Bill Gates is at it again, this time promoting the Omniprocessor–the reimagining of a sewage treatment plant that will serve as a shared repository for human waste for areas in the developing world without modern sewage systems. (Read the AlterNet article here: http://www.alternet.org/environment/bill-gates-drinks-water-made-poop)
“Gates says that nearly 2 billion people around the world use latrines that are not properly drained and many just defecate outdoors, without any toilet facilities whatsoever. As a result, says Gates, waste water becomes contaminated, often with tragic consequences as some 700,000 children die each year because of diseases caused by poor local sanitation.
“‘If we can develop safe, affordable ways to get rid of human waste, we can prevent many of those deaths and help more children grow up healthy,’ says Gates.”
“…Several years ago, Gates put the word out with inventors and entrepreneurs that he wanted to build a practical toilet that would be suitable for families in poor countries. To meet Gates’ criteria, the toilet had to take in the bodily waste of an entire family and output drinkable water and salt for food. The toilet would also have to convert the waste to energy that the family could use to help power its home. And last, it had to be inexpensive.”
Is the Omniprocessor the magic toilet he’s been looking for? Tune in next time…
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