Dish Racks, Rubbish Pits/bins, Bathing Shelter
1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TECHNOLOGIES
(a) Rubbish Pits / Bins
Rural rubbish disposal methods commonly include pits and bins. Rubbish pits are
holes dug at least 30 metres away from the nearest water source and at least 20
metres away from human dwellings for disposal of refuse. They are either circular or
rectangular.
In
Northern Province
typical dimensions of
a rubbish pit range
between 1.5m and
2m deep, and 1m to
1.5m diameter. For
public
institutions
bigger dimensions,
usually
of
rectangular
shape,
are used.
Rubbish bins are
usually plastic, metal, or paper containers used for temporal refuse disposal. In
public institutions they are usually kept indoors and emptied when full. At household
level bins are common in peri-urban areas.
(b) Bathing Shelter
These are structures constructed to provide privacy to a person taking a bath.
Improved versions are made of burnt bricks mortared with cement / clay and are
usually provided with a roof, a door and a drain for wastewater disposal. The
common traditional types are made from poles and reeds / grass and are rarely
roofed. They are usually located behind the house. To improve personal hygiene,
especially in schools and health centres, bathing shelters are being encouraged.
(c) Dish Racks
These are raised platforms usually
made of wooden poles. They are
used for drying kitchen utensils to
avoid contamination from dust,
children, birds, and pets / other
domestic animals.
They are
usually located near the kitchen.
The design and construction of
these facilities depend on local
knowledge, skills and resources they are basically a local
innovation to improve kitchen
hygiene
and
are
therefore
encouraged.
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2. DESCRIPTION OF O&M ACTIVITIES
Operation and maintenance of these technologies is generally simple and involves the
following:
Rubbish pits / bins – occasionally covering refuse with earth or ashes to avoid fly
and smell nuisance and completely burying the pit when full; emptying the bins
when they are full and cleaning with water and soap (disinfectant if available) to
remove stains.
ii. Bathing shelter – cleaning the slab with water, ensuring proper drainage and
repairing the structure.
iii. Dish Racks – cleaning and repairing the platforms.
i.
3. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Activity
Cleaning
Covering
refuse
Emptying
bins
Cleaning
drain
Repairing
structure
Treatment of
support poles
with ash
Type of
technology
Rubbish pits / bins,
Bathing shelter &
Dish Racks
Rubbish pits
Frequency
Materials & tools
Regularly
Human
resources
Local
Occasionally
Local
Spade, hoe
Rubbish bins
Regularly
Local
Bathing shelter
Occasionally
Local
Hoes, spades,
Bathing shelter,
dish racks,
Bathing Shelter
and Dish Racks
Occasionally
Local
Occasionally
Local
Panga, axe, hammer, pliers,
Wood, nails / fibre, wire
Ash / local poison (ububa)
Spade, Brooms, buckets, soap
4. ACTORS INVOLVED AND SKILLS REQUIRED IN O&M
ACTOR
Users
V-WASHE
Committee
SUBWASHEs
D-WASHEs
ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage the usage of
technologies
Conduct PHHE and advocate the
construction and use of
technologies
Conduct PHHE and advocate the
construction and use of
technologies
Develop and Monitor
programmes for promotion of
improved hygiene technologies
Capacity building
SKILLS




Hygiene education
Leadership
Facilitation and management
PHHE

Capacity building
5. COSTS
The initial cost required to put up these structures is very low and can be met by users
and communities themselves. O&M costs are equally low and within the means of
users.
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6. LIMITATIONS, PROBLEMS AND REMARKS
Limitations
Common limitations for these technologies include:
 Can be breeding sites for vectors when not properly constructed and maintained
 Rubbish pits and bathing shelters can be sources of ground water pollution
 Smell and fly nuisance (when not properly constructed and maintained)
Problems
 Collapse of pit due to rain
 Flooding of pits due to heavy rains
 Clogged soakaway for bathing shelters
 Collapse of dish racks due to termite attack
Remarks
These hygiene technologies are simple, cheap and easy to use. They are a
common means of enhancing hygiene in rural areas.
7. FURTHER REFERENCE
Kanki, B, and Curtis, V. (1998). Hygiene, Happy and Health: How to set up a hygiene promotion
programme (vol4). Ministere de la sante du Burkina Faso
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