Better education through sanitation.
Imagine a world where all people have safe access to sustainable sanitation. That is our vision.
By working together, we know we can get there.
THE HUGE OPPORTUNITY
Almost 700 mio. students and 1 in 3 schools do not have access to safely managed sanitation.
Changing this creates huge benefits
Providing proper sanitation for schools has huge benefits in many areas:
IMPROVED HEALTH:
Hygiene is crucial and leads to less spreading of communicable diseases, greater well-being, higher school attendance and attention-span
DIGNITY AND HIGHER MOTIVATION:
Sanitation is a basic human right leading to higher self-esteem, motivation and security
USD 1 LEADS TO USD 5.50 OF IMPACT:
Investments in sanitation for all bring a very high positive impact as per WHO-Study through less disease-related absenteeism, better educated population, higher wages, reduced water pollution, etc.
FEMALE EMPOWERMENT:
Proper sanitation for girls and boys leads to higher school attendance, especially by teenage girls during menstruation
BETTER EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
Proper sanitation for girls and boys leads to higher school attendance, especially by teenage girls during menstruation
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
Proper sanitation at school brings a positive example to the whole community, prosperity over time and better safety
AND THERE ARE SOLUTIONS:
CONTAINER-BASED, WATERLESS TOILET SYSTEMS
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).
Container-based sanitation solves multiple issues in three main areas:
HUMAN
Higher and cleaner hygiene standards
Reduction of disease and contamination
Reduction of bad odour in homes
ENVIRONMENTAL
Protection of water (re)sources
Creation of alternative fuels
Conservation of trees
Organic fertilisers
Improved soil quality
Reduction of CO2 emissions
Reduction of permanently sealed latrines
ECONOMIC
Job opportunities in the region
Market potential for recycling products
Implementation of circular resources
Healthy people = more productive society
THE 5 STEPS OF THE CONTAINER-BASED, WATERLESS TOILET LIFE-CYCLE
1: CONTAINMENT
A urine diverting dry toilet (UDDT) is used to collect urine and faeces into removable containers. Urine container has a smell-prevention valve. Faeces are manually covered with dry materials (e.g. ash or sawdust).
2: COLLECTION
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 where the two provided buckets (with lids) can be deposited. The buckets are cleaned and disinfected to be ready for reuse.
3: TRANSPORT
Safe transport of the faeces and urine to the treatment plant.
4: TREATMENT
Urine and faeces are processed separately and transformed into valuable products that can be reintroduced to the local and/or international market.
Faeces: Composting to create natural fertiliser or pyrolysis to create biochar.
Urine: Extraction of struvite and other valuable minerals.
5: TRANSFORMATION
Container-based sanitation produces three end resources:
Compost, to be used as fertiliser in agriculture
Biochar, for both soil amendment that replenishes soil carbon, and for industrial use in filters, or as fuel / energy
Struvite, a phosphorus mineral, applied directly in agriculture.
