rwanda devotes much focus on single-use plastic items                                    bamboo and paper, as well as                developed progressive
         which contribute to environmental destruction and                                        other alternatives to plastic.              reforestation plans to restore
         degradation. The law leaves space for some high-density                                  While Rwanda introduced paper               the environment. One of these
         polyethylene (HDPE) products since their intended design                                 as a biodegradable alternative,             being a 10-year tree planting
         and purpose allows for reusability, primarily used in                                    the material comes with its own             initiative that aims to “focus on
         sectors such as roofing and water storage.                                               set of environmental challenges.            monitoring tree growth and
                                                                                                  Paper has been said to be a                 impact on ecosystems and
                                                                                                  significant contributor to                  biodiversity” (Sabiiti, 2020).
                                                                                                  deforestation. The Global Forest
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
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        During the campaigns against
        plastic bags, there was a slogan
        used which stated ‘what plastics
                                                               reusable alternatives” and
                                                               adhering to sustainable
                                                               environmental practices (Rema,
                                                                                                                     Community resistance
        do, paper and wood can do it’.
        This resulted in paper shopping
        bags taking the place of plastic
                                                               2018).

                                                               While paper packaging is used as
                                                                                                                     and challenges
        bags in shopping packaging (KT                         an alternative to plastics,
        Press, 2019). On the other hand,                       authorities believe that
        paper bags are sometimes said to                       environmentally friendly materials                    One of the initial challenges        Another challenge that arose
        be too fragile to carry fresh food                     were used prior to the                                during the outset of the plastic     after the ban was the increased
        and other products for a long                          introduction of single-use plastic                    bag ban was a lack of community      cost of locally produced products.
        period of time. There are no                           materials. The former Director                        awareness regarding plastic bags’    As a result, local manufacturers
        recycling facilities for paper bags                    General of REMA, Eng. Coletha                         impact on the environment and        blamed their poor performance on
        as yet, but these were preferred                       Ruhamya said that “most single-                       ecosystems (Duhuze, 2018). This      the high cost of packaging.
        due to the fact that they can                          use plastic, including plastic                        resulted in resistance from local    Kigali-based food processing and
        decompose after a short period of                      bags, used in the country were                        plastic manufacturers and the        packaging companies faced the
        time and prevent water clogging.                       introduced to replace other                           private sector food industry. A      price increase of packaging
        There has been no concrete study                       reusable materials that were                          local business dealer from Kigali    material from RWF 29.55 (USD
        done in Rwanda to identify the                         already in use. What is required                      said that the plastic ban was hard   0.03) to RWF 118.20 (USD 0.12)
        negative impacts that paper has                        is to go back to our original                         to adopt in the beginning because    after the ban was enforced.
        had on human health and                                practices abandoned while they                        plastic bags were readily            According to The East African
        biodiversity in general. Studies                       are more environmentally                              available and cheap. "It was not     (2016), “Sosoma packed its
        have shown that reusables are the                      friendly. It is time to pay the cost                  easy for us to stop using plastic    products in aluminium bags, the
        most sustainable option, with a                        to the environment.”                                  straight away, and the               cost of the final product
        lower environmental impact                                                                                   alternatives to plastic bags were    increased from RWF 236.40 (USD
        compared to single-use plastic                                                                               hard to find at that time.           0.24) to RWF 305.35 (USD 0.31)
        (Russo, Stafford, Nahman,                                                                                    However, now that we have            per unit. At Inyange Industries,
        2020).The use of reusables have                                                                              adapted, the local manufactures      the cost of packaging increased
        been gaining more traction in                                                                                of paper bags are providing the      from RWF 59.10 (USD 0.06) to
        Rwanda, so much so that REMA’s                                                                               packaging alternatives," said the    RWF 295.50 (USD 0.30). At
        national Beat Plastic Pollution                                                                              local business dealer.               Uruburtso, it increased from RWF
        campaign is focused on “choosing                                                                                                                  39.40 (USD 0.04) to RWF 177.30
                                                                                                                     Furthermore, this initial            (USD 0.18) and at Ruhango
                                                                                                                     resistance gave rise to the black    Cassava from RWF 98.50 (USD
    Rwanda reverted to its traditional practices, where handmade baskets are used as alternatives to plastic bags.   market of plastic bags. The          0.10) to RWF 423.55 (USD 0.43)”.
    © Stellalevi/iStock                                                                                              plastic bag black market has
                                                                                                                     become less of an issue over the
                                                                                                                     years, and authorities in charge
                                                                                                                     of the enforcement of the plastic
                                                                                                                     bag ban have said that fewer
                                                                                                                     cases of plastic bags found on
                                                                                                                     the black market are seen every
                                                                                                                     year (Danielsson, 2017).
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
11   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                          GAIA ·GER (2021) 12

