Gitega : women innovate for a cleaner environment through recycling

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, September 24, 2025 – In Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, a group of women with degrees in soil and environmental sciences are transforming their knowledge into concrete actions for the city. Noting the poor management of household waste—plastic bags, unsorted trash, and visible pollution—they created an association dedicated to waste collection and recycling.

“We asked ourselves how, as environmental specialists, we could contribute to making our city clean,” explains Dyna Manirampa, president of the association. After obtaining authorization from the district administration, they mobilized carts, boots, aprons, and gloves to collect garbage door to door.

Waste sorting is done at a designated site. Biodegradable materials become organic manure after neutralizing certain heavy metals with lime. Non-biodegradable waste is stored pending recycling, particularly in the form of ecological charcoal briquettes, to reduce logging and deforestation.

“The effects of deforestation and climate change primarily affect women : they are the ones who travel long distances to fetch water or wood,” emphasizes Dyna Manirampa. This initiative also creates jobs for other women and combats unemployment.

Trash receptacles installed along Gitega’s main roads have already reduced visible waste. However, financial and logistical resources remain limited, hampering the expansion of the project and the achievement of the ultimate goal : zero abandoned waste.

Their ambition : recycling all waste to protect the environment and reduce deforestation.