OpenIDEO - How can we improve sanitation and better manage human waste in low-income urban communities? - Concepting

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PeePoo Version 2

The PeePoo is a brilliant project that addresses existing “flying toilet” behaviors through a single-use sanitizing toilet bag that improves hygiene and creates fertilizer. As the project has been field testing (well worth a look: http://www.peepoople.com/pdf/GTZ_toilet%20bag.pdf , http://www.peepoople.com/pdf/Peepoo.Impact.Assessment.Report.pdf ), there’s likely to be iterative improvements over time. This concept envisions an “upgrade” to the PeePoo that 1) PeePoo users could trade-up to or start off with directly if funds allow, and 2) Bucket Latrine/Chamber Pot/Public Toilet users could switch to for a similar cost. It very much builds upon Jeff’s “PeePoo Bag” inspiration (http://bit.ly/ccACaG), Adriana’s “Toilet Lid” inspiration (http://bit.ly/c6kNIo), and Jocelyn’s connecting comment.

Currently the PeePoo is single-use and requires the user to either just squat and use the bag directly, or find a suitable container (such as a cut soda bottle) to line. The above-mentioned studies found that PeePoo bags: 1) are most commonly used inside the house, 2) have spillage as a common usage-reducing pain point, and 3) are not being used for both urine/feces as originally designed due to it small size.

This concept consists of an enlarged, family-sized PeePoo bag that is used to line the inside of a bucket (currently used in existing “Bucket Latrines”) and then held in place by a plastic toilet lid (made from recycling plastic that currently fills Kumasi dumps), similar to how trash can bags are held in place. Perhaps trash bag related technology like a drawstring would also be useful at this size. Users benefit from increased seat comfort, multi-use convenience, and hygiene. Gathering and transport for users/waste collectors is also easier and more sanitary.

PeePoo Image Attribution: http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/peepoople/image/view/peepoo-28738

Who could implement this?

Local entrepreneur
Multinational company
Large NGO
Government

11 Evaluations so far

How well does it meet the needs of the developing world?

It fulfills really well on the need its chosen to serve
It will help but other solutions might serve the needs better
It doesn't really address any of the needs of the developing world

How innovative is this concept?

It's completely new to the world
It's a good reinterpretation of an existing idea
There are some similar ideas
It's not innovative at all

How feasible is this concept to implement?

very high potential
It's good but need a lot of work
Its got too many open questions right now to say either way

How well does it meet the needs of the developing world?

It fulfills really well on the need its chosen to serve It will help but other solutions might serve the needs better It doesn't really address any of the needs of the developing world

How innovative is this concept?

It's completely new to the world It's a good reinterpretation of an existing idea There are some similar ideas It's not innovative at all

How feasible is this concept to implement?

very high potential It's good but need a lot of work Its got too many open questions right now to say either way

What would you do to make this more feasible / scalable?

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Comments

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Sarah Bird

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March 21, 2011, 07:30AM

HI, to build on this further, have you considered adding some kind of twist between usages. To reduce odor between uses, if you secured the bottom of the bag to the bottom of the bucket and then twisted the top, maybe you could twist off the previous deposit - and end up with a kind of string of sausages - not sure if this would help or not - just a random thought.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Sarah Bird's comment

Vincent Cheng

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April 14, 2011, 03:30PM

I must say that's a creative and interesting idea Sarah! At the same time, I never thought that human excrement and sausages would become associated in my mind, although now that I think of it, there is a connection =P

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Avi Solomon

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January 17, 2011, 03:57PM

The Dabbawalla distribution system could be emulated here!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKmp1sZPMUk

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Alessandro Ortega Amaral

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January 17, 2011, 02:52PM

Vincent, your idea is that the bags are collected by a service provider? If so, I imagine the bags could be simpler than Peepoo, which reduces the cost. Peepoo bags are made to be dropped anywhere, since they possess an inner layer of urea, etc.. For the use of manure in a biodigester, for example, would suffice that the bags were biodegradable ... or not? What do you think?

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Demian Repucci

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January 17, 2011, 06:41AM

Has Wilhelmson, the original inventor of the Pee-Poo bags, been contacted regarding their recent interest on OpenIDEO? There are a lot of good opportunities here so It would be very cool to hear what he thought of some of the other users' suggestions.

