The Global Classroom

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The Global Classroom
39 Glasheen Rd.
Petersham, MA 01366
(978) 724-3530
www.globalclassroom.net

State of the Art Composting Toilets are the way to go

One of the most significant contributions The Global Classroom volunteers have made is the introduction of composting toilets on the beaches of the Baja peninsula. These ecological bathrooms are desperately needed to avoid the contamination of water and soil along the pristine Baja beaches, as well as to prevent disease caused by contaminated shellfish and water. The "bio-toilet" is constructed of materials found locally, making it possible for Mexicans to build their own composting toilets. With much success in Baja, The Global Classroom has expanded the program, constructing additional toilets in Siberia and Costa Rica.

In March 1999, The Global Classroom donated materials and labor needed to create Baja's first "State of the Art" composting toilet system. With technical support from Sustainable Strategies of Concord, MA, and the help of volunteers, local students and passers by, the system was built in just eight days.

A second toilet was built in March 2000 at one of the popular local beaches, where it will be used by hundreds of Mexican tourists during holiday gatherings. Local townspeople were intrigued by the idea of composting toilets and excited by the possibility of learning how to build one.

In July of 2002, the Sacred Earth Network (SEN), an organization involved in many projects in Siberia, brought the Global Classroom's alternative construction specialist, Colin Garland, to help the group build a composting toilet with solar lighting. This proved to be an effective approach to addressing increasing water safety concerns in the town of Ulagan.

With the Siberian Interregional Center Zapovedniki (SICZ), the SEN sponsored the construction of an environmental awareness center along with the construction of this ecological bathroom. The bathroom was built with the help of many native people we met there and this exemplifies SICZ's understanding of the importance of drawing rural indigenous populations into their conservation work.

In 2003, construction began on the first composting toilet in Costa Rica, at our own Aula Global Biological Reserve. Some modifications had to be made as large cement blocks could not easily be carried into the rain forest and other materials usually used to build toilets could not withstand the moist conditions.

After several episodes of trial and error, the toilet was finished, complete with a small ramp and wood to match the lodge. This project contributes to the 100% eco-friendly facilities at Aula Global.

These ecological bathrooms will last for decades with minimal maintenance and will not pollute the ground like current alternatives. More detailed info on composting toilet maintainance and construction coming soon!

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