Small Medical Waste Incinerators in Rwanda 

Rwanda, known for its rapid economic transformation and commitment to environmental sustainability, has made significant progress in modernizing its healthcare waste management system. With a growing network of district hospitals, health centers, and specialized clinics, the demand for compact, reliable medical waste incinerators has never been greater.

Market Overview: Rwanda’s Healthcare Waste Needs

Rwanda’s healthcare system includes:

• Over 40 district hospitals

• Nearly 500 health centers and posts

• Expanding private clinics in Kigali and secondary cities

These facilities collectively generate a mix of:

• Sharps (needles, syringes)

• Infectious dressings and PPE

• Small quantities of anatomical and pharmaceutical waste

Given Rwanda’s strong environmental policy, there is a national push for:

• Replacing open burning pits and outdated single-chamber brick incinerators

• Using dual-chamber incinerators that meet WHO guidelines

• Introducing small-capacity, energy-efficient units for district-level use

Recent Tenders and Public Procurement

Over the last five years, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and partner agencies have issued tenders for small medical incinerators. Examples include:

• Ministry of Health tenders (2019–2023): for “medical waste incinerators, capacity 20–50 kg/hour” targeted at district hospitals and new health posts.

• Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC): procurement projects supported by international donors such as the Global Fund, WHO, and the World Bank.

• Specific projects to support:

  • Maternal and child health hospitals

  • HIV/AIDS and TB care facilities

  • Vaccination campaign sites needing safe sharps disposal

Technical requirements typically requested:

• Dual-chamber combustion

• Primary combustion chamber ≥ 800°C

• Secondary chamber ≥ 850°C, minimum 2 seconds residence time

• Automatic temperature control and digital monitoring

• Diesel burner (Italy or equivalent) with optional hybrid electric control

• Chimney height ≥ 8–10 meters

• Compact footprint suitable for limited urban space

Why the HICLOVER TS30 PLC Fits Rwanda’s Market

The HICLOVER TS30 PLC is specifically designed for small healthcare facilities and district hospitals:

• Capacity: ~30 kg/hour, matching typical daily waste volumes in district hospitals and private clinics.

• Dual-chamber design: Achieves complete destruction of pathogens and reduces emissions.

• Automatic Italy-brand diesel burner controlled by PLC system for stable combustion.

• PLC (Programmable Logic Controller):

  • Monitors temperature in both chambers

  • Enables safe, hands-free operation

  • Supports operator training and ensures consistent performance

Compact installation:
Ideal for hospitals with limited space, as often seen in urban areas like Kigali, Huye, and Musanze.

Fuel efficiency:
Optimized burner design reduces diesel consumption, lowering operational costs—an important consideration for facilities with limited budgets.

Promoting HICLOVER TS30 PLC in Rwanda

With Rwanda’s emphasis on:

• Infection control

• Environmental standards aligned with WHO and Basel Convention guidelines

• Improving rural healthcare services

the HICLOVER TS30 PLC provides:
 Small-capacity, locally appropriate solution
 Durable design for challenging field conditions
 Digital temperature monitoring for regulatory compliance
 Affordable installation and after-sales support

HICLOVER’s existing installations across Africa, including similar projects in Uganda, Kenya, and Burundi, demonstrate its capability to supply, train, and maintain small medical incinerators for rural and district-level use.

Environmental and Public Health Benefits

Replacing open burning and older brick incinerators with modern units like the TS30 PLC helps Rwanda achieve:

• Higher combustion temperatures, reducing harmful pathogens and dioxins

• Minimal visible smoke and odor, improving community relations

• Lower residual ash volumes, simplifying disposal

As Rwanda continues to modernize its healthcare infrastructure, there is a clear and growing market for small, dual-chamber medical waste incinerators.
The HICLOVER TS30 PLC, with its robust design and PLC-controlled combustion system, is an ideal solution for district hospitals and clinics seeking to comply with national and international standards.

