Reference number  
DRS  180: 2018  
© RSB 2018  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
180 
 
Second  edition  
2018 -mm-dd 
 
Solid waste — Safe management  — 
Guidelines  
 
 
  DRS  180: 2018  
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2018  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS  180: 2018  
iii                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Term s and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.1 Owner responsibilities for solid waste ................................ ................................ ................................  2 
4.2 Prohibition of illegal disposal or incineration of solid waste  ................................ ...........................  2 
4.3 Licence  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  2 
4.4 Protection of human health and the environment  ................................ ................................ .............  3 
5 Performance requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
5.1 Ground water  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
5.2 Air qual ity and explosive gas emissions  ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
5.3 Surface waters  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 3 
6 Maintenance and operation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
6.1 Plan of operation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 
6.2 Operating details  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 4 
6.3 Boundary posts  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 4 
6.4 Daily and intermediate cover  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
6.5 Recycling required  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  5 
7 Disposal of hazardous waste and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)  ..............  6 
8 Land treatment disposal  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  6 
8.1 Maintenance and operation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  6 
8.2 Requirements for closure  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  6 
8.3 Closure plan and amendment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  7 
 DRS  180: 2018  
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratifie d by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
RS 180 was prepared by Technical Committee RBS/TC 013, on Water and Sanitation .  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
MS 731, Solid waste disposal sites, guidelines for safe management ― Code of practice  
The assistance delivered from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first . edition (RS  180: 2013 ), which has been  technically revised.  
 
