Since 2004, Rwanda began a process of carrying out national bans to reduce the consumption and manufacturing of single-use plastic in the country. In contrast to polluting approaches like “waste-to-energy” incinerators and landfills,  the approach to tackling plastic waste management entailed the enforcement of strong policies, which has reaped environmental, social and economic benefits. 

The capital city of Kigali in Rwanda is considered one of the tidiest urban areas in the African continent and has therefore fostered a sense of national pride in citizens who celebrate their clean and green country. Rwanda was the first country in the African region to introduce a law banning plastic and is now recognised as one of the few countries in the world to progressively react to the issue of plastic pollution.