This comes in the wake of complaints that a local contractor recently failed to fulfil waste collection duties, allowing garbage to pile up on the roadside in Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District.
In a notice to all garbage collection companies on Wednesday, August 28, the City of Kigali urged the companies to adhere to the regulations outlined in their contracts or risk penalties.
'Any company that fails to comply with these regulations, and all other waste management regulations in the City of Kigali, will face penalties,' the notice reads.
The companies are required to adhere to waste collection schedules, avoid piling waste or scattering it on roadsides, and are prohibited from disposing of waste in unauthorized locations.
They are also required to keep waste collection points clean and use insecticides to eliminate pests and foul odours.
Other measures include providing employees with protective equipment such as aprons, gloves, and masks, as well as ensuring that waste collection vehicles are in good condition and meet police technical controls.
'Let's unite our efforts to maintain a clean and safe Kigali,' the management said.
Kigali is widely recognised as the cleanest city in Africa due to the exceptional levels of hygiene and cleanliness that the city continues to display.
The government of Rwanda and city leadership have implemented regulations and public awareness campaigns to maintain cleanliness and environmental standards. This includes initiatives such as Umuganda, a type of community work where residents engage in various activities to clean the city.
In 2018, Eric Solheim, who served as Executive Director of UN Environment Programme between May 2016 and November 2018, referred to Kigali as the 'cleanest city on the planet', both in terms of lack of street rubbish and its adorable green initiatives.
Many other cities in the region continue to grapple with the garbage problem.
Early this month, more than 30 people lost their lives after a mountain of garbage collapsed in Kampala, Uganda.
The accident occurred on Friday, August 9, 2024, when a large chunk broke off the mound of trash at the Kiteezi landfill on the northern outskirts of Kampala. Dozens of homes near the dumpsite were buried as residents slept.
The incident is believed to have been triggered by heavy rainfall.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
