Rwanda

It was only 1994 when Rwanda suffered a massive genocide by armed militias killing more than 1,000,000 people in approximately 100 days. Despite this horror, Rwanda is still among the most densely populated countries in Africa but today is also the cleanest country on the continent. Imagine?! In those same 27 years of comparative peace and prosperity, the USA has gone sideways in our fight against litter. Rwanda’s squeaky-clean streets and parks are thanks in part to “umuganda,” a country-wide cleanup on the last Saturday of every month. Umuganda is not just a volunteer effort; it is the law in Rwanda. Police can stop and fine anyone not participating in the cleanup! Not a perfect model, but people sure work together and once part of the clean-up, notice and detest litter. Read more here.