Critical Analysis of Domestic Waste Management Regulations in Rwanda

Résumé ou Introduction

This study was brought in by the searcher after he found that loads of domestic waste are seen in various villages, along the roads, forests, riversides, and many other open spaces in Rwanda. People in Rwanda still dispose of domestic waste in inappropriate places, which constitutes a crucial problem to human health in particular and to environment in general.

The researcher wanted to legally explore why the said malpractices still exist, despite the good achievements
and ambitions to deal with waste management in Rwanda. The research had five objectives: to examine whether the existing environmental laws are effective enough to protect environment and human health against negative effects of domestic waste in Rwanda (1), assess if the current Rwandan environmental laws establish standards that are efficient in domestic waste management (2), discuss the processes that are currently followed from collection to disposal
and examine their effectiveness (3), examine the role played by different institutions involved in domestic waste management and its efficiency (4) and to finally suggest areas of improvement basing on lessons drawn from countries that have advanced legislation governing domestic waste management (5). To respond to the objectives of the study, the researcher used different legal research methods and the following was revealed. The existing Rwandan environmental legal framework does not regulate management of domestic wastes effectively, standards established by Rwandan environmental laws are limited in domestic waste management, and the processes used from collection to disposal of domestic waste management are inadequately regulated. It was also revealed that there is limited role/inefficiency of different institutions intervening in domestic waste management.