  DRS  180: 2018  
v                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Water and Sanitation  (RSB/TC 
013) in the preparation of this standard.  
Bugesera District  
Gakenke District  
Gisagara District  
Huye District  
Integrated Polytechnics Regional Centre Kigali (IPRC Kigali)  
Kamonyi District  
Kicukiro District  
 Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR)  
Ministry of Environment (MoE)  
Ngoma District  
Nyagatare District  
Nyamasheke District  
Nyar ugenge District  
Ruliba Clays Ltd  
Rulindo District  
Rusizi District  
Rutsiro District  
Rwanda Fish Sector (RFS)  
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority  
SULFO Rwanda industries  
Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC)  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
 RS 180: 2018  
1                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Solid waste — Safe management for disposal sites — 
Guidelines  
1 Scope   
This Rwanda Standard prescribes guidelines for safe management of solid waste disposal sites in the form of 
landfills, land treatment facility and incinerators.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
RS 109, Water quality — Discharged Industrial wastewa ter — Tolerance limits .  
RS EAS 751, Air quality — Specification   
3 Terms and definitions   
3.1 
lower explosive limit  
lowest percentage by volume of a mixture of explosive gases, which will propagate a flame in air at 25 oC (77 
degrees Fahrenheit) and atmosp heric pressure.  
3.2  
on-site  
same or geographically contiguous property which may be divided by public or private right -of-way, provided 
that the entrance and exit between the properties is at a cross -roads intersection, and access is by crossing, 
as opp osed to going along the right -of-way. Property separated by a private right -of-way, which the site owner 
or operator controls, and to which the public does not have access, is also considered onsite property.  
3.3  
run-off  
any rainwater, leachate, or othe r liquid that has contacted solid waste and drains over land from any part of a 
facility.  
3.4  
run-on  
any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land onto the active area of a facility.   
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 3.5  
scavenging  
unauthorized removal of solid waste  from a facility.  
3.6  
vector  
living animal including insect or other arthropod which is capable of transmitting an infectious disease from 
one organism to another.  
3.7 person  
Solid waste generator or any solid waste collection, transportation and treatment service provider.  
4 General requirements  
4.1 Owner responsibilities for solid waste  
The owner  or operator of solid waste disposal facility  shall be responsible for the managemen t and disposal of 
all solid waste generated or accumulated at disposal facility  in compliance with this standard and other 
applicable environmental laws.   
4.2 Prohibition of illegal disposal or incineration of solid waste  
4.2.1  No person shall incinerate, burn, or otherwise dispose of any solid waste in any place except at a 
facility which is in compliance with the requirements of this standard.  
4.2.2  When deposition or disposal of the following materials does not cause hazard t o human health and 
the environment or cause a public nuisance, the requirements of this standard do not apply to:  
a) inert waste used as fill material;  
b) the disposal of mine trailings and overburden;  
c) the disposal of vegetative material generated as a result  of land clearing; or  
d) the disposal of vegetative agricultural waste.  
4.3 Licence   
4.3.1  No solid waste disposal facility shall be established, operated, maintained, expanded or accept waste 
until the owner or operator of such facility has obtained a licence  from the competent authority.  
4.3.2  The owner or operator of a solid waste disposal facility shall operate the facility in accordance with the 
conditions of the licence.  RS 180: 2018  
3                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 4.4 Protection of human health and the environment  
4.4.1  The management of solid wast e shall not present a threat to human health or the environment.  
4.4.2  Any contamination of the ground water, surface water, air, or soil that results from the management of 
solid waste which presents a threat to human health or the environment shall be r emedied through 
appropriate corrective action.  
5 Performance requirements  
5.1 Ground water  
An owner or operator of a disposal facility shall not contaminate the ground water underlying beyond the 
ground. The operator shall ensure that run -off, run on and leac hate from the facility comply with RS 109  
5.2 Air quality and explosive gas emissions  
5.2.1  An owner or operator of a disposal facility shall not allow concentrations of explosive gases generated 
by the facility to exceed;  
a) twenty -five percent  (25%)  of the lower explosive limit for explosive gases in facility structures, excluding 
gas control or recovery system components; and  
b) the lower explosive limit for explosive gases at the property.  
5.2.2  An owner or operator of a disposal facility shall ensu re that the air emissions from the facility do not 
alter the air quality beyond 200 m from the facility boundary . The air quality beyond 200 m from the facility 
shall comply with RS EAS 751    
5.3 Surface waters  
An owner or operator of a disposal facility shal l:  
a) not cause a violation of any pollution discharge elimination system permit or standard from discharges of 
surface run -off, leachate or any liquid associated with the facility; and  
b) be in compliance with RS 109 for discharge.  
6 Maintenance and operation  
6.1 Plan of operation  
An owner or operator of a landfill shall maintain and operate the facility to conform to the approved plan of 
operation.   
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 6.2 Operating details  
An owner o r operator of a landfill shall operate the facility to:  
a) control fugitive dust genera ted from roads, construction, general operations, and covering the waste;  
b) allow no open burning;  
c) collect scattered litter as necessary to avoid a fire hazard or an aesthetic nuisance;  
d) prohibit scavenging;  
e) conduct on -site reclamation in an orderly sanit ary manner and in a way that does not interfere with the 
disposal site operation;  
f) ensure that landfill personnel, trained in landfill operations are on -site when the site is open to the public;  
1) at least one person on -site for landfills that receive, on a n average annual basis, less than 15 000 
tons per year (40 000kg/d); and  
2) at least two persons on -site, with one person at the active face, for each landfill that receives, on 
an average annual basis, more than 15 000 tons per year.  
g) control insects, rodents, and other vectors; and  
h) ensure that reserve operational equipment  are available to mainta in and meet these requirements.       
6.3 Boundary posts  
An owner or operator of a landfill shall clearly mark the active area boundaries authorized in the licence with 
permanent posts or using an equivalent method clearly visible for inspection purposes.  
6.4 Daily and intermediate cover  
6.4.1  An owner or operator  of a landfill shall at the close of each day of operation, completely cover the 
