The construction works for a new landfill and a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP), which are expected to improve waste management and production of organic fertilizers, have begun in Rubavu District. Rubavu continues to face challenges in waste management, with some residents still dumping garbage in undesignated areas, which poses environmental risks and undermines cleanliness and sanitation efforts. ALSO READ: Karongi seeks Rwf100m to improve city roads Residents like Eric Nizeyimana from Byahi Cell of Rubavu Sector revealed that he has never seen a garbage truck collecting waste from his neighborhood located just outside the town. “We throw decomposing waste in banana plantations,” said Nizeyimana. “But non-decomposing waste is a challenge. We just sort it and burn it.” “There are some people who fail to manage their garbage and dump it on the near Mount Rubavu. It is a big challenge,” added the 42-year-old father of three, indicating that waste collection companies are insufficient regarding how the town is expanding very quickly. I have never seen any truck in our neighborhood. But, once the landfill is completed, waste management, cleanliness and sanitation will greatly improve.” With an estimated budget of Rwf 4.108 billion, the ongoing project includes the construction of faecal sludge treatment plant with a capacity of 45.7 cubic metres per day, alongside a landfill facility designed to handle 35.9 tonnes of non-organic solid waste daily,according to the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC), which oversees the project implementation. “It also includes the establishment of a composting facility for organic waste treatment and the production of organic fertilizer, as well as the creation of storage areas for sorted plastics, glass, and metals intended for recycling,” noted Robert Bimenyimana, a spokesperson for WASAC, told The New Times. According to WASAC, the Rubavu landfill, whose construction began in September 2025, is planned to complete in August 2026. Meanwhile, similar projects also ongoing in Musanze and Rusizi towns have reached 70 per cent and 35 per cent completion, respectively, while Karongi stands at 30 per cent. ALSO READ: Expansion works for Rubavu town underway Officials in Karongi have also welcomed the construction of the landfill. The Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, Julienne Ntakirutimana, said the facility will improve hygiene and sanitation in the district. “The landfill will manage waste from across the district and support existing landfills, especially in sectors that form Karongi town,” noted Ntakirutimana. “The landfill will also provide fertiliser to our population, contributing to broader efforts aimed at improving cleanliness across Karongi.”
