In Haiti, SOIL provides affordable ecological sanitation and waste treatment services that are beneficial for health, local agricultural production and national economic development.
Through SOIL’s social business design, customers rent a household “EkoLakay” toilet for a monthly fee of approximately $5 per home. SOIL sanitation workers visit each household to collect toilet waste each week and they deliver a fresh supply of carbon material which is used for “flushing” the composting toilets. Currently over 4,000 people use the service, with more signing up daily.
SOIL recognizes that the most threatened and marginalized human beings are generally found living in similarly threatened ecosystems.
Dr Sasha Kramer – Co-founder and Executive Director, SOIL
The collected waste is then transported to the SOIL composting facility where it is transformed into rich, organic, agricultural-grade compost through a carefully monitored process. Revenue from monthly toilet user fees and the sale of compost supports the ongoing business development costs.
Why you should care
In Haiti, where the solution is deployed, diarrheal disease accounts for is one of the leading causes of deaths among children under the age of five. In transforming human waste into safe, agricultural-grade compost, SOIL proves it is possible to affordably and sustainably provide household sanitation and waste treatment services, even in the most impoverished and water-scarce communities. At the same time, SOIL supports local economic development by boosting local food production.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Good Health and Well-Being
Safe sanitation reduces risk of diarrheal disease, which is the second leading cause of death among children under five years old globally.
Clean Water and Sanitation
By providing adequate and equitable sanitation options, SOIL contributes to improving hygiene and health for all,
Decent Work and Economic Growth
SOIL reports that it has sold approximately 75,000 gallons of compost to date, increasing livelihood opportunities for workers at the composting facility and for smallholder farmers.
Life on Land
Safe management of human waste prevents environmental pollution, while compost helps to restore soil Health.
SOIL
The mission of Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) is to promote dignity, health, and sustainable livelihoods through the transformation of wastes into resources.
Global Goals addressed