This toilet, co-developed by Samsung and Gates Foundation, will turn solid waste into ashes

A prototype was released by the South Korean multinational in August. Work on the model began in 2019.

Published on: Sep 12, 2022, 11:49:22 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Samsung Electronics, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is working on a toilet that, according to the South Korean tech giant, would turn solid waste into ashes. In August, the two sides launched a prototype, built as a part of the Gates Foundation's ‘Reinvent the Toilet Challenge’, which began in 2011.

The prototype

In a statement, Samsung said that the prototype was created by its research and development arm, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), adding that work on the model began in 2019. The energy-efficient product fulfils the Gates Foundation's performance criterion for commercialisation for household use, the release further stated.

On how the toilet functions, the company noted that heat-treatment and bioprocessing technologies have been installed in the product to remove pathogens from human waste, and make the released effluent, as well as solids, safe for the environment. Its system would enable the treated water to be fully recycled. Solid waste would be dehydrated, dried, and combusted into ashes, while, on the liquid side, a biological purification process would treat the waste.

Global agencies on sanitation facilities

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Samsung's statement said that globally, as many as 3.6 billion people have no choice but to use unsafe sanitation facilities. This, it said, results in around 500,000 children under the age of 5 losing their lives every year due to limited access to both safe water and hygiene.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Home/Technology/This Toilet, Co-developed By Samsung And Gates Foundation, Will Turn Solid Waste Into Ashes