Building a circular economy for waste and sanitation in the Lake Tanganyika basin

Lake Tanganyika Waste and Water Management

Lake Tanganyika contains 17 percent of the world’s fresh water and is home to about 2,000 different species, half of which are endemic to the lake basin. Overexploitation of biological resources, sedimentation, pollution, and climate change are threats affecting the lake’s ecosystem. Furthermore, cities within the lake basin area suffer from problems related to solid waste management, with inappropriate systems for solid waste collection and recycling.

The European Commission selected our Belgian team to lead a comprehensive study on waste management in the main cities around the Lake Tanganyika basin and liquid sanitation in Bujumbura. The project aimed to protect the lake’s water quality and biodiversity while also improving urban living conditions. We engaged with municipalities, regional authorities, and private operators and analyzed institutional, legislative, and technical frameworks. We also assessed economic feasibility and developed actionable scenarios for solid waste and liquid sanitation. Our team then proposed integrated waste management systems, plastic recycling initiatives, and organic composting platforms tailored to each locality. For Bujumbura, we designed a short- and medium-term investment plan to rehabilitate existing infrastructure, extend sewer networks, and strengthen capacity of institutions.

Through efforts such as these, the European Commission is working with communities to shape resilient futures and safeguard their natural heritage for generations to come.