In the first half of 2005, 33 dry composting toilets were built in the Quichua Indian Community of Añangu.  One dry toilet was built for each family, plus two for the school, two for the community meeting hall, and five strategically located for the use of Napo Wildlife Center guests.

The toilets are a double-chambered design, based on the concept of Ecological Sanitation in which our bodily wastes are respectfully returned to the soil, rather than contaminating the environment or being expected to disappear magically.  Urine is separated and drained directly to the soil, making use of its high nitrogen content for use as a fertilizer.  The average person pees out four kilograms of  urea every year, which holds enough nitrogen to fertilize all of the grains that he or she eats.  Since the urine goes straight to the soil and is absorbed by plants, it does not have time to ferment and thus produces no odor.  Solids are covered in locally available dry organic material like ashes, rice hulls, or dry leaves and left to decompose naturally.  The two-chamber design allows the contents of one chamber to decompose while the other chamber is in use.  The aerobic design of the chambers creates odor-free decomposition into a rich and productive soil. 

The result of all this work is that the entire community now has an increased sanitation level.  The little details always tell the story, and the roofs of these dry toilets catch the rainwater and route it into small tanks that are used for hand-washing stations.