        Current                                                                        Positive                              African continent and it sets a
                                                                                                                             high standard for the rest of the
                                                                                                                             continent, and the world (Africa

        perceptions                                                                    outcomes
                                                                                                                             Renewal, 2016). Thanks to an
                                                                                                                             ambitious national development
                                                                                                                             plan, the city is an ultramodern
                                                                                                                             metropolis that boasts
                                                                                                                             recognizable social, economic,
                                                                                                                             and environmental successes. In
        Since the enforcement of the plastic bag ban, Rwandan citizens are             As a result of Rwanda restricting     2008, UN-Habitat awarded its
        becoming more aware of the environmental impacts of plastic                    the importation of plastic bags,      Scroll of Honour to Kigali for its
        bags, thus resulting in the reduction of plastic packaging. Citizens           creating awareness of the plastic     upgrading of urban amenities,
        say that they see the advantages of using plastic bag alternatives.            policy within the country ’s basic    particularly refuse collection and
                                                                                       education curriculum, and             the provision of housing, water,
        Ngango Jean de Dieu, a fast food shop owner at Nyamirambo, Kigali              addressing the plastic bag black      and sanitation (Africa Renewal,
        said: “I am glad about the law because now customers bring their               market, the behaviours of citizens    2016). The success of the Plastic
        own bags or reuse the old ones. It is cheaper than always giving               have changed and the use of           Bag Ban has led to the
        plastic bags away."                                                            plastic bags has been greatly         development of further measures
                                                                                       reduced. The outcomes of the          and targets towards a sustainable
        Claire Uwimana, a local from Kigali said: “for us Rwandans, we                 plastic bag ban in Rwanda has         and clean country free of plastic
        understand the value of maintaining a good environment. It is                  demonstrated its benefits             waste.
        great to live and work in a clean city like Kigali.”                           socially, economically, and
                                                                                       politically.                          The country established a new
                                                                                                                             law, passed in 2019, which bans
                                                                                       A positive impact of the 2008 ban     single-use plastic (Republic of
                                                                                       is that plastic bags are almost       Rwanda, 2019). The former
                                                                                       nonexistent in Rwanda and             Minister of Environment, Vincent
                                                                                       cleanliness is evident throughout     Biruta, said that the law was
                                                                                       the city of Kigali, and other urban   intended to check unnecessary
                                                                                       areas of the country. Claire          consumption and disposal of
                                                                                       Uwimana, from Kigali, gave an         single-use plastic items, which
                                                                                       account of life before the plastic    are harmful to the environment
                                                                                       ban, “I can recall how the streets    (KT Press, 2019). The newly
                                                                                       and public places were polluted       banned products include, but are
                                                                                       by a lot of thin plastic bags         not limited to, water bottles,
                                                                                       before they were banned. Now          packaging of fizzy drinks, juice,
                                                                                       you can see how clean the city is,    milk, single-use plastic straws,
                                                                                       even people from abroad know          plates and forks. The single-use
                                                                                       that Kigali is clean, not only of     plastic law, which was gazetted on
                                                                                       plastic bags but also other waste     the 23rd of September 2019,
                                                                                       materials."                           states that local government
                                                                                                                             officials fine any individuals who
                                                                                       Furthermore, Kigali is known as       dump waste in public spaces RWF
        A plastic-free landscape is a benefit of the plastic bag ban. © Grauy/iStock
                                                                                       the tidiest urban area in the         50,000 (USD 51.28) (Republic of
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
13   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                                                 GAIA ·GER (2021) 14