For technical details, case studies, or a quote tailored for Rwandan healthcare facilities, please visit:
www.hiclover.com
sales@hiclover.com

HICLOVER – delivering efficient, high-temperature incinerators for safer healthcare waste management across Africa.

WHO-Supported Medical Waste Incineration Projects: Improving Public Health and Environmental Safety Worldwide

Effective and safe treatment of healthcare waste is a critical component of global health systems. Over the past two decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) has supported numerous projects focused on medical waste incineration, aiming to protect healthcare workers, patients, and communities from infectious and hazardous waste.

These projects combine technical guidance, procurement of appropriate technologies, and capacity building to ensure sustainable solutions in both low- and middle-income countries.

Project Examples and Geographic Focus

1. African Health Facility Waste Management Program (2008C2015)

• Supported by WHO, the World Bank, and national ministries of health.

• Countries included: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zambia.

• Installed dual-chamber diesel-fired incinerators (50C100 kg/hour) in over 100 district hospitals.

• Technical specification:

  • Primary combustion chamber ≥ 800°C.

  • Secondary chamber ≥ 850°C with residence time ≥ 2 seconds.

  • Chimney height ≥ 8C12 meters.

• Achievements: Reduction in open burning, significant improvement in operator safety, and compliance with national environmental standards.

2. WHO / UNICEF Immunization Waste Management Initiative

• Focused on safe disposal of sharps and used syringes from vaccination campaigns.

• Regions: West Africa, South-East Asia, and parts of Central Asia.

• Procured small-capacity incinerators (10C30 kg/hour) for rural health centers and mobile vaccination teams.

• Supported deployment of portable incinerators and training for local staff.

• Goals achieved: Elimination of needle-stick injuries, reduction of environmental contamination in rural and peri-urban areas.

3. WHO / Gavi Medical Waste Support for Measles and Polio Campaigns

• Provided technical guidelines and funded installation of incinerators at temporary field sites and central vaccine storage centers.

• Technical highlights:

  • Dual-chamber design with temperature monitoring.

  • Automatic burners with diesel or LPG fuel options.

  • Mobile or skid-mounted versions for remote locations.

• Outcomes: Safe disposal of millions of syringes and vaccine vials; improved biosecurity during mass immunization drives.

4. Strengthening Hospital Waste Management in Post-Conflict Countries

• Examples: Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

• WHO collaborated with NGOs (e.g., MSF) and UN agencies (e.g., UNDP, UNICEF) to supply containerized incinerators for district hospitals and field hospitals.

• Typical models: 30C75 kg/hour, dual-chamber, PLC-controlled.

• Achievements: Enabled hospitals to operate safely during crises; reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections and community exposure to infectious waste.

Technical Specifications Common Across WHO Projects

Across these projects, WHO-supported procurement generally specifies:

• Dual combustion chambers: primary ≥ 800°C; secondary ≥ 850°C.

• Automatic temperature control and data logging.

• Diesel, LPG, or hybrid fuel systems adapted to local availability.

• Chimney height and design to ensure effective dispersion of residual emissions.

• In some contexts: wet scrubbers or filters to further reduce particulate emissions.

Goals and Public Health Impact

WHO’s incineration support projects typically aim to:

• Safely destroy infectious waste at the point of generation.

• Protect healthcare workers and waste handlers from injury and infection.

• Reduce reliance on uncontrolled burning or shallow burial.

• Align national waste management practices with Basel Convention and Stockholm Convention guidelines.

• Build local capacity through operator training and maintenance planning.

The Role of Manufacturers like HICLOVER

Manufacturers supplying WHO-supported or similar donor-funded projects often provide:

• Containerized, mobile, or fixed incinerators matched to the capacity needs of hospitals.

• PLC-based control systems and automatic burners from recognized international brands.

• Installation support, spare parts, and operator training to ensure long-term sustainability.

Models such as the HICLOVER TS30, TS50, TS100, and TS150 PLC series match the typical technical and operational requirements of WHO projects:

• Dual-chamber design.

