Waste Management Practices, Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainable Development in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Communities: Evidence from Gakenke District, Rwanda

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to assess the association between waste management practices and ecosystem resilience and sustainable development outcomes among artisanal and small-scale mining communities in Gakenke District, Northern Rwanda. Study Design: A mixed-methods research design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was applied. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in artisanal and other small-scale mining sites in Gakenke District, Northern Province, Rwanda, between 2025 and 2026. Methodology: The study used a mixed-methods design combining descriptive and explanatory approaches, surveying 370 respondents selected via purposive and stratified random sampling. Data collection tools included a 45-item structured questionnaire, 12 key informant interviews, field observations, and laboratory water quality analysis (pH, Fe, Cr, Zn) from three mining-affected rivers. Data were analysed using SPSS v28 through descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression, alongside a comparison of laboratory results with Rwanda's RS 110:2017 standards. Reliability was assessed through piloting and Cronbach's alpha coefficients, which are reported for each multi-item scale, while validity was established through triangulation and expert review. Results: Waste classification and sorting was the most commonly reported practice (77.0%; mean = 4.20), whereas environmental monitoring and reporting was the least implemented (59.5%; mean = 3.85), followed by progressive site rehabilitation (63.5%; mean = 3.92). Waste management practices showed a significant positive relationship with ecosystem resilience and sustainable development outcomes (r = 0.666, p < 0.001) and explained 44.4% of the variation in resilience indicators (R² = 0.444; β = 0.592, p < 0.001). Laboratory results from a single sampling round at three sites revealed elevated metal concentrations in mining-affected water resources, with iron concentrations ranging from 7.1 to 21.2 mg/L and chromium concentrations from 0.215 to 0.78 mg/L, exceeding Rwanda's National Standards (RS 110:2017), whereas pH and zinc concentrations remained within permissible limits. Conclusion: The findings indicate that inadequate waste containment, limited environmental monitoring, and weak rehabilitation practices are associated with ecosystem degradation and threaten sustainable development in artisanal and small-scale mining areas. Strengthening mining waste management systems, environmental monitoring, miner training, and post-mining rehabilitation programmes is essential for improving ecosystem resilience and promoting sustainable mining practices in Rwanda.