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Vincent Cheng

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January 06, 2011, 05:50PM

If separation of urine and feces is found to be important (perhaps for lower utilization of Peepoo bags, improved conversion efficiency into fertilizer/energy, etc.), the "Hybrid Chamber Pot and Watering Can" ( http://bit.ly/hIBcvt ) may make a good complimentary product. And of course, a lot of these shortlisted concepts would work well together in an integrated system. For example, this concept would go well with “Navigation System for Flying Toilets”, “Get Paid For Your Poop”, etc.

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Vincent Cheng

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January 04, 2011, 03:38PM

Thanks for the support and builds!

@Ossian: nice brainstorming. Hadn't considered that external bag color/texture could increase the speed of sanitization. Agree it'd be ideal to price the bag to make it as accessible as possible. However, important to recognize that free may not necessarily be optimum (as discussed in this Harvard Business Review Case Study on developing world condom dissemination: http://hbr.org/product/population-services-international-the-social-marke/an/590061-PDF-ENG ). For example, a nominal price sometimes increases usage, as an indicator of quality and desirability. Also, monetary incentive is important for recruiting local shops/vendors to distribute and promote these bags (though this incentive might be provided through also acting as a used-bag collection point, assuming that enough revenue can be generated through energy/fertilizer creation). Anyways, regardless of the concept, pricing/payment is an important factor that will require much thought.

@Demian: Yes, it's a huge issue that I'm now much more cognizant of, thanks to openIDEO and the community!

@Meena: Great link to additional commentary. Very helpful for thinking about further refinement opportunities.

@Lukasz: Absolutely. If “Get Paid For Your Poop” turns out to be feasible, there'd be built-in incentives for responsible collection, the initial bag cost could be subsidized, and you could get a new free bag along with payment when you turn in a used bag.

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lukasz krupinski

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January 02, 2011, 12:53PM

Great! :) It should be called a 'PooBelle' ;) I like this idea a lot as it is very simple and gives a lot of freedom. I think it would be complete, combined with the "Get paid for your poop" idea!

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Meena Kadri

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December 30, 2010, 02:45PM

I really like that Vincent has mashed together various ideas here.

Actually Demian – you wouldn't be the only one to nit-pick on the Pee-Poo bags. Sanitation + development blogs have been rife with commentary since it's launch. Here's one that lists some pros *and* cons http://bit.ly/eiOPSy

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Demian Repucci

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December 30, 2010, 06:33AM

Astoundingly great concept Vincent!
The Pee Poo bag is brilliant.
The more research I do the more alarmed I am at how many people live without toilets. Actually I just read somewhere that more people in India have access to mobile phones than have access to a toilet. Shameful that we have come so far and yet left so many people behind.
The Pee Poo bag is a cheap, super simple solution to a huge global problem.
I like it a lot. Wilhelmson should be highly commended for inventing it. If I were hyper-critical from a design/usability standpoint I would say that there might be a slight issue with the inner bag being larger/wider than the outer bag. Looks like the use could be a little awkward. Especially filled with its 'precious cargo'. But I wouldn't dare to nit-pick such a gem. Overall the Pee Poo bag is an elegantly simple solution to a chronic problem that remains unsolved for well over o BILLION people in this world. Terrible. I shudder to think how much I take my toilet for granted.
Thanks again for the concept!

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Ossian Hynes

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December 30, 2010, 02:31AM

If the bags are left out in the sun, how hot will they get? The humanure guidebook says that if excrement can be heated to 55-60C for several hours then all germs will be killed. In hotter, sunnier countries, is this an option. What if the bags where better absorbers, had a rough finish and black? In what conditoins could they reach this crucial temperature.

biodegradable dog poop bags cost less than £0.05 each. Is it feasible to give them away for free? Bags are easily carriable in a pocket so everyone can have them. Is there now any excuse for not using one?

If bags can be easil and cleanly sealed they, with their content can be easily sealed. This also has the huge benifit that urine is seperated from excrement! In additon, the urine is left where it is, it will be a good feralizer and it does, I believe, carry germs. Is this true????

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Vincent Cheng

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December 24, 2010, 01:04PM

Very true and thanks for the link Svava. By combining such generally temporarily used portable/emergency toilets with the biodegradable, fertilizer-producing PeePoo bags, the PeePoo version 2 would hopefully provide a more hygienic and environmental longer-term solution.

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