Haiti: Turning Human Wastes to Life
by Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (S.O.I.L), a non-profit organization has worked with Haiti for many years and last year, it started a project to transform the lowly human waste into resources.
The devastating earthquake in Haiti in January, 2010 brought havoc to the country’s population.
Food production decreased tremendously. Malnutrition has already been rampant in Haiti because of the massive deforestation which has depleted the soil in the country. The earthquake complicated it further.
Because of this, Haiti has been very dependent on external resources to access food, something most people in the developed nations oftentimes take for granted.
Public sanitation was extremely compromised. The dumping grounds for trash and solid wastes prior to the earthquake has now been used to dump human wastes as well. This has led to infections, diseases, and death because waste matter travels to groundwater that may be accessed by people for drinking or bathing.
Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (S.O.I.L), a non-profit organization has worked with Haiti for many years and last year, it started a project to transform the lowly human waste into resources.
They initiated and organized communities to help create sanitation and use the waste matter in their respective areas. Toilets, similar to port-a-potties, have been installed that diverts urine from human wastes. These waste matter are then collected in big buckets and transported by trucks to sites where it can be enhanced and used as viable fertilizer.
The drums of wastes are dumped in composting sites. These are then covered with sugarcane material that “has a lot of carbon, good for microbial activity, as Sasha Cramer, Executive Director and co-founder of SOIL, said. In time, the temperature goes up and breaks down and kills the pathogen in the compost.
Now, there are about 200 toilets that have been installed by S.O.I.L with the help of hundreds of workers and volunteers in the camp communities. People of Haiti, now, seems to be happy. They are optimistic about the future, something which a lot of Haitians haven’t felt in years. S.O.I.L. has provided a means to use discarded materials and demonstrate the good things that come out of ecological sanitation. It restored the dignity of the people and restored public health in the communities affected. It has also created jobs and allowed communities to get together and take ownership and pride in growing their own food.
For more information visit: Transforming Wastes To Resources
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Post Commentlapasan
On August 29, 2011 at 12:05 am
this is a good way to reduce waste and to use it for beneficial purpose.
breete01
On August 29, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Thanks for sharing that very informative article.
papaleng
On August 30, 2011 at 4:58 am
A great idea put into work by the Haitian authority. Thanks for sharing this information.
erwinkennythomas
On August 30, 2011 at 7:58 am
v. good share!
Kristie Claar
On August 30, 2011 at 1:27 pm
great share
profreelancer
On August 30, 2011 at 9:17 pm
very important as well as informative thought…….
eaa1118
On September 1, 2011 at 3:00 pm
It is always wonderful to see a nation, such as Haiti (among others), reclaim existential decency after catastrophic experiences. Equally wonderful is the role played by S.O.I.L.S. and the many volunteers…
Makes us believe, once more, in Humane Humanity:-)
Thanks:-)
Eunice Tan
On September 8, 2011 at 5:54 am
We really have to concern about food shortages
ImKarn23
On October 18, 2011 at 8:37 am
spread it around – it’s worth a try..now, let’s see them implement it..
Safa
On February 15, 2012 at 4:16 am
Great article.