KIGALI, June 19 -- Rwandan Ministry of Environment and the Global Green Growth Institute, an intergovernmental organization based in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on Wednesday inaugurated new waste management facilities on the outskirts of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, as part of efforts aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

The newly inaugurated facilities at Nduba landfill in Kigali's Gasabo district include a waste sorting and separation facility, a bio-waste treatment facility to convert organic waste into organic fertilizers and a truck weighbridge that will ensure the accurate measurement of waste entering the landfill.

The facilities were built as part of a collaborative project, titled Waste to Resources Project: Improving Municipal Solid and Hazardous Waste Management in Rwanda.

"Waste should be viewed as a raw material for valorization, not as waste. This mindset will transform the waste sector and help the country achieve its long-term vision of carbon neutrality," Rwanda's Minister of Environment Valentine Uwamariya said during the event.

Officials said four reverse vending machines will soon be strategically installed across the capital to enhance the collection of recyclable materials by incentivizing consumers to deposit used plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, and e-waste in exchange for rewards.

Caroline Raes, Rwanda country representative at the Global Green Growth Institute, said the project challenges the prevailing "collect and dump" approach to waste by promoting more circularity in waste management in Kigali.

The interventions piloted by the project are not only mitigating emissions from waste but are also fostering green jobs and economic opportunities, she said.

Officials believe the pilot project would propel Rwanda's efforts to establish a sustainable and circular waste management system, offering extensive benefits for communities and the environment.

The project's holistic approach is expected to lead to waste reduction at the landfill, enhanced e-waste management, and enable environments for sustainable waste practices.

According to the Global Green Growth Institute, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a key target of the project, with an estimated annual reduction of 15,320 TCO2 expected to be reached once all facilities are operating at full capacity.

Rwanda's rapid economic growth, coupled with urbanization and population growth, has led to increased waste generation, posing environmental and public health risks. Given the challenges, Rwanda has prioritized waste management, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.

  - Xinhua