LOCAL USE OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FOR EXPANDED AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS GROWTH

This proposal addresses municipal solid waste management through public-private partnership, job creation for low-skilled urban residents, environmentally sound, alternative fuel production for households and agricultural businesses, and deepened decentralization and improved lines of accountability.

We propose a bio-waste fuel briquette production activity in the City of Kigali, which would achieve important and substantial environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Through the production and sale of about 17,855 tonnes of bio-waste fuel briquettes per year, it would create 6,360 jobs and support indirectly a further 3,475 jobs. The activity would save 95,000 m3 of fuel wood, which is about 2.5% of the current demand.  

 The utilization of municipal solid waste collected from low and medium income households would save the City Mayor’s office 45,550 tonnes in waste that has to be carried to the over-used dumpsite. This would save up to FRW 706 million (US $1.50 million) in collection, transport and dump site costs. Furthermore, it would reduce environmental damage and reduce leachate contamination of local water supplies. The money saved could be used to strengthen the City’s administration and management capability and/or improve local facilities and infrastructure.

ARD/USAID/Rwanda therefore, requests support in partnership with the City of Kigali and local/international implementers for the proposed important activity on “Local Use of Municipal Solid Waste for Expanded Agricultural Business Growth".
Background.        Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a population of 8.1 million and an area of about 24,000 km2. There are very few natural forests remaining in Rwanda today, yet, for cooking, 98% of households rely on wood or charcoal.

About 1% of urban households, and 0% of rural households uses electricity and/or gas. This practice has led to immense deforestation; and it is estimated that, if the practice continues at the current rate of deforestation, there will be no single forest left in Rwanda within a period of less than 5 years from now.

A very successful pilot study conducted recently in the City of Kigali, resulted in the development of fuel briquettes from organic solid waste, as an alternative source of fuel. The City of Kigali has so far identified solid waste management as a key to spur business growth. At present, there is enormous amount of solid waste generated in the city of Kigali. More than 75% of this waste is organic, and can be used for making bio-waste fuel briquettes.  


Households and agricultural industries will be interested in the bio-waste fuel briquettes because they are energy efficient. To achieve the same amount and duration of energy from wood, it is necessary to purchase 2,850 FRW (US $4.9) of it compared to the 1,550 FRW (US $2.6) of bio-waste fuel briquettes. To support more agricultural industries using these environmentally and cost-efficient briquettes, USAID/Rwanda and partners will launch an effective education and/or awareness raising campaign.

There is great potential in the utilization of bio-waste briquettes as a source of cooking fuel in Rwanda, a country that has already lost more that three quarters of her natural forest to wood fuel and charcoal dealers. Furthermore, electricity and/or gas fuel are unaffordable to more than 98% of the population.


Project Objectives.   The USAID/Rwanda, proposes to team up with the City of Kigali and solid waste management associations, to implement a multi-sectoral activity that will:  

  • Develop a sustainable municipal management system for collection, treatment, and disposal of the city’s municipal solid waste.

  • Promote public-private partnerships among local authorities, community associations, and private businesses in waste collection and fuel briquette production from biodegradable recycled waste.

  • Reduce the amount of biodegradable and recycled material entering the municipal landfill by at least 70%.

  • Forster the creation of jobs for low-skilled urban residents, a waste briquette business, and possibly other recycling businesses; and

  • Reduce the usage of wood and charcoal fuels through substituting bio-waste briquettes at schools, prisons, and businesses.

Proposed Program.       The program will involve existing community based organizations, associations and non-governmental organizations to improve collection, treatment and processing of solid waste into bio-waste fuel briquettes. We have developed a cash-flow model on solid waste collection, treatment and fuel bio-waste briquette production, that ensures project sustainability once it starts. Also, We have designed a briquette machine and an organic waste drier, appropriate for the kind of waste generated in the City of Kigali.

Local talents, resources, and technologies, which have significant local inputs, will be utilized. Such an approach ensures project sustainability, and is in line with the principle of “home grown” solutions to solve local problems. 

The current briquette machines being used in Rwanda were imported from abroad at a cost ranging from US $40,000 – 60,000. These are colossal amounts of money by any standards, not to mention the maintenance costs and importation of spare parts that goes with the machines. The machines have since been grounded due to lack of spare parts for maintenance. Our locally made briquette machine on the other hand, will cost US $13,000, and will be maintained locally.

Expected Results. The proposed activity will:

  • Provide an alternative source of fuel, thus, slowing the rate of deforestation that is occurring nationwide, as trees are used for industry fuel and household charcoal
  • Result in job creation that provides the rapidly increasing number of urban residents an opportunity to have gainful employment.
  • Involve the community in solid waste management and provide the City of Kigali with a revenue stream that will begin to recuperate the costs of maintenance, operation, and capital investments required to manage a sustainable and equitable solid waste management system.
  • Have a positive effect on the environment by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere through the reduction of burning trash, as a solid waste disposal method.
  • Reinforce the decentralization process by demonstrating to the residents of Kigali City that their city authorities are responsive to their needs.

The potential for replication of this activity throughout Rwanda’s other major cities is high.

 

Concluding Remarks.        The strength of the proposed project lies in the successful experience and findings from a pilot fuel briquettes production activity, where over 850 tonnes of fuel briquettes were produced, marketed and sold successfully to large institutions with kitchens, including schools, prisons and feeding centers.

There is currently, an estimated availability of 73,000 tonnes per year of solid waste suitable for fuel briquetting, out of which 16,000 is economically viable. The market potential for bio-waste fuel briquettes in institutional kitchens is estimated at 7,100 tonnes per month, out of which 1,250 tonnes could easily be reached in two years. Considering the excellent availability of raw materials and high market potential, there are very good long-term prospects to further expand the proposed production levels.

Finally, the proposed activity encourages a multi-sectoral approach to municipal management of basic services by bringing together public and private sector partners.

The proposed activity also, ties into USAID/Rwanda’s 2004-2008 strategy through Strategic Objectives 1 and 3, respectively “Increased Citizen Participation in Post-Transition Governance” and “Expanded Economic Opportunities in Rural Areas.

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