Minister of Environment, Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, has urged more companies that produce bottled water to switch from plastic packaging to glass bottles.
She made the call on December 16 while gracing the launch of two products- new natural mineral water and sparkling water- in a recyclable glass bottle by Inyange Industries Ltd, a local beverage producing company.
She lauded the firm’s step to contributing to Rwanda’s efforts in addressing plastic pollution.
"Rwanda's efforts to beat plastic pollution will not be possible without private sector players. We commend the transition towards recyclable glass bottles as launched which is a contribution to the protection of our environment,” she noted.
Inyange industries worker inside the processing room on December
She said that all manufacturers of bottled water should take further step to fight plastic pollution.
"Plastic pollution is not only dangerous for agricultural land, for animals but also for living things including humanity. Rwanda enacted a law in 2019 prohibiting the manufacturing, the importation, the use and sale of single use plastic items strengthening the 2008 ban prohibiting the importation and use of plastic bags,” she said.
Single use plastics include PET bottles, plastic straws, spoons, knives, plastic bags, and plastic packaging material.
"On another note we encourage strengthening the plastic recycling industry to turn the disposed plastic trash into treasure. The number of youth-led startups in plastic repurposing give us confidence that we are on the right track,” she said.
In June this year, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) started to mobilise the Private Sector Federation (PSF) to play a role in collecting, transportation, disposal and recycling of single-use plastics in the next five years.
The Private Sector Federation (PSF) is set to contribute Rwf690.9 million for collecting, transportation, disposal and recycling of single-use plastics in the next five years.
She said that recently Rwanda and Peru have joined efforts to propose a global plastic’s treaty that will reduce plastics in the environment globally.
"This will improve health and wellbeing on earth. This will address the dual climate and biodiversity crisis,” she said.
Call for glass bottles manufacturing plant
Mujawamariya pledged support to investors.
"The next step is to have a factory for glass bottles in Rwanda. We have a variety of sand as raw material that can allow us to locally manufacture glass bottles. The private sector must play a critical role to achieve this,” she said.
Jame Biseruka, Managing Director of Inyange Industries Ltd said: "Through Innovation we believe Inyange Industry can produce different products which are environmentally friendly. Fighting climate change and ensuring we have a greener world is key to today's agenda of launching these two products in a glass bottle.”
He said that about Rwf350 million has been invested in a transition to packaging in glass bottles.
"In total we have so far spent over Rwf500 million to go green as a company,” he said.
Effects of plastics
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) says that the single-use plastic items pollute the environment by blocking water channels and preventing water from penetrating into the soil, clogging water drainage systems and thus triggering flooding.
The 2017 report on single-use plastics and marine environment by Seas at Risk, an independent non-governmental federation of national and international environmental organizations for the protection and restoration of the marine environment confirmed that many marine bio-diversities such as fish and birds die from consuming plastic items.