El Rosal

FINAL REPORT OF
Sainte Marie Pilot Project: For the safe remediation of human waste and its transformation into an
optimum fertilizer by Howard Higgins (TNR) EcoSan, thermophilic composting .
By

New Directions Foundation
LONDON – HAITI May 2010
Author: Richard Higgins, agricultural researcher and leading exponent of the science of thermophilic
composting and waste management

Initialresponse at WASH cluster
Having been approached by the regional co ordinator, for Global Water Initiative, Central America,
Catholic Relief Services, who introduced Richard to the regional director, She agreed with Richard the
pressing need for averting sewage from water borne systems to a DRY method to avoid the mounting
problems of: increased risk of disease, further ground watercontamination from flooding and
seepage and a combined solution for the hygienic disposal of all organic wastes (inc. MHM) produced
in refugee camps. He was subsequently contracted by the group, who have been working in Haiti for
fifty years.

Project Description
To erect five urine separator latrines for camp 1 at Sainte Marie, Canape vert, Port Au Prince for the
purpose of Total Nutrient Recovery(TNR) and rendition of fecal matter and urine into an optimum
fertilizer by building a dry thermophilic composting operation to digest the waste of 200 users per day.
This was done in conjunction with the source separated waste from the camp and the neighbouring
convent.

Specific Activities
Preparation: On arrival to initiate the project we utilized two 3 metre open pit latrines that hadalready
been dug. They were completely open, 3 metres deep and were in use. They were exceedingly
dangerous as there was no other railing or platform at the top of the pits. We capped off these
dangerous latrines with a concrete block surround and a plywood floor and a plywood housing. Then the
urine separator collection units, designed by NDF (Haiti), were installed using the convertedstandard
Oxfam footplates. Five gallon buckets being placed beneath a raised wooden platform for collection of
solids. Provided in the latrines housings were medium buckets and instructions to ‘cover over’ with a
scoopful of the collected earth, dry grass, leaves and small amounts of ash etc., There were no
complaints to this procedure as upon using these latrines there was found to be no smell.Also the

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introduction of the ‘footplate’ system as opposed to the conventional seated toilet arrangement
presented no complaints .

Richard Higgins has also a new and very economical design for a urine separator sit down toilet for the
disabled and very young that were found to encounter problems with either ease of use or
misunderstanding how to use the squat plate. Oxfam has sincebegun mass production of Urine
separator squat plates.

Note: In the light of the Cholera outbreak NDF generally recommends the use of squat plates as
opposed to the seated toilet arrangement as an added precaution for the prevention of spreading fecal
contamination. Also processing should be carried out in the Howard Higgins Hot Box system for
complete protection:

Break down of ‘Cash forWork’ presented to the project funders CRS:
We employed 2 trainee managers
one plastic picker to separate from sweepings
one laborer
and one latrine cleaner

at 380 HTG per day each
at 180 HTG per day
at 180 HTG per day
at 180 HTG per day

TOTAL COST FOR LABOUR for running this site was

9,100 HTG per 7 days

Design of latrine housing and squat plate collector
The latrinehousings were built on a surround of concrete blocks joined with a mixture of cement and
earth and were boarded over with 18mm plywood, which was affixed to the blocks below. The walls of
the 20 Square foot latrine were 12mm plywood and were supported on 2X4 timber, the door the same.
A tin roof was nailed to a similar frame. The size was determined for ease of access for mothers with
children.
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