        Rwanda, 2019). Moreover,                              waste and recyclables from other
        individuals will be required to                       waste.
        remove their waste and repair any
        damages made. In addition to this,                    Furthermore, while most plastic
        local governments can fine                            bags were imported from other
        manufacturers, retailers, and                         countries, the alternatives to
        importers up to RWF 5,000,000                         plastic bags like paper bags and
        (USD 5,128.21), if they violate the                   wooden packages were found
        single-use plastic legislation                        locally. This has boosted
        (Republic of Rwanda, 2019).                           employment, generated income
                                                              for local factories and contributed
        The new single-use plastic ban                        to the country ’s development (KT
        states that businesses dealing in                     Press, 2019). The Rwandan
        the production of single-use                          government invests itself in
        plastic materials like plastic cups,                  supporting and empowering local
        forks and straws have three                           factories that are involved in the
        months to start the process of                        production of alternatives to
        shifting to manufacturing other                       single-use plastic materials.
        product materials to replace                          Rwanda has seven established
        plastic (Republic of Rwanda,                          plastic recycling facilities in the
        2019). Factories have two years to                    country. The plastic bag ban has
        begin this process. “We have                          boosted the tourism industry in
        already started talks with three                      Rwanda, which is a significant
        local factories that have started                     contributor to the country ’s
        the process of shifting to                            economy. The resulting ban has
        producing materials made out of                       seen Kigali become renowned as
        paper, bamboo among others,                           the cleanest city in Africa. In 2019
        and the government is supporting                      an estimate of 1,219,529
        them in this transition,” said                        international tourists visited the
        Vincent Biruta, the former                            country, as a result within the
        Minister of Environment (KT                           sector almost 89,607 jobs exist
        Press, 2019).                                         (Odunga, Manyara, Yobesia, 2020).

        Another positive outcome of the
        plastic ban is that the city's
        cleaning companies established
        smart garbage bins by roadsides
        that are well-placed and well-
        managed. Waste collectors also
        attest to the positive impacts of
        the ban, which they attribute to
        the fact that plastic bags made it                                                           Kigali in Rwanda is known as the tidiest urban area in the African continent. © Andreas/Pexels
        harder to differentiate degradable
Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction - Zero Waste World
15   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                                                                                         GAIA ·GER (2021)   16

        Local
        perspectives
        It is more than 26 years after the                    collaboration between the
        1994 genocide against Tutsis that                     government, civil society and
        took more than 1 million lives,                       communities has made this policy
        destroyed the country ’s                              possible. The government
        development and infrastructure,                       invested in the policy since they
        crippled essential services and                       had a clear vision, and was in line
        spoiled environmental conditions                      with the Article 22 of the National
        in general (Moodley, Gahima and                       Constitution of 2003, with
        Munien, 2010). The swift                              amendments through 2015               Rwanda's investment into plastic alternatives has boosted employment and generated income for
        transformation of Kigali and the                      guaranteeing rights to a clean        local businesses in the country. © King County, WA/Flickr
        entire country was due to                             environment (Constitute Project,
        determined efforts to forge                           2020).
        national unity and formulate a                                                                                    Innocent Musore, the director of Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation
        new vision for the country.                                                                                       (GER) said that Rwanda has a lot of experience to share,

        Kigali has environmental and
        sustainability goals that include a                                                                                 “ especially in the neighbouring countries where plastic bags are still an
        vision for a safer, cleaner and
        more competitive modern city                                                                                        environmental and social issue. There should be a joint effort for
                                                                Theodette, a waste collector from
        (Africa Renewal, 2016). President                       Bugesera in Rwanda, said:                                   awareness campaigns that cross borders since pollution is borderless,
        Paul Kagame speaking at the 35th
        session of IFAD's Governing                                                                                         we will still suffer the flow of cross border plastic if nothing is done.”
        Council in 2012 said that “there is                      “you cannot see any plastic
        reason to remain optimistic
        because experience in some                               bag of that type [polyethylene]
        parts of the world indicates that
        with the right policies and
                                                                 in the whole volume of waste                                 Rwanda was the first country in the                     Musore said that, “in Rwanda, 75% of
        adequate investment, we can                              we collect from different                                    African region to introduce a law                       the total population is the youth, most
        increase food production while                                                                                        banning plastic bags and is now                         of them do not know of plastic bags
        protecting our environment,”
                                                                 places, you will never find any                              recognized as one of the few countries                  and have quickly adapted to
        (IFAD, 2012).                                            plastic bags.”                                               in the world that progressively reacted                 alternatives and the policy. Therefore,
                                                                                                                              to the pressing environmental issues of                 this will enhance the sustainability of
        Environmental welfare is among                                                                                        plastic waste and pollution.                            this plastic ban policy.”
        the top priorities of the country's
        development, and the
17   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                                                        GAIA ·GER (2021)   18

