Assessing the Environmental and Financial Implications of Paper Consumption in Rwanda: A Case Study of an Institution Located at Gasabo District
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2569Abstract
This study assessed the environmental and financial implications of paper consumption among institutions in Gasabo District, Rwanda, between 2021 and 2025 using a descriptive research design that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from 392 institutions through questionnaires, institutional records, and secondary sources and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed persistently high paper consumption, with over 74% of institutions using more than 1,000 reams annually. Institutions consuming 1,001–3,000 reams represented 46.68%–50.26% of the sample, while those consuming more than 3,000 reams increased from 23.98% in 2021 to 29.08% in 2025. Printing was the primary driver of paper use, cited by 268 respondents. Awareness of environmental and financial consequences was low, with 36.48% unaware and 25.26% only slightly aware of the impacts of excessive paper consumption. Only 27.55% of institutions had formal paper management policies, and just 25.51% practiced duplex printing. Waste management practices were inadequate, as 79.85% of institutions did not segregate paper waste and 88.78% disposed of it with general waste. Approximately 81% reported a lack of recycling facilities. Financially, 53%–55% of institutions spent over 2,000,000 RWF annually on paper procurement. A strong positive relationship (72.18%) between paper consumption and expenditure demonstrated that excessive paper use significantly increases institutional costs and environmental pressures.
Keywords: Paper consumption, Environmental impact, financial cost, ICT, Waste management.
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