Priorities:
- Hygiene for those currently in close contact with the waste - nothing is more important than this.
- Affordability - ideally replicable without subsidies. Capital and running. Affordability also takes into account any benefits such as compost or biogas.
- Reliable, low failure rate and impact of failure.
- Easily maintained.
- Cultural appropriateness.
- Environmental impact.
Starting point of the project[edit | edit source]
It is suggested that the community's wants and needs be the starting point of the project, with health, economic and ecological considerations as part of that. Composting toilets are one possible means of meeting those needs.
Community factors[edit | edit source]
Public consciousness - consider Kamal Kar's approach (Community-led total sanitation). Ask Kar for advice?
Cultural factors - dirty things are thrown away, not kept?
Working with the community. Do they have ideas? Have they been asked? What do they want? What are their concerns?
For the assistant/facilitator/"designer" - by far the best way is to live in the community and experience life as they do, learn their language (as much as possible) and spend a lot of time communicating and observing.