An Accra-based company has showcased a revolutionary technology for household waste disposal, which expects to ease the problems of over 70% of Ghanaian households without proper toilet facilities.
The Biofil Toilet System, which was developed by K. A. Anno Engineering Limited and is marketed by Biological Filters and Composters Ltd (Biofilcom), was on display at the recently-ended International Building and Construction Exhibition in Accra. The system is able to break down solid organic waste up to thirty times faster and more efficiently than the traditional septic system. This also means that the system can be up to thirty times smaller than the septic system.
Kweku Anno, Director of Biofilcom, said that aerobic decomposition is the key principle behind his company’s product. “Waste water is immediately drained in the Biofil Toilet System, leaving the solid waste in a suspended state where oxygen can enter the enclosed system,” he explained. The result is a natural ‘living filter’ environment, where organisms that aid in decomposition are able to thrive and do their work. “The waste is typically broken down within two weeks, and there is very little odour generated in this system. Also, the only by-product, which is the filtered waste water, can be re-used,” Anno added.
The biofil toilet system requires very little maintenance, and can be serviced by “semi-skilled personnel, using simple equipment,” according to Anno. The system is also suitable for all soil conditions, including heavy clay soils, shallow or exposed rock beds, and soils with high water tables. Biofilcom has installed the system in over 200 locations around Ghana, including Anglogold Ashanti’s Tarkwa facilities, and the HFC Bank and Ghana Home Loans’ offices, and most installations usually require little or no excavation.
In addition to the long-term benefits, the system is also more affordable than a typical septic installation, and all materials utilized in the system are locally-made. “Our aim is to provide a toilet for every home and income level in Ghana,” Anno explains. The company has also developed a standalone non-flush product based on the same technology, which caters to the main drawbacks of the pit latrine and KVIP systems: the bad odour and hygiene. These prefabricated units are best suited for areas where there is little or no water, as well as for schools, market areas and rural communities.
The Biofil Toilet System, which was developed by K. A. Anno Engineering Limited and is marketed by Biological Filters and Composters Ltd (Biofilcom), was on display at the recently-ended International Building and Construction Exhibition in Accra. The system is able to break down solid organic waste up to thirty times faster and more efficiently than the traditional septic system. This also means that the system can be up to thirty times smaller than the septic system.
Kweku Anno, Director of Biofilcom, said that aerobic decomposition is the key principle behind his company’s product. “Waste water is immediately drained in the Biofil Toilet System, leaving the solid waste in a suspended state where oxygen can enter the enclosed system,” he explained. The result is a natural ‘living filter’ environment, where organisms that aid in decomposition are able to thrive and do their work. “The waste is typically broken down within two weeks, and there is very little odour generated in this system. Also, the only by-product, which is the filtered waste water, can be re-used,” Anno added.
The biofil toilet system requires very little maintenance, and can be serviced by “semi-skilled personnel, using simple equipment,” according to Anno. The system is also suitable for all soil conditions, including heavy clay soils, shallow or exposed rock beds, and soils with high water tables. Biofilcom has installed the system in over 200 locations around Ghana, including Anglogold Ashanti’s Tarkwa facilities, and the HFC Bank and Ghana Home Loans’ offices, and most installations usually require little or no excavation.
In addition to the long-term benefits, the system is also more affordable than a typical septic installation, and all materials utilized in the system are locally-made. “Our aim is to provide a toilet for every home and income level in Ghana,” Anno explains. The company has also developed a standalone non-flush product based on the same technology, which caters to the main drawbacks of the pit latrine and KVIP systems: the bad odour and hygiene. These prefabricated units are best suited for areas where there is little or no water, as well as for schools, market areas and rural communities.
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