Archive quotidienne novembre 29, 2019

1. Chemicals Management

1.1. Ratification of Chemical-related multilateral environmental

Agreements.

Rwanda has ratified different international and regional chemical-related environmental agreements: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade; Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Bamako Convention on the ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

1.2. National Environment and Climate Change Policy

The key environmental and climate change issues in Rwanda include land degradation, deforestation, dependency on biomass for fuel, soil, water and air pollution, a lack of environment-friendly transport systems, vulnerability of natural ecosystems, lack of low-carbon materials for housing and green infrastructure development, inadequate waste treatment for both solid and liquid waste, increase of electronic, industrial and nuclear/radioactive wastes, limited coordination in environmental and climate change governance, among others.

Rwanda has taken a strategic decision to pursue a green growth approach to development. It is now sixteen years since the adoption and implementation of the 2003 Environment Policy. This calls for stocktaking of the achievements, setbacks, future opportunities and alignment with global, regional and national development agenda.

Vision 2050 aspires to take Rwanda beyond high income to high living standards by the middle of the 21st century. To realise our full potential and drive towards this goal, Rwanda is committed to being a nation that has a clean and healthy environment that is resilient to climate variability and change and that supports a high quality of life for its citizens.

The policy of 2019 have many policy objectives and policy statements with two of addressing chemical and chemical related pollution.

2.2.1 Prevent and promote integrated pollution control and waste management

1. Develop an integrated national waste management strategy.
2. Promote infrastructure and human capacity development for medical waste and hazardous waste management systems.
3. Ensure compliance with air quality standards in urban and rural areas and strengthen enforcement capacity.
4. Strengthen and implement existing environmental guidelines, standards and develop new ones, where necessary, to control emissions from motor vehicles, power plants and industries.
5. Strengthen capacity and infrastructure to monitor, enforce and regulate noise pollution.
6. Promote the use of economic incentives to manage waste.
7. Promote establishment of facilities and incentives for cleaner production, waste recovery, recycling and reuse (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle “3Rs ») countrywide.
8. Develop and enforce effective water pollution prevention and control programmes including criteria for monitoring the biological, physical, and chemical quality of water bodies while instituting mechanisms to address deviation from standards.
9. Develop a profile of all categories of waste in Rwanda.
10. Promote the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes in accordance with agreed international frameworks (such as the Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention, Rotterdam, etc.).
11. Set up waste management information systems.
12. Domesticate chemical and chemical waste Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
13. Support technology development and innovation in the area of e-waste management.

2.2.2. Strengthen capacity in the management of nuclear and radioactive substances

1. Develop and maintain an inventory of sources, types and quantities of radioactive materials; periodically monitoring status and trends and enhancing protection measures.
2. Strengthen capacities for handling and management of radioactive waste and ionising agents.
3. Ensure that telecommunication equipment and structures conform to international radiation standards.
4. Support the development of appropriate institutional arrangements and thereby ensure the development of human resources competent to discharge the responsibility of managing nuclear infrastructure.
5. Support research, development and innovation in the use of green nuclear technology.
6. Advocate for a policy on nuclear and radioactive substances.

2. E-wastes management

Though Rwanda has procedure that deal with waste in general, these do not include specific provisions for E-waste. However, E-waste is distinct in terms of its generation and processing. Currently, the municipality is responsible of the management of general waste and citizens are only required to pay for collection and disposal services. However, E-waste cannot be handled in the same way as general wastes because of its unique composition, which include non-biodegradable materials that can be harmful to the environment. This requires specialized disposal methods, skills and special facilities.

There is growing number of personal electrical and electronic devices in institutions, households, business facilities, etc. Moreover, with the growth of the telecommunication sector, the number of citizens subscribing to the mobile network has been firmly growing over the years.

For example, between November 2014 and January 2015, a survey was carried out to determine the status of E-Waste in Rwanda2. The survey revealed that for the period ranging from 2010 to 2014:

• Import of ICT equipment increased by 5times.
• The annual growth in the importation of EEE to Rwanda was estimated to about 5.95%
• Rwanda had an E-Waste annual generation potential of 9,417tons of which, 7,677tons (81.52%) are contributed by individuals, 1,143 Tons (12.14%) by public institutions, and 597tons (6.34%) by private institutions. 

2.1. Legal and Regulatory Framework

1. Develop the relevant laws and regulations for E-waste management, with adequate considerations of the existing legal and regulatory instruments;
2. Develop and promote-waste management standards, regulations and operational guidelines for the sorting, collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of E-waste in n addition to the current rules and regulations including putting in place regulations and procedures for disposal of state private assets;
3. Develop E-waste management strategic plan to support the above revisions of rules and regulations. The strategic plan will also focus on attracting private investments in the E-waste management business.