GITEGA, Oct 10 (ABP) – Local authorities in the urban center of Gitega have been urged to raise awareness among citizens about sorting biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and finding appropriate places to dispose of it, in order to facilitate its collection and recycling.
This call was made on Saturday, October 4, 2025, by the head of the association “Agasaka Plastique,” Espérance Murebwayire, during a plastic waste collection operation in the neighborhoods of Magarama and Yoba, in the Nyamugari zone, with the goal of cleaning up the city of Gitega. The waste collected consisted mainly of plastic bottles, among other items.
This waste recovery operation was organized by the Gitega communal administration in partnership with the Catholic Association for the Protection of the Environment in Burundi, “ACAPE-Burundi,” and the non-biodegradable waste processing factory for environmental protection, “Agasaka Plastique,” based in Ngozi, in Butanyerera province.
The head of the association “ACAPE-Burundi,” Jonas Nduwimana, explained that plastics are harmful to human health and the environment due to their non-biodegradable nature and their impact on ecosystems. “Plastic is a toxic waste because it does not decompose, which leads to harmful consequences for the health of the population,” Nduwimana explained. He therefore called on local authorities to educate citizens not to throw plastic waste anywhere and to install trash bins for its collection.
He also recalled that since 2019, the association “ACAPE-Burundi” has set itself the goal of supporting the government in its environmental protection efforts, particularly by reducing the use of plastics.
The head of Magarama neighborhood thanked these associations for their initiative to clean up the city of Gitega and asked them to inform local authorities in advance whenever such activities are organized again, in order to mobilize more citizens for greater participation.