Gender Equality and Plastic Waste Management: Lessons from Rwanda

What happens when progressive gender policies meet bold environmental action? Our team visited Rwanda – a global leader in plastic waste reduction and gender equality – to learn how women are shaping the future of circular waste management. Discover our insights and lessons learned.

From 1–6 June 2024, our project team visited Rwanda to explore the gender dimensions of plastic waste management. The timing was ideal: 5 June, World Environment Day, is widely celebrated in Rwanda – of course our team participated! Environmental protection plays a major role in the country’s policy agenda, reflected in Rwanda’s leadership in minimizing plastic waste and promoting circular solutions. Rwanda was one of the first countries in the world to ban single-use plastic bags in 2008 and continues to strengthen its plastic regulations.

Rwanda also stands out globally for its progressive gender policies. The Constitution mandates gender equality and guarantees a minimum 30% representation of women in all decision-making bodies – a target the country has far exceeded, with 63,75% of parliamentary seats held by women. Key institutions advancing gender equality include the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), and the National Women’s Council. Rwanda also implements gender budgeting across all ministries and incentivizes the private sector to adopt gender equality measures.

Our visit included multiple activities and stakeholder engagements:

  • Stakeholder Roundtable in Kigali – Discussions focused on women’s roles in plastic waste management and the institutional framework organising waste management. Very inspiring: the Rwanda Women Network.
  • Visit to Enviroserve Rwanda – A recycling facility handling electronic waste. We saw that it is possible to recycle the plastic components. However, they often contain brominated flame retardants, which are carcinogenic. This underlines the need for strict regulations of additives in plastic and to prevent certain recycled plastics from being used in toys or kitchenware.
  • Dialogue with Women Entrepreneurs – While many women work as licensed plastic collectors under regulated conditions (with protective gear and health insurance), informal workers – particularly women – remain vulnerable. Participants agreed that organizing these workers into cooperatives could strengthen their voice, improve health protections, and enhance their livelihoods.
  • Kigali Landfill Visit – The team was impressed by the high standards of cleanliness and occupational safety. However, improvements are possible: for instance, capturing methane emissions from leachate ponds could reduce

Photo credits: Placide Hirwa

 

Thanks to Rwanda’s strong institutional framework and gender-responsive policies, women are highly visible in decision-making, including in the waste management sector. This experience offers valuable lessons for other countries on how gender equality and environmental policies can reinforce each other.

Finally, our team collected soil samples from landfill sites, agricultural land, and recycled products to test for harmful chemicals. The findings will provide insights into how plastics should be designed, managed, and recycled to protect human health and the environment.

Do you want to learn more about our trip to Rwanda? Watch our short documentary here!