Why the waterless, container-based toilet is the solution to off-grid communities’ health, equality and economic stability
The container-based solution approach provides efficient sanitation for low-income families in developing countries, emergency / refugee shelters, and remote rural areas.
The system closes natural cycles and provides climate positive sanitation. This includes safe containment, secure collection and transport of human excreta, and production of valuable recycling products, e.g. fertiliser and fuels. The resource recovery allows a market-based approach that can benefit farmers, create jobs and generate income to improve sanitation services.
Sanitation is one of the most productive investments a government can make. In 2012, the World Health Organization estimated that the global economic return on sanitation is about USD 5.50 for every USD 1.00 invested, much more than the economic return on water (USD 2.00).
The container based sanitation solution solves multiple issues in different areas:
Health
Higher and cleaner hygiene standards
Reduction of disease spreading
Reduction of bad smell in homes
Environment
Protection of water (re)sources
Creation of alternative fuels, saving trees
Organic fertilisers, improved soil quality
Reduction of CO2 emissions
Reduction of sealing up full latrines for eternity
Economy
Job opportunities in the region
Market potential for recycling products
Healthy people = More productive society
The 5 steps of the circular sanitation life-cycle
CONTAINMENT
Generally, a Urine Diverting Dry Toilet (UDDT) is used to collect urine and faeces into removable containers:
The urine container has a smell-prevention valve
Faces are manually covered with dry materials (e.g. ash or sawdust)
EMPTYING
There are two key approaches to the emptying of the containers. Either a regular pick-up of the containers is organised and clean replacement containers are provided to the client or the company provides customers with a centrally located drop-off station. The clients bring their faeces and urine in the two provided buckets (with lids) to the drop-off station. The buckets are cleaned and disinfected to be ready for reuse.
TRANSPORT
The collected resources are transported from the drop-off stations to the treatment plant.
TREATMENT
Urine and faeces are processed separately and transformed into valuable products that can be reintroduced to the local and/or international market.
For faeces, the main treatment methods are composting to create natural fertiliser or a pyrolysis process to create Biochar.
For urine, a process is used to extract struvite and other valuable minerals.
TRANSFORMATION & REUSE
Resulting from the container-based sanitation system are three main resources:
Compost
Biochar has a variety of usages, e.g. as a soil amendment for replenishing soil carbon, for industrial use in filters or as fuel.
Struvite, a phosphorus mineral, can be directly applied in agriculture