The Arborloo - the single pit compost toilet

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The Arborloo (tree toilet) was researched by Peter Morgan and introduced in his book “Ecological Sanitation in Zimbabwe – A compilation of manuals and experiences (Volume 1. 1999).

It represents the simplest toilet system in which recycling of human excreta is possible. It consists of a small shallow pit toilet which is filled with a mix of soil, ash, leaves and excreta. Sometimes only ash or soil is added. These ingredients convert into a type of compost underground and out of sight.

The structure is simple and portable and mainly provides privacy. The additions of soil and ash also reduce odour and fly breeding.

In this model there is no handling of excreta. Once the shallow pit is nearly full the structure is moved to another site where another shallow pit has been dug. The original site is covered with a thick layer of soil and a seedling tree is planted in this soil. At first the roots of the young tree grow in the soil, whilst the combination of soil, excreta ash and leaves are converting beneath. Eventually the roots penetrate the organically rich layer below.

Whilst the young tree can be planted at any time, it is best planted at the onset of the rainy season, and is therefore assured of a more reliable supply of water.

The idea of planting trees on old used pits is not new. The Pilgrim Fathers are thought to have used the concept when they arrived in the New World, and sometimes trees can grow out of abandoned pits naturally.

The Arborloo concept has been used quite widely in countries like Malawi and Ethiopia, but has also been used elsewhere in Africa.

 

Pictures & downloadable resources

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The fate of flies in Ventilated Arborloos. More lessons learned. March 2024.

Preparing trees from cuttings for planting in the Arborloo and Ventilated Arborloo. March 2024.

Further Studies on the influence of fungal mycelia on human excreta. February 2024.

A Toilet for an Urban Forest. The Ventilated Arborloo. February 2024.

The Ventilated Arborloo. What goes on underground. February 2024.

The Ventilated Arborloo. A version for children in the rural areas. February 2024.

A Portable Superstructure made from a variety of materials for the Ventilated Arborloo. January 2024.

The Ventilated Arborloo. A hybrid between The Arborloo and The Blair VIP. July 2023.

The Arborloo. The simplest ecological toilet. 2007 (ppt)

The Arborloo Book

The Arborloo - The Single Pit Compost Toilet

The Arborloo and its variants

Arborloo pit story (ppt)

Building an Arborloo (ppt)

The construction and use of the Arborloo (ppt)

A portable steel frame structure for Arborloo & Fossa alterna (ppt)

Arborloo to VIP - The technology (ppt)

Variants of the arborloo - FA and BVIP (ppt)

Rising up the sanitation ladder- from Arborloo to VIP (ppt)

How to make simple pedestals (ppt)

 

Additional resources on main resource page here

 

© 2022 Dr Peter Morgan