The Impact of Solid Waste Management on Community Livelihood in Rwanda: Case of Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District (2020-2025)

The Impact of Solid Waste Management on Community Livelihood in Rwanda: Case of Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District (2020–2025). This mixed-methods study investigated how solid waste management (SWM) practices in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, influenced community livelihood between 2020 and 2025 by combining a structured household survey of 393 respondents (375 households and 18 key informants), semi-structured interviews with sector officials and waste actors, and documentary review. Quantitative data (descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses) assessed waste collection, source segregation, recycling, disposal and livelihood indicators (income generation, access to services, health/wellbeing, social participation), while thematic analysis of qualitative interviews explained barriers and enabling factors. Results showed that inconsistent collection, limited segregation, and weak recycling infrastructure undermined environmental cleanliness and increased health risks, whereas areas with organised collection and community recycling/composting reported better sanitation, reduced disease incidence, and modest income gains from recovered materials. Overall, more effective SWM was positively associated with improved livelihood outcomes, with community awareness and participation acting as key moderating factors to strengthen sector-level collection, expand source segregation and local recycling, improve market linkages for recyclables, and scale up awareness and incentive programs. The inferential statistics reveal that effective solid waste management practices have a strong and statistically significant positive impact on community livelihood in Gahanga Sector, as evidenced by regression results (F = 11.004, p = 0.000) and a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.702, p = 0.000), indicating that improvements in waste management enhance socio-economic well-being and environmental health. The study finds that effective solid waste management in Gahanga Sector significantly improves community livelihood by enhancing environmental cleanliness, public health, and income-generating opportunities, with strong statistical evidence supporting this relationship. It recommends strengthening waste management systems and promoting economic opportunities, while future research should explore technological innovations and long-term impacts on livelihoods.