Women in Waste

By Viktoria Ach

The GIZ Waste & Circular Economy (WCE) project hosted a gender focus group session on Dec 7th, 2023 in Kigali. The 45 women represented the public and private sectors as well as civil society and travelled to Kigali from Bugesera, Muhanga, Rwamagana and Musanze. Women are the ones who primarily manage waste at household level, yet they are far less represented in waste collection companies and the sector overall. How come? As the WCE project is working with satellite cities to pilot waste separation at household level, women’s participation is vital. So, what do women want and need regarding waste management and how can they be further supported?

During the full-day event, women shared their roles in waste management, but also their wishes and aspirations as well as the challenges and needs that accompany them. Interesting discussions arose regarding sanitary waste and trainings to empower women. Regarding the former, women would appreciate not only organic waste being collected separately from non-organic waste, but an additional separate bag for sanitary waste, i.e., for diapers and pads. The primary reasons are for hygiene and health purposes, which include reduced odour and prolonged cleanliness since sanitary waste can generate foul odours due to the decomposition of organic matter. By segregating it, the unpleasant smell is contained and managed more effectively, contributing to a cleaner environment. Furthermore, separating sanitary waste from other non-organic waste is beneficial for waste management efficiency and environmental protection. When sanitary waste is mixed with other non-organic waste, it can contaminate recyclables, making them unsuitable for recycling. Proper separation ensures that recyclable materials remain uncontaminated, preserving their value and reducing the environmental impact. As recycling efforts are picking up in Rwanda, additional sanitary waste separation can have a positive impact on businesses in the waste sector.

Following the discussion with the entire group, the women worked in smaller groups to identify different training topics that would enable and empower them to be more skilled in the waste sector. Training on proper waste separation was mentioned by a couple of groups, in particular since pure organic waste can be used to produce high quality compost which can be used for one’s own agricultural purposes or sold at a decent price. As the discussion continued, it became clear that what would truly empower women is if they could learn how to make money from waste. While this certainly includes composting, it also refers to making use of plastic, paper, or textile waste. Not only are the technical skills of high interest and importance to women, but also the business side of things which would empower them to create an additional source of income. After this initial gender focus group session, the WCE project is excited to continue the conversation with women regarding a training module that would support women’s wishes and aspirations in the waste sector.