A faecal sludge treatment plant and a modern landfill currently under construction in Rusizi District are expected to generate up to 1,200 green jobs annually, according to Mayor Phanuel Sindayiheba. Faecal sludge refers to a mix of human waste—such as faeces and urine—alongside water used for flushing, toilet paper, sanitary products, and other solid waste. As one of Rwanda’s growing secondary cities, Rusizi is grappling with increasing waste due to rapid population and urbanisation. The new landfill and treatment facility aim to address this challenge while creating employment opportunities and promoting environmental sustainability. ALSO READ: A closer look at practices, challenges of waste management The landfill, located in Ruhimbi Village, Ruganda Cell, Kamembe Sector—over 20 kilometres from Rusizi town—will include infrastructure for processing both toilet waste and solid refuse, transforming them into fertiliser and reusable materials. “This is a large-scale project expected to create employment for between 800 and 1,200 people each year,” Sindayiheba told The New Times. Robert Bimenyimana, Spokesperson for the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC Group), said the government has secured funding and tasked the utility with implementing key sanitation projects, including the Rusizi faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill. The entire project is expected to cost Rwf 2.3 billion. “WASAC Group is responsible for managing both wastewater and solid waste nationally. While districts are in charge of collecting and transporting solid waste, WASAC provides technical support in landfill operations in partnership with the private sector,” Bimenyimana said. ALSO READ: Rwanda unveils $221m plan for waste management, clean technologies Rusizi District has allocated approximately six hectares of land for the project. Upon completion—expected by March 2026—the facility will be operated by a private company, jointly overseen by WASAC and the district. The plant will also treat waste from neighbouring districts and is designed to process up to 42 cubic metres of faecal sludge and 13 tonnes of solid waste per day. Non-biodegradable waste will be recycled into reusable materials. ALSO READ: How new reverse vending machines will boost recycling in Kigali Tackling Lake Kivu, Rusizi river plastic waste Local authorities also plan to collect plastic bottles currently polluting Lake Kivu and the Rusizi River and repurpose them into usable products. Lake Kivu faces mounting plastic pollution, with rivers feeding into it transporting large quantities of waste—especially plastic bottles—into the lake. This pollution threatens aquatic biodiversity, reduces water quality, and disrupts the livelihoods of people who rely on fishing. In addition, plastic accumulation has affected the Ruzizi hydropower plant by clogging turbines, reducing electricity production, and causing power outages across the region. The facility, located on the Ruzizi River at the Rwanda–DR Congo border, is particularly vulnerable to this waste influx. ALSO READ: Main polluters of four major lakes revealed: What next? The government has urged private sector actors to tap into the 3,661 tonnes of organic waste generated across Rwanda daily—most of which is food and plant-based matter—to produce useful products such as organic fertilisers. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), each Rwandan generates an average of 0.44 kilograms of waste daily, with 80 percent being organic.