          A way forward                                                                                     impacts on the environment. We
                                                                                                            are planning to conduct a study to
                                                                                                            get the data that will support
                                                                                                                                                   “since plastic is a continental and
                                                                                                                                                   global issue, the experience of
                                                                                                                                                   Rwanda, in plastic banning, needs
                                                                                                            monitoring and evaluating the          to be shared with other countries
          Rwanda envisions Kigali as a city of                    bags. But other single-use plastics       impact of the ban, as well as other    that are still struggling to beat
          green transport, ensuring the                           are just as bad or even worse than        initiatives such as recycling          plastic. Compared to other African
          reduction of air pollution and                          plastic bags. At the global level,        investment.”                           countries I have managed to reach,
          congestion to conserve the city ’s                      countries are also discussing how                                                Rwanda has lessons and a good
          environment (REMA, n.d).                                to ban single-use plastic. Rwanda         GER recommends an extended             record to share. However we have
                                                                  must be at the forefront.”                quantitative study on the impacts of   not reached 100% of the ban,
          The country is currently enforcing                                                                Rwanda plastic bag ban on              plastic ban is a process. In this
          the law banning single-use plastic,                     These measures go hand in hand            environmental health and socio-        process, we appreciate the
          through awareness-raising and                           with developing policies to protect       economic impacts in Rwanda. GER's      collaboration of the government
          engaging with the private sector to                     the environment, not only from            Innocent Musore said that "those of    with civil society, private sector
          avoid excess loss within internal                       plastics but all kinds of pollution       us who have been in the field, have    and the population in general.”
          production. The public has                              and strengthening the waste               viewed the positive changes
          responded positively to the use of                      management sector. Rwanda has             through the cleanliness in the         The country is striving to achieve
          single-use plastic alternatives, this                   made notable achievements thus            country, how the public adapted to     the same success with their newly
          includes the use of bamboo straws,                      far, however there is still a long way    alternatives can see a vivid           implemented single-use plastic ban,
          non-plastic takeaway food                               to achieving the goal of the total        reduction of plastic bags in           to create a sustainable and plastic
          packaging at restaurants, reusable                      zero pollution plan, which is             collected waste, but there is no       free environment for all citizens.
          water bottles and many other                            included in the first National            tangible data showing the impacts
          behavioural changes between                             Strategy for Transformation (NST1).       of the ban, as well as the extent to   Rwanda has demonstrated that
          traders and customers as a result of                                                              which the process is towards the       plastic pollution reduction is
          the progress of the single-use
          plastic policy.
                                                                  Furthermore, the former REMA
                                                                  Director, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya said
                                                                                                            ban goals."                            possible through strict bans on
                                                                                                                                                   single-use plastic, and have reaped
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2019
                                                                  that there is no accurate data on         Rwanda has seen the benefits of        environmental, social and economic
          REMA’s former Director of                               quantities of single-use plastic          implementing a plastic bag ban,        benefits, as a result of its
          Environmental Regulation and                            generated in Rwanda.                      through the noticeable reduction of    progressive plastic bans.
          Pollution Control, Remy Norbert                                                                   plastic in the country. Innocent
          Duhuze, said that “this is a positive                   “Most of the single-use products in       Musore also recommends that                                    Manufacturing,
          step in the right direction. We have                    the country are imported. It is                                                                   importation, use and sale of
          mainly been dealing with plastic                        important that we avoid any single-      2008                                                      single-use plastic such as
                                                                  use plastic because of the negative                                                                 straws, bottles and food
                                                                                                                                                                   containers were banned by Law
       2003                                                                                                        Manufacturing,
                                                                                                                                                                             No.17/2019

                                               2004                                                         importation, use and sale of
                                                                                                              polyethylene bags were
The Rwandan Ministry of                                    Certain types of plastics were                   prohibited in Rwanda by Law
Environment carried out                                     prohibited and banned from                              No.57/2008.
 an assessment on the                                      manufacturing; shopping bags
   country’s plastic                                         of less than 60 microns in
       problem                                                thickness were banned

                                                                                                                                                                Skyline view of Kigali. © Stellalevi/iStock
19   Rwanda: A Global Leader in Plastic Pollution Reduction                                                                                                                                                   GAIA ·GER (2021) 20

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