COMPOSTING TOILETS

Poor sanitation conditions lead to cholera, diarrhea and sickness, over 900 children in PNG die every year from diarrhea, making it a leading cause of death among children under the age of five.  Open defecation continues to be an urgent problem and a critical health issue.

Eco Flow composting toilets are Certified to Australian Standards and are specifically designed for the tropical weather.  A community pack toilet is water-less with a natural biological process in the breakdown of waste, they are environmentally friendly and help to return nutrients to the village garden soil.

Secondary secondary students were shown how to build the cubicles, install the toilets and regularly manage the recycling process.

The local village carpenter learnt how to repair and replace all items which are sold locally, this will enable long term maintenance of these facilities.

The toilets will be used by adolescent students, this age group requires more privacy, especially the girls with their menstrual hygiene management.

Villagers in this area defecate in the sea or on the beach, some homes have a pit toilet.   HEAPS with the locals installed a outside water-less toilet at the village health workers home.  Neighbouring villagers are invited to come and see how this toilet works, as this is a first time experience for all.

This toilet was funded through Australian public donations.

A composting toilet on display to promote a safe sanitation system which is suitable for village schools.   The compost pedestal works as a small self contained system.  This toilet was funded through Australian public donations.

Services a rubber resettlement scheme community where only pit toilets are used.

Their new toilet building is on stilts made of locally milled wood with thatched walls.   There are 4 rooms, each with a composting toilet and a ventilation fans run with solar.

The waste box is underneath, where composting is managed through regularly introducing dry leaves and wood shavings for the excrement breakdown which is later recycled as garden fertiliser.

Gavien School worked in partnership with HEAPS PNG, Ecoflo Wastewater Management Brisbane and Warrior Industries Ltd Lae in building, installing and trialing the suitability of composting toilets, and  ability to manage the composting process effectively and long term.

The project is supported by the Australian Government through the PNGAusPartnership.