Banza Toilet

Product Description

The Banza Toilet is a sanitation solution in response to the lack of adequate facilities for families in informal settlements worldwide. Compact and foldable, the Banza Toilet can be utilized when space is limited. The product uses biodegradable bags for human waste containment and disposal, providing a hygienic means of handling human waste for toilet users and service providers.^{Interview with designer}

This product has been discontinued to our knowledge as of 2018.

Target SDGs

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Banza Sanitation

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Peepoo Personal Toilet.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Toilets are manufactured on-demand in Kenya.^{Interview with designer}

Intellectural Property Type

Trade Secret

User Provision Model

Service organizations typically will purchase the toilet and provide them on a community-wide basis to families together with the necessary services of collecting and processing of waste. They also have potential to be distributed among NGOs and related agencies that conduct disaster relief operations or operate refugee encampments. Banza has identified interest among rural residents and individuals that are home-bound and have difficulty accessing public sanitation facilities.^{Interview with designer}

Distributions to Date Status

100 prototypes

Toilet type

Container-based service

Evacuation method

Dry

Storage conditions

Container storage

Capacity (L)

Unknown

Time until emptying

Emptied when biodegradable bags are full

Design Specifications

The toilets separate solid and liquid waste to optimize collection and processing. The seats are designed to seal the toilet when closed to minimize odors. The toilets are ergonomically designed to be compact for homes with limited space and they use biodegradable bags for human waste containment and disposal. These bags contain no plastic, and while durable, they dissolve in water or when composted.^{Interview with designer} Experts indicate that further details are needed regarding disposal guidance/process for the provided bags (i.e. Who collects the bags? Where is the waste brought?).

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Support provided by a specialized technician from Banza Sanitation. The Banza Sanitation system can be replicated in informal settlements with a minimum of infrastructure, government involvement, financing or concerns of user acceptance or environmental issues.^{Interview with designer}

Replacement Components

Components are available in country for repair and replacement. ^{Interview with manufacturer}

Lifecycle

Service providers recover any toilets that are defective or at end-of-life.^{Interview with representative}

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Internal performance targets have not been released.

Vetted Performance Status

Unknown

Safety

It is recommended that protective clothing is used while handling waste material.^{Interview with designer}

Complementary Technical Systems

None

Academic Research and References

Kiriku, J., 2014, Banza toilets: a pilot study for sanitation solutions in Kenya. Grand Challenges Canada

Goal 6. Available: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6

Compliance with regulations

None

Evaluation methods

Field testing.^{Interview with designer}

Other Information

Check out their promotional video here.

Comments from the Community

8 Comments

Michael Moscherosch says:

August 16, 2016 at 2:03 pm

I question the capability to produce 1,000,000 pads with Saathi’s current setup. If my information is correct, I estimate their daily production to be less than 1,000 pads. It would take them 3 years to make 1,000,000 pads. Unless they have a production of about 4,000 pads per day they would not meet an annual production of 1,000,000 pads.
Michael Moscherosch says:

August 16, 2016 at 2:06 pm

Using banana fibers as absorbent is a very good idea. Converting agro-waste (i.e. banana plant trunks) into sellable fibers creates jobs and additional income for banana farmers. Banana fibers can be converted into fluff pulp that can deliver the absorbency and properties needed in napkins.
Michael Moscherosch says:

August 16, 2016 at 2:09 pm

How and why does Saathi sterilize the pads? Sanitary napkins are normally not sterile, they just have to meet the microbiological requirements of the governing body (expressed as a maximum bioburden, measured in cfu)
E4C.COMMENTS says:

September 26, 2016 at 2:38 am

Emily says:

There seems to be very little information available about Banza Sanitation, and their website has not been updated since 2013. It is not clear what their business model is. It seems like they are similar to PeePoo bags, offering compostable paper bags to collect the waste, but where do the users dispose of their bags?
E4C.COMMENTS says:

September 26, 2016 at 3:18 am

Emily says:

Toilet type: urine-diverting dry toilet (UDDT).
E4C.COMMENTS says:

September 26, 2016 at 3:25 am

Emily says:

Product description: I would add that the toilet is urine-diverting (UDDT).
E4C.COMMENTS says:

September 26, 2016 at 4:30 am

Emily says:

Manufacturing/building method: According to their Facebook page, the bio-bags are manufactured in Belgium (https://www.facebook.com/ba… ) and the frames are manufactured in Taiwan (https://www.facebook.com/ba… ).
Emily says:

September 26, 2016 at 8:24 pm

Banza Toilet:

Target product user(s): Household
Pricing structure: unknown
Treatment method: unknown