Easy Latrine

The Cambodia Easy Latrine is a low-cost sanitation system that villagers can build themselves from locally available materials. The sanitation system consists of a pan, a bucket of water with a ladle, and pipes to connect a hut to a latrine buried in the ground. The latrine itself has three receptacles made from rings of concrete bound by the ash of rice husks — material that is readily at hand and less expensive than cement. Once a receptacle is full, it can be capped and, after two years, the sediment can be used as compost. Each easy latrine can be made for approximately $25 USD.

iDE is an international non-profit dedicated to ending poverty in the developing world not through handouts, but by helping farm families access the tools and knowledge they need to increase their income.

iDE's origins as a formal organization lie in a visit to a Somalian refugee camp in 1982. It was there that founder Paul Polak noticed a critical lack of transport limiting the economic opportunities of refugees who were relying on manual transportation for all commodities. Following the principle "in technology, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," iDE re-engineered the local donkey cart and interested local artisans in manufacturing one with a more efficient center of gravity, using abandoned car parts for affordability. The donkey carts were a success; more than 500 were sold, producing $1 million of net income for cart owners.

iDE Cambodia is a branch of iDE that is based in Cambodia and focused on program implementation in that region.

Publicly available: yes
Countries where available: Worldwide
Price range (USD): 20 to 50 USD
Offered or can be licensed for local manufacture: Yes