Swedish environmental solutions company EcoLoo AB had donated the eco-friendly toilet to the Solid Waste Management Technical Support Centre of the Home Ministry for its trial in Nepal. After being handed to the Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC), it was installed in front of the Central Zoo three months ago.

“As the LSMC Office cannot operate the toilet on its own, the responsibility was handed over to a private organisation,” LSMC’s Environmental Engineer Pradeep Amatya said. He, however, said he was unaware of the fact that toilet was unused and out of order.

Nepal Pollution Control and Environment Management Centre was chosen to operate the eco-friendly loo. The Centre’s President Devi Prasad Acharya, meanwhile, said reluctance of the public to use the waterless eco-friendly toilet led to its current situation.

“One can only find toilet paper in the eco-friendly latrine, but no water. As many Nepalis, who do not use toilet paper, are reluctant to use the facility,” Acharya said. Currently, people who visit the nearby Ward Office use the toilet for urination only.

The eco-friendly toilet uses bacteria to decompose human excreta in a mostly-automated and odour-free method, with fertilizer as the end product. However, the process is hindered if the waste becomes highly liquefied. Therefore, using water in the toilet or only using it for urination beats the purpose.