waste with at least 15 cm of soil or other suitable material approved by the competent authority.  
6.4.2  The use of an approved alternative daily cover shall:  
a) not present a t hreat to human health or the environment;  
b) be used only on a schedule as established by the competent authority; and  
c) the schedule for use of the approved alternative cover shall be established based on the alternative 
cover’s performance in controlling ve ctors, fires, odors, blowing liter, and scavenging.  RS 180: 2018  
5                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 6.4.3  The competent authority shall, on a site specific basis waive the requirement for daily cover of the 
waste at a landfill that accepts no municipal waste if the owner or operator demonstrates that a n alternative 
schedule for covering the waste does not present a threat to human health or the environment. The 
demonstration from the owner or operator and the landfill shall include at least the following;  
a) certification that the landfill accepts no muni cipal waste;  
b) a detailed list of the waste types accepted by the landfill;  
c) the alternative schedule which the waste will be covered;  
d) any other operational practices that may reduce the threat to human or the environment if an alternative 
schedule for cov ering the waste is followed;  
e) in granting any wavier from the daily cover requirement, the competent authority shall place conditions on 
the owner or operator of the landfill as to the frequency of covering, depth of the cover, or type of material 
used as cover that will minimize the threat to human health or the environment; and  
f) the competent authority shall revoke any waiver from the daily cover requirement if any condition is not 
met or if the alternative schedule of the landfill as to the frequency o f covering the waste presents a  threat 
to human health or the environment.  
6.4.4  If a landfill that accepts municipal waste shall not receive waste for a period longer than 30 days, the 
owner or operator shall cover the area with a minimum of 30 cm of soil as an intermediate cover or alternative 
cover as approved by the competent authority.  
6.4.5  No alternative intermediate cover shall be approved by the competent authority without application 
from the owner or operator.  
6.4.6  Approval for an alternative i ntermediate cover shall be granted after:  
a) considering the design of the landfill, waste stream accepted, and waste handling practice; and.  
b) taking into account climatic, hydrogeology, and soil conditions of the site.  
NOTE  In granting approval for an alte rnative intermediate cover, the competent authority shall place conditions on 
the owner or operator of the landfill as to the depth or type of material used and maintenance of the integrity of the cover 
that will minimize the threat to human health or the environment.  
6.4.7  The competent authority shall revoke the approval of an alternative intermediate cover if any condition 
is not met or if the alternative intermediate cover is determined to present a threat to human health of the 
environment.  
6.5 Recycling  required  
6.5.1 An owner or operator of a landfill at which the general public delivers household solid waste shall 
provide containers in which the general public shall place recyclable materials for which a market exists that 
are brought to the site:   
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 a) during the normal hours of operation;  
b) at a location convenient to the public i.e., near the entrance gate; and  
c) an owner or operator should demonstrate alternative means to providing an opportunity for the general 
public to recycle household solid waste.  
7 Disposal of hazardous waste and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls 
(PCBs)  
An owner or operator of a solid waste disposal facility shall not knowingly dispose, treat, store, or otherwise 
handle hazardous waste or waste containing PCBs and E -waste  
8 Land treatment disposal  
8.1 Maintenance and operation  
The owner or operator of a land treatment disposal facility shall maintain and operate the facility to:  
a) avoid the disposal of garbage or infectious waste;  
b) avoid applying wastes at rates greater than ten times agronomic rates using the proposed cover crop, or 
greater depths tha t would allow for disking  the soil by tracked vehicles;  
c) provide disking of soils during the growing season and after each application of waste to maintain aerobic 
soil conditions, m inimize odours and lessen run -off;  
d) avoid applying waste to any active area having standing water;  
e) conform to the approved plan of operation;  
f) provide for a written contract between landowners, waste generators, waste haulers, and waste operators 
requirin g compliance with rules as a condition of the contract; and  
g) avoid food -chain crops during the active life of the facility and until demonstrated to be safe after closure, 
according to the closure and post -closure plans filed with the plan of operation. Sp ecific approval in 
writing from the competent authority is required for any land spreading disposal facility that is used to 
raise food -chain crops after closure.  
8.2 Requirements for closure  
The owner or operator of a land treatment disposal facility shall close its facility or unit in a manner that:  
a) minimizes the need for further maintenance; and   RS 180: 2018  
7                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 b) minimizes or eliminates threats to human health and the environment from post -closure escape of solid 
waste constituents, leachate, landfill gases, contaminated  run-off or waste decomposition products to the 
ground, ground water, surface water, or the atmosphere; and prepares the facility or unit for the post -
closure period.  
8.3 Closure plan and amendment  
8.3.1  Closure shall include covering, grading seeding, landscaping, contouring, and screening. For a 
transfer station or a drop box facility, closure includes waste removal and decontamination of the site, 
including soil analysis, ground water analysis, or other  procedures as required by the competent authority.  
8.3.2  Each owner or operator shall develop, keep on file and abide by a plan of closure which, when 
approved by the competent authority, shall become part of the licence.  
8.3.3  The closure plan shall pr oject time intervals at which sequential partial closure, if applicable, is to be 
implemented and identify closure cost estimates and projected fund withdrawal intervals for the associated 
closure costs.  
8.3.4  The closure plan shall be amended if conditio ns and circumstances justify such amendment. If it is 
determined that amendment of a facility closure plan is required, the competent authority shall direct facility 
closure activities, in part or whole, to cease until the closure plan amendment has been r eviewed and 
approved by the competent authority.  
8.3.5  Each owner and operator shall close the facility or unit in accordance with the approved closure plan 
and all approved amendments.   
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 Bibliography  
[1] RURA Standards on the management of waste disposal sites(landfill) , 2009  
 RS 180: 2018  
ICS 13.030.10  
 
 
©RSB 2018 - All right s reserved