Rwanda has become a leader in the fight against plastic pollution, both in Africa and globally, by implementing groundbreaking initiatives that transform waste into valuable resources.
According to the United Nations (UN), more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide each year, and less than 10% of this is recycled. UN reports that, single-use plastic that is thrown away or incinerated harms human health and biodiversity, and pollutes every ecosystem from mountaintops to the ocean floor.
This explains why Rwanda joined other countries in celebrating World Environment Day 2025 on June 5, with the theme of Defeat Plastic Pollution, banning plastic carrier bags in 2003 and single-use plastic products in 2019.
However, due to a lack of alternatives, some plastics are allowed.
According to the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), more than 14 companies are now producing alternative packaging to non-biodegradable plastics, while more than 15 are involved in plastic recycling. Here, we look at six innovative solutions to address the plastic waste problem in Rwanda.
- Eco-friendly construction with bricks and pavers from plastic waste
Depot Kalisimbi Ltd, a waste management company, has paved the way of recycling of plastic waste into building materials.
By 2023, more than 2,000 tonnes of plastic had been recycled into flexible construction materials such as pavers and bricks. This effort helps cut down on plastic waste while encouraging environmentally friendly building methods.
Depot Kalisimbi Ltd. Chief Executive Officer, Pascal Gatete said: “This initiative marks a significant milestone in sustainable engineering and serves as a proof of concept for the use of recycled materials in large-scale construction projects.
“With its success, we plan to further advance our waste utilization mission by expanding the use of plastic pavers to other facilities and community pathways.”
Waste utilization or waste recovery or beneficial reuse is the process of transforming waste materials into valuable products or resources. Waste utilization involves the reuse of waste streams through methods such as recycling, composting or converting them into energy or materials.
- Recycled plastic furniture and decorative items
SIBO Engineering Company, established by Beathe Siborurema, has created a method to recycle plastics into stylish furniture and decorative items.
The company started with 100 kilograms of plastic per month, and now recycles 750 kilograms of plastic per month, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional furniture.
Siborurema said: “We began as a start-up four years ago. We started recycling 100 kilograms of plastic per month. Today, we are able to recycle 750 kilograms.
“We have five permanent workers and 12 temporary workers. We still need the financial capacity to buy advanced equipment.”
- Plastic waste is being turned into floor tiles
Entrepreneurs in Rwanda are turning plastic waste into durable floor tiles.
These recycled tiles contribute to reducing plastic pollution by providing an affordable and sustainable option for construction projects.
“We produce 50 large floor tiles and 70 small floor tiles a day,” Siborurema added.
Floor tiles made from recycled plastic are a growing trend in sustainable construction and design.
- Recycled plastic sheeting for construction
Another local company, Soft Packaging Ltd, has developed a process to recycle plastic into black plastic sheeting used in construction.
The company sources waste plastic from various locations, producing up to 6 tonnes of sheeting per day, supporting the construction sector with sustainable materials.
Nitesh Patel, Managing Director, Soft Packaging Ltd, said: “We bring in waste plastic material from external sources. Collection points include airports and border areas. Once the material arrives, we segregate the plastic here on-site.
“Dirty plastics must be thoroughly washed and cleaned before processing. Once cleaned, the material is sent to the extrusion site for further processing. Our daily production capacity is around 4 to 6 tonnes per day.”
- Plant bags from waste plastics
Investors in Rwanda are supporting the agriculture and forestry by producing plant bags from recycled plastics.
These bags provide an eco-friendly solution for growing seedlings, encouraging sustainable farming practices.
- Home compostable packaging
Another Rwanda-based company, Arth Biobag, produces certified compostable products that are intended to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics.
Made from renewable materials such as cassava, corn and potatoes, their products naturally decompose in the environment without the need for industrial processing.
Arth Biobag started operations in Rwanda last year.
Mirwais Salimi, Operations Manager at Arth Biobag, said that the facility has an annual production capacity of 1,200 metric tonnes of home-compostable packaging.
“These plastics are fully home compostable plastics. These plastics decompose naturally in the environment without the need for industrial processing. If thrown in open areas, they become fertilizer and enrich the soil; no extra effort is needed,” he explained.
The factory manufactures these eco-friendly packaging materials using food waste from sources like cassava, corn, and potatoes.
Compostable plastics turn into organic matter in 60 to 180 days and can be composted with other household waste, ultimately benefiting the soil.