National Sanitation Policy, 2016

Subject

Environment gen., Water, Waste & hazardous substances

Keyword

Environmental planning Environmental standards Polluter pays principle Protection of environment Public health Capacity building Hazardous waste Integrated management Organic waste Policy/planning Solid waste Sustainable use Waste disposal Waste management Sewerage Effluent waste water/discharge Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution Pollution control

Geographical area

Africa, AFRICA FAO, Eastern Africa, Landlocked Developing Countries, Least Developed Countries

Abstract

This Policy is prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure to enable the country actualize very ambitious targets in sanitation, in accordance with its vision to attain a 100% sanitation service coverage by 2017/18. The Policy states its scope by defining sanitation as the collection, transport, treatment and disposal or reuse of human excreta and domestic and industrial waste (liquid, solid and gaseous) as well urban storm water management, as well as the management of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste), hazardous waste, health-care waste, and radioactive and other dangerous substances. The Policy states its vision as one to ensure sustainable, equitable and affordable access to safe sanitation and waste management services for all Rwandans, as a contribution to poverty reduction, public health, economic development and environmental protection. While its mission is to promote, plan, build and operate services in a sustainable efficient and equitable manner; core instruments, capacities and administrative processes will be established to ensure effective sector programme management and sanitation sector programme steering. The Policy is guided by the following principles; priority to basic services- this places every member of the community on an equal basis with respect to access to basic sanitation services; water sanitation and hygiene services; decentralization; community participation; cost recovery and financial sustainability- this applies the polluter pays and user pays principles in sewerage and waste management; private sector participation; operational efficiency and strengthening of accountability; emphasis on behavior change; interest of women and children; grouped settlements; environment and water resources protection; sector wide approach; and a results-based management. The Policy formulates its specific objectives in way that it can be directly used for strategic planning and monitoring, these objectives include; individual sanitation- to raise and sustain household sanitation coverage to 100% by 2020 and promote hygiene behavior change; institutional sanitation- to implement improved sanitation for schools, health facilities and other public institutions and locations; off-site collective sanitation- to develop safe, well-regulated and affordable off-site sanitation services for densely populated areas; storm water management- to enhance storm water management in urban areas to mitigate impacts on properties, infrastructure, human health and the environment; solid waste management- to implement integrated solid waste management in ways that are protective to human health and the environment; to ensure safe management of e-waste, industrial wastes, nuclear waste and health-care waste; and institutional sector framework- to develop sanitation sub-sector’s institutional and capacity building framework.

Full text

English

References - Legislation

Implemented by

National Sanitation Policy Implementation Strategy, 2016

Legislation | Rwanda | 2016

Keyword: Environmental planning, Environmental standards, Polluter pays principle, Protection of environment, Public health, Capacity building, Hazardous waste, Integrated management, Organic waste, Policy/planning, Solid waste, Sustainable use, Waste disposal, Waste management, Sewerage, Effluent waste water/discharge, Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution, Pollution control

Source: FAO, FAOLEX