India’s first zero waste toilet happens to have been constructed in Tiruchy by lawyer-turned-organic farmer S. Thalapathy (45) early this May.
The farmer and his wife Selvi are busy receiving guests every day who are eager to know about the advantages of the zero waste toilet.
“Many were surprised when we said we have stopped renewal of our LPG cylinder. I cook using biogas,” smiles Ms Selvi. The couple had invested Rs37,000 in their toilet which they claim will benefit them for life.
Sharing details about the special toilet complex, Mr Thalapathy said, “I decided to lead a life in close proximity with nature. When I learnt about the concept of zero waste toilet, I wanted to set it up in my house. This has become a model facility for others,” he said.
He has received visitors from Hyderabad, various parts of Tamil Nadu and researchers from the Madras school of social work. The toilet was constructed with the guidance of NGO SCOPE, which works in the field of sanitation.
“The facility has five modules — a flush toilet, a bathroom, a urine diversion bowl, a cultivated wetland for treating the waste water from the bathroom and the biogas plant.
The waste water from the bathroom is used to water the plants in our kitchen garden. The biogas plant, which will have a digester inside, will convert the solid waste and other organic waste into methane gas. The gas is supplied to kitchen stove,” explained the couple.
SCOPE director and sanitation expert M. Subburaman said zero waste toilets would help families stop depending on LPG cylinders. “We utilise the waste water, and the solid waste from the toilet complex turns into manure,” he said. To contact the couple – 9952848317.