We are all Peepoople

Six years ago, Björn Vinnerås, researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, was contacted by architect Anders Wilhelmson. He had developed a prototype of a biodegradable toilet but was looking for a sanitary solution to the risk of contagion spreading.

‘We’re one of only a few research groups in the world, which works on sanitation technology,’ says Björn Vinnerås, who has a doctoral degree in the area.

The solution was a self-sanitising toilet. By adding an ordinary fertiliser substance, urea which contains ammonia, diarrhea-causing organisms are stopped when the hygienisation process is activated by the contact between faeces and urea.

First tested in the slums of Nairobi

The result of research and testing on site in the large Kibera slum area in Nairoibi, Kenya, produced a fully developed product named Peepoo.

‘Peepoo is a plastic bag, which is manufactured in Sweden and assembled in Kenya. It’s fully biodegradable and half of the material comes from renewable sources,’ says Björn Vinnerås.

The Peepoo-bag is actually two bags; one inner, large and thin bag and an outer bag of a stronger and denser material. Inside the inner bag there is a powder of urea. The outside bag keeps the content odour-free for 24 hours after use. Peepoo can be buried in the soil, the hygienisation process starts automatically and the bag does not start to break down until its contents have been completely sanitised.

For more convenience, Peepoo can also be placed in a small bucket and used as a chamber pot. A portable seat has also been developed for disabled and old people.

Three problems solved at the same time

‘Peepoo solves three problems at the same time. It solves the problem of sanitation, it makes sure that the groundwater is not contaminated and it contributes to food production by turning into valuable fertiliser after use.’

Defecation and urea together makes excellent fertiliser for plants. Because of the hygiensation process, it will also be safe to use.

Tried worldwide
The demand for Peepoo worldwide is substantial. Apart from Kenya, Peepoo was used following the earthquake disaster in Haiti and has also been tried in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Established humanitarian organisations like Oxfam, the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières and UN Habitat have all tried Peepoo.

Today 5000 toilets are produced per day, but the production is planned to increase to 300 000 per day in spring 2012.

Inexpensive a must

A big challenge is that Peepoo must be inexpensive. Many people who need sanitation live on less than 2 US dollars a day. In the slums of Kibera the toilet costs 3 Kenyan shillings, but when you hand it in after use, you get one shilling in return. A second-hand market has started where young people hand in used bags for those who do not want to do it themselves.

The idea is to make the production of Peepoo profitable, despite the low price.

‘It comes down to two things – doing business and doing well,’ says Björn Vinnerås.