Dry Compost / ECOSAN Toilet

Ecological Sanitation (ECOSAN) is an environment friendly sustainable sanitation system which regards human waste as resource for agricultural purposes and food security. In contrast to the common practice of linear waste management which views waste or excreta as something that needs to be disposed, ECOSAN seeks to close the loop of nutrients cycle, conserve water and our surrounding environment.

The basic principle of ECOSAN is to close the loop between sanitation and agriculture without compromising health and is based on the following three fundamental principles: 

a. Preventing pollution rather than attempting to control it after we pollute 

b. Sanitizing the urine and faeces 

c. Using the safe products for agricultural purposes

An ecosan toilet is designed with a leak proof faeces and urine collection chambers / tanks and superstructure with pans / arrangements that help in source separation of faeces, urine and wash water.Ecosan toilets can be constructed using locally available materials like bricks, cement blocks, concrete, bamboo or other suitable materials can be used for construction of ecosan toilets.Cost of household eosin toilets can be drastically reduced by using low cost materials like bamboo, thatch, gunny bags, etc., for the construction of superstructure. However, care should be taken to prevent entry of rainwater into the dry compost toilet.

Working:

These dry compost toilet contains two special pans in which human excreta is separated from urine and wash water and it is stored in chamber provided below toilet. There are two pans and two chambers provided in toilet so when one chamber completely fills than toilet can be used with the help of other toilet chamber. After complete filling the one chamber ash and soil and sawdust  And after 5 to 6 months it will turn into organic fertilizer.

If we want to use these toilet as public toilet than as shown in following fig. a plastic bag (container) is used in chamber for storing of excreta. After filled of container, it will be replaced with another container and we can continually use the toilet.

ECOSAN latrine, a hygienic sanitation option, prevents pollution, fights infections, saves water, promotes zero waste management and encourages food production. In addition, it helps: , Promotion of recycling , Conservation of resources and contribution to the preservation of soil fertility , Improvement of agricultural productivity and hence contributes to food security , Increasing user comfort/security, in particular for women and girls Promotion of a holistic, interdisciplinary approach. , Cyclic Material-flow instead of disposal. ECOSAN stands for turning waste into a useful and marketable resource