From second hand electronics to poisonous waste: Where Rwanda’s e-waste controls still fall short

While the government of Rwanda has put in place policies, standards, and recycling initiatives to manage electronic waste, unsecures disposals remain common across the country.

When Mbanabo Mushumba Eric splits to pieces broken televisions and expired computers in a jam-packed repair hub in Kigali, he works with bare hands and no protective gear. To extract copper, he burns cables in the open air, inhaling thick smoke that irritates his eyes and chest. His experience exposes the critical gaps between Rwanda’s growing e-waste control framework and the reality on the ground, where second-hand electronics still end their life as dangerous waste in informal spaces.

“Sometimes I feel dizzy, but this is how I earn a living,” he says.

Mbanabo Mushumba Eric is part of the final link in a trans-border electronics chain that begins far beyond Rwanda’s borders. While second hand electronics enter Rwanda legally as affordable consumer goods, many quickly turn into hazardous electronic waste (e-waste) raising urgent questions about how the country tracks these flows and enforces safeguards under the Bamako Convention.

From useful electronics to toxic waste

Rwanda imports thousands of used electrical and electronic devices each year through regional and international trade routes. These include mobile phones, computers, televisions, radios, batteries, and lighting equipment. Experts warn that when such devices are improperly stored, dumped, or dismantled, they release toxic chemicals that harm both people and the environment.

Improperly disposed electronics, when mixed with household waste, allow rainwater to carry toxins into farmland and water sources, contaminating crops and threatening human health. Residents interviewed by imirasire.com admitted that old electronics are often stored at home or dumped in ways that could expose children or nearby communities to harm.

David Karisa, from Kicukiro District, said: “When a device stops working, I either sell it to a technician or throw it away. If it’s completely broken, the technician removes usable parts and dumps the rest. Sometimes I keep it at home because I don’t know where else to take it.”

Mukamana Jeannette, from Nyarugenge District, said she stores unused computers and televisions indoors.

“I don’t throw them away. I keep them, or sometimes give them to someone who can still use them,” she said.

Health and environmental consequences

Environmental economists and public health experts warn that these everyday practices carry serious consequences.

In Kigali’s informal repair zones and households where broken electronics are stored or dumped with general waste, toxic substances from old phones, computers, batteries, and televisions continue to expose residents to long-term health dangers.

Dr. Joseph Mucumbitsi, Chairman of the Rwanda Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCD Alliance Rwanda), warns that toxic substances released from improperly handled electronic waste pose a serious but often overlooked threat to public health.

“Electronic waste contains hazardous chemicals that can damage the brain, lungs, and other organs over time. When e-waste is poorly managed, the health effects are not immediate, but they contribute significantly to the rise of non-communicable diseases in the long run,” Dr. Mucumbitsi said.

He added that children, informal technicians, and communities living near dumping or burning sites are at heightened risk of exposure through contaminated air, soil, and water.

These dangers are compounded by Rwanda’s digital transformation, which increases device ownership and e-waste generation.

The 80% challenge and awareness gaps

Enviroserve Rwanda, a government-backed e-waste recycling facility, has highlighted a critical concern: 80% of e-waste in Rwanda ends up in households or informal disposal sites rather than collection centers.

“People often keep old phones, computers, or fridges at home, unaware that they contain toxic chemicals harmful to children, adults, and the environment. Our challenge is to educate citizens and prevent these items from ending up in unsafe locations,” said Olivier Mbera, CEO of Enviroserve Rwanda.

The KUSANYA E-Waste campaign, launched in May 2025 by Enviroserve, MINICT, RISA, the Ministry of Environment, and partners including GIZ, aims to promote proper e-waste segregation and collection.

Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye, Minister of Environment, emphasized: “As technology advances, we must act responsibly. E-waste management is crucial for public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development.”

Bamako convention and Rwanda’s legal framework

The Bamako Convention prohibits the import of hazardous waste into Africa and regulates its management within the continent. Rwanda, as a Party, must control trans- border waste, ensure safe management, and maintain transparent reporting.

National laws reinforce these obligations. Law Nº48/2018 on Environment, particularly Article 20, governs e-waste, while Ministerial Order No. 003/2021 restricts hazardous substances. Technical standards RS 276-1 and RS 276-2 guide handling, storage, treatment, and disposal.

Yet informal markets and repair hubs remain difficult to monitor, creating enforcement gaps.

Extended producer responsibility: Tracking E-Waste at its source

To end these gaps, Rwanda is set to operationalize an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. Under EPR, manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment must finance collection and recycling of the products they sell.

The EPR system is based on the 2016 National E-Waste Management Policy and 2018 Regulation No. 002, which require producers to manage the entire lifecycle of their products. A Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) will coordinate efforts among producers, recyclers, and the government, supported by a centralized digital platform to track imports, collect recycling fees, and generate reports.

“This system is a key step in tackling Rwanda’s e-waste challenge. Importers will pay a small fee based on material type, weight, and lifespan of their products, which funds proper recycling once they become obsolete,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

Gathering, responsiveness, and left behind Gaps

Presently, Rwanda has 34 e-waste collection sites, with 10 more planned to ensure at least two per district. Enviroserve has collected over 4,000 tons of e-waste since 2018, refurbished computers for schools, and created employment for over 600 people in the country.

Despite these efforts, citizen participation remains low. Olivier Mbera emphasized the need for public education: “Even when a device sits quietly in a drawer, it can harm human health. We are working to prevent toxic chemicals from entering the environment.”

Towards accountable and circular E-Waste Governance

Rwanda is developing a National E-Waste Management Strategy (2025–2030) under the World Bank-funded Rwanda Digital Acceleration Programme. The strategy will clarify policies for producers, reinforce monitoring, and align national systems with Bamako Convention reporting.

For informal workers like Mbanabo Mushumba Eric, these improvements promise safer livelihoods. For communities, cleaner air, soil, and water. And for Rwanda, they represent a concrete step toward ensuring that Africa does not become a dumping ground for toxic waste while promoting sustainable, accountable environmental governance.