Enviro Loo

Key Features

The Enviro Loo is a disruptive sanitation technology that recovers more, uses less, and causes zero contamination to the environment as it is a totally off-the-grid system that does not require water, electricity, or harmful chemicals to operate.

Waste enters the container through the ceramic toilet bowl. Liquid waste drains to the bottom of the container while solid waste remains on the drying plate. The waste is exposed to a continuous air flow with the addition of an organic starter pack. Air is extracted through the extraction unit at the top with air being drawn into the container via the inlet pipes. As the air moves through the system, it dehydrates the solid waste on the drying plate. The liquid that has drained to the bottom of the container evaporates. Sunlight increases the ambient temperature within the container. The intense heat, prolonged retention periods, and oxygen-rich air dehydrate and decompose the waste to convert it into an inoffensive, dry, stabilized material. At this point, the waste is reduced to roughly 5% of its original volume. The system is entirely odorless as the negative pressure within the container prevents the escape of any odor through the toilet bowl or air inlet pipes. The odor is vented out via the wind driven extractor unit.

Social Impact

A multi-award winning South African product, manufactured by Enviro Options (PTY) Ltd (Enviro Options), the Enviro Loo was designed to address the need for a safe, dignified, and hygienic alternative to ventilated pit latrines for areas with little or no access to water or sewage infrastructure. To date, more than 115,000 Enviro Loo toilets have been installed globally including 60,000 in rural schools across South Africa improving the lives of thousands of  learners.

The ceramic toilet bowl is featured in a standard and junior size and is safe and easy to clean. Enviro Loo offers a range of models catering to various usage requirements (from up to 10 users a day with the domestic unit and up to 40 users a day with the industrial unit). There is also a Evaporative Urinal tank model with connection for up to 4 urinal ceramic bowls. Just one Enviro Loo industrial model can save up to 460,000 liters of water and break down 5.5 tons of waste annually. A total of 107,380 Enviro Loo units, installed over the last 23 years (various models), save around 34 billion liters of water annually at a cost savings of nearly USD $3 million and break down 2,651,305 tons of waste. A major part of the company’s business model is to create local employment through education and training in the installation, operation, servicing, and maintenance of the Enviro Loo technology and provides permanent jobs to around 50 employees at the factory and to 342 service technicians as well as temporary jobs to over 10,000 contractors and laborers.

Future Plans

Enviro Options has a research and development division that is constantly researching ways to improve its range of dry sanitation products as well as to add new products. The Enviro Loo has been specified as part of the South African government’s Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) program launched in 2018 and, as part of this initiative, has supplied around 5,500 units so far in two of South Africa’s main provinces with the potential for rollout to other provinces. A further 4,500 schools require improved sanitation facilities with thousands more crying out for additional toilets to cater for an increase in learners. Enviro Options will continue to work towards fulfilling this market as well as expanding into the greater continent.

Main Target Group

Various governmental departments including the Department of Education, Department of Health for rural clinics, Department of Human Settlements, municipalities, corporate and mining companies, national parks, heritage sites, construction companies, and private individuals and farms.

Main User

School children, families, citizens, employees, etc.