• High combustion temperature.

• Compact footprint and low fuel consumption.

• Flexible installation in urban or remote areas.

WHO-supported medical waste incineration projects have transformed waste treatment practices in dozens of countries, reducing infection risks and environmental impact.
Through practical, technically sound equipment and ongoing capacity building, these projects help hospitals and health systems safely manage growing volumes of hazardous waste.

For technical details, customized proposals, or references from similar international projects, visit:
www.hiclover.com
sales@hiclover.com

HICLOVER C providing high-temperature, dual-chamber incinerators trusted by public health and humanitarian projects worldwide.

Advantages of Medical Waste Incineration and Its Suitability in African Healthcare Systems

Advantages of Medical Waste Incineration

1. Effective pathogen destruction
High-temperature incineration (typically over 850°C in the secondary chamber) destroys viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. This makes it highly effective for treating infectious medical waste, including sharps, contaminated dressings, and pathological waste.

2. Significant volume and weight reduction
Incineration can reduce the original volume of waste by up to 90C95%, leaving only inert ash. This minimizes the need for landfill space, which is especially important in regions where waste disposal infrastructure is limited.

3. On-site treatment reduces risk
By installing incinerators within or near hospitals, clinics, and health centers, medical facilities avoid the need to transport hazardous waste over long distances―a process that increases risk of leaks, spills, and infection.

4. Flexibility for different waste types
Modern dual-chamber incinerators handle a mix of waste: infectious waste, expired medicines, small amounts of chemical waste, and some non-chlorinated plastics. This makes them practical for the varied waste streams typical of hospitals.

5. Relatively low operational complexity
Compared to advanced chemical treatment or autoclaving combined with shredding, well-designed incinerators can be operated by staff after short training, with straightforward daily routines.

6. Immediate and continuous operation
Incinerators can run daily as waste is generated, helping health facilities manage sudden surges―such as outbreaks or vaccination campaigns―without waiting for external treatment services.

Suitability for African Countries

1. Limited waste collection and transport infrastructure
In many African countries, rural clinics and small urban hospitals often lack reliable waste collection services. On-site or local incineration offers a direct, sustainable solution to treat infectious waste safely without waiting for centralized facilities.

2. Scarcity of secure landfill space
Rapid urbanization in cities like Nairobi, Accra, or Lagos increases pressure on landfills. By reducing waste volume through incineration, facilities help limit landfill dependency.

3. Cost considerations
Small to medium-capacity incinerators (e.g., 10C100 kg/hour) are often more affordable over time than advanced high-capacity technologies. They also avoid high transport costs for off-site treatment, which is significant in remote or rural areas.

4. Adaptability to local fuel supply
Diesel-fired and LPG-fired models can be chosen based on local fuel availability. This flexibility is practical in African countries where fuel infrastructure varies.

5. Alignment with donor-funded projects
Organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank have supported the procurement of small and medium incinerators for African hospitals, recognizing their practicality in current conditions.

6. Fit for diverse facility sizes
From small rural health posts generating only a few kilograms of waste daily, to large regional hospitals, scalable incinerator solutions match different capacity needs.

Practical Implementation Examples

• In Kenya, county hospitals like Loitokitok Sub-County Hospital use small incinerators (around 50 kg/hour) to handle daily infectious waste.

• In Nigeria, private and public hospitals in Lagos and Abuja have installed dual-chamber incinerators to comply with national waste regulations.

• In Ghana, Malawi, and Benin, donor-funded health projects have introduced small incinerators in rural clinics where waste transport is impractical.

Medical waste incineration remains a highly practical, cost-effective, and reliable method for treating infectious healthcare waste in Africa. Its proven ability to reduce volume, destroy pathogens, and adapt to local conditions makes it especially suitable for the diverse needs and infrastructure levels across African healthcare systems.

For more technical details, product options, or tailored solutions for African markets, visit:
www.hiclover.com
or contact: sales@hiclover.com