PUNE: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) will soon have 'green toilets' on the campus with the help of Non-Water Sanitation, a Germany-based organisation that provides sustainable sanitation solutions.
The campus lacks sufficient toilet facilities due to which many students and outsiders urinate at any place. Thus, the varsity adopted the Berlin model of non-water sanitation which will develop composting dry toilets along with biogas plants and organic gardens on the campus which would self-sustain with the organic waste generated in the campus.
“There are few toilets on campus especially at areas accessed by a large number of commuters, students, staff members, non-staff members, outsiders and others. We are planning to deploy these green toilets 500 metres. This will maintain hygiene and sanitation on the campus and make it more eco-friendly,” said Vice-Chancellor (VC) of SPPU, Nitin Karmalkar.
By the first week of December, the campus will have five green toilets as a pilot project.
“There is one toilet near the refectory area which emits a foul smell and unhealthy environment. In this process feces, urine and garbage let out from canteens and refectory will not be treated as waste but as a resource. The compost will be used to develop biogas plant and supply it back to the refectory,” said Students Welfare Director Prabhakar Desai.
The Students' Welfare Department plans to rope in students of earn and learn scheme in collecting the compost and reusing it for gardening or tree plantation.
“Students will not face problems in collecting these dry composts as they are not directly in contact with wet composts. Moreover, there will be no foul smell in it. Students will be educated about the new system of toilet and how to collect and use these composts, after which they are free to choose the work or not,” said Desai.
An expert from the organisation will be appointed for a year to guide the university on maintenance and managing the compost generated by the toilets.
“This will require imparting education regarding using waterless toilets and change in the mindset of people to use toilets properly. We will take workshops and put up instruction boards near the toilets. It does not require daily maintenance as the mechanism keeps the toilet dry,” said Desai.
These toilets will be deployed near student facility centre, Adarsh canteen, labour camp near Media Communication Centre, Law Building canteen, walking track, playground, security personnel requirement (in a area where security perosnnels have more access) and temporary toilets during university programmes.
