The uOttawa team, made up of Katia Krazem, Demsey Kirkwood, Ricca Bajaj Dudeja and Denithra Annasiwatta, won second place for the project in the third edition of the competition.
The competition brought together graduate students from universities in Canada, France, Nigeria, India, Japan, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire to propose solutions to local sustainability challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Composting toilets can be deployed in emergency situations like refugee camps, to offer a sustainable option for bathroom use.
“More than 20 million people are displaced every year due to climatic disasters. Our current infrastructure and construction methods are not equipped to deal with this. We need new solutions for basic human needs, like hygienic bathrooms, to support climate refugees while also being environmentally friendly,” says team member Demsey Kirkwood, a master’s student in entrepreneurial engineering design.
Initially a collaboration with Civil Youth Protection Canada (CYPC) and Engineers Without Borders, the project aimed to develop a remote, sustainable toilet solution for CYPC. During the design process, the team realized a similar model could be also used in emergency situations to help climate refugees. The project, focused on human-centred design, involves providing an initial prototype and recommendations for improvement and adaptation.
Using the Faculty of Engineering Makerspace
Project members come from various Faculty of Engineering programs, including electrical and computer engineering, engineering management and mechanical engineering.
Key features of the prototype were created using the faculty’s Richard l’Abbé Makerspace, including:
- Most of the frame, constructed from custom laser-cut medium-density fiberboard (MDF) pieces
- Most of the internal parts, 3D printed from PLA polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA)
“The Faculty of Engineering Richard l’Abbé Makerspace facilities were a huge asset and helped us complete the project on time and on budget.”
Demsey Kirkwood
— Master’s student in entrepreneurial engineering design
As part of its project recommendations, the team proposed investing in AI-based technologies to improve early warning systems for extreme weather events, improving preparedness and infrastructure planning. It also proposed the widespread adoption of composting toilets, which would operate without water and effectively manage odors without the need for chemicals.
“Existing portable toilet solutions rely on chemicals that complicate the treatment of toilet waste. Because our solution doesn’t rely on these chemicals, it’s much easier to turn human waste into organic compost that can be used in agriculture. The great thing about composting toilets is that they extract many vital nutrients that can be used to grow food crops, which is very important in regions affected by climate change,” says Kirkwood.
Paving the way for greater impact
While the project is still in its early stages, the positive results of the initial prototype suggest that further research and development could significantly help many people, including climate refugees.
By maintaining a balanced mix of human waste and organic matter, these toilets minimize odours and facilitate waste management. In times of high demand, the waste can be sustainably processed in industrial composting facilities to use in agriculture.
"The biggest benefit of the collection of projects presented at the U7+ Student Challenge is to see the world through the eyes of our students" expresses Professor David Bruce.
“[Our students] will be our future leaders, and taking the time to help them guide our sustainable practices today is of the utmost priority.”
David Bruce
— Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Teaching Innovation, Faculty of Engineering
This student-lead composting toilet project is more than an entry in an international competition — it’s a testament to the power of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in solving crucial global challenges. Through their ingenuity and dedication, these engineering students are paving the way for a future where hygienic toilets are accessible to all, even in emergency situations.