KATHMANDU
AEROSAN Hub model of the public toilet introduced by AEROSAN Sustainable Sanitation has been recognized by the United Nations Science,Technology and Innovation (UN STI) and also received the National Innovation award from the NAST (Nepal Academy of Science and Technology ) under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Government of Nepal. Besides these awards, the innovation has been selected as among the best five applicants in the Sarphati Sanitation Challenge organized during water week 2021, Stockholm, Sweden.

AEROSAN Hub Public toilet has been the platform for practical knowledge in the sector of sanitation for national researchers and students. In this course, the hub has now been able to be the platform for international researchers in the sector of sanitation. The WASH professionals from the Bangladesh have visited the AEROSAN Hub as a part of their learning exposure visit to Nepal on Thursday. 

AEROSAN Hubs are community-based, modern, clean public toilets that cater especially to women – full sanitary, MHM, and baby changing facilities – and the disabled, creating dignified jobs for minorities and featuring an integrated waste-to-value system such as wastewater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and biogas generation from the feacal waste. 

According to a press statement released by AEROSAN Hub, AEROSAN Hub is the Sustainable Social Enterprise Model for Sanitation that benefits low-to-middle income populations and especially women, is a program for public toilets piloted in Nepal. The model is developed by the AEROSAN and operated by the Independent Sanitation Worker Cooperative, the Hub provides dignified job opportunities to the sanitation workers.

During the interaction with the professionals from Bangladesh, Saroj Banet, Vice Chairperson at City Planning Commission, Kathmandu Metropolitan City presented the policy efforts to bring change in the the public toilets in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He highlighted that the number of public toilets present in KMC is not enough. He further said that the metropolitan city has been continuously working on improving the quality as well as quantity of the public toilet.

He also shared the toilet app being developed by the metropolitan city which would help the people to find the public toilets in the city. The municipality has introduced a subsidy policy to the restaurants and businesses that would be encourage them to avail the access to the toilets for the  public services.

“ We have already mapped the existing public toilets in KMC and also identified the possible land area for the construction of the public toilest. To find the public land is difficult and the community don't want to have the public toilet in their vicinity where a foul smell would be generated that disturbs the environment.  Metropolitan City has also made the provision to build at least one  sustainable public toilet in each ward for the improved public toilets service,” said Basnet. He also appreciated the AEROSAN Hub public toilet models that the municipality has adopted in the construction of the parks. 

The visitors from Bangladesh were pleased to use of these public toilets in Patandhoka and mentioned, "Its an outstanding initiative that considered all the necessary aspects like using technology, bio gas, rainwater, ground water recharge, etc. Cleanliness of the toilet and anesthetic aspects I mean design are really fantastic. I like the idea of tea shop with the biogas and nearby sitting arrangements".