Directory: Local solutions

In partnership with Youths United for Earth (YUFE) Youths United for Earth (YUFE)

This directory is not exhaustive. Help us expand it! If you invented a local solution for environmental issues and wish to be featured, please fill in this form. Or, if you have questions about the YELL directory, contact us here.

ECOLOO Sustainable Toilet Solution

Inventors: Imad Agi, Zuraina Zaharin and Elena Pasko

A sustainable toilet solution that requires zero water flushing. The waste is then treated and reduced into usable organic fertilizer within the constructed chambers for other uses.

What does it solve?

The ECOLOO was developed primarily to eliminate the need for a (clean) water flushing system. This is so that clean water in India can be saved from being flushed, and stops sewage and sludge from being created, transported and treated. ECOLOO is notable for its ability to save water, improve the health and hygiene of a society, sustain the lifestyle of society, improve attendance of students in schools, save on sewage treatment cost and maintenance cost, and more.

How does it work?

ECOLOO’s base is made of a 2-tier chamber. The upper chamber is where human waste is collected and treated using specially formulated bacteria culture, while the lower chamber is where the organic fertilizer in liquid form is rendered by gravity, using no water to flush. The lower chamber is also built with a special indicator and outlet that allows end users to collect or drain the ready-to-use product each time the lower chamber is full.

Green E-Transportation Initiative

Inventors: Sojin Jung

An electric bike sharing system that serves two main functions – to provide access to transportation, and to promote green mobility and reduce air pollution.

What does it solve?

Vietnam experiences continuous air pollution problems which call for the transition into cleaner transportation. However, not many are able to access transportation, especially the youth and elderly. Thus, the Green E-Transportation Initiative introduced an electric bike sharing system as a means of commuting. Not only does this help provide better access to transportation among the public, it is also an initiative to educate and promote green mobility to reduce air pollution and reduce the accompanying health effects.

How does it work?

In this project, 700 electric motorbikes, 500 charging services, 50 parking lots and 1 operation center have been provided in Ecopark, Vietnam. The initiative utilizes a sharing system; members of the public are able to use the bikes to commute. Universities and other learning institutions have also been engaged to help students experience and learn to use the bikes as a way to get to and from school. To date, the initiative has saved 5,115kg of CO2 emissions with 4,792 users, 26,717 trips, and 81,990 kilometers travelled.

Siren Fence

Inventors: Wildlife Conservation Society

An early warning system to alert farmers of elephant visitations and reduce human-elephant crises. When warned, the elephants can be chased away, therefore reducing crop loss.

Projects in  Others

What does it solve?

Elephants often visit areas that have edible crops. Thus, human-elephant conflicts often occur, especially among the Orang Asli (indigenous people) smallholdings when elephants come to eat the crops planted by the smallholders. The siren fence solves this problem by issuing an early warning when elephants come near the area. Alerted, the smallholders can then chase the elephants away while preventing crop loss.

How does it work?

The siren fence technique was originally developed in Malaysia. A wire fence is linked to several siren kits that are placed along the perimeter of the crop field or smallholdings. When elephants push against the wire, an alarm is triggered, waking nearby farmers of the intrusion. They can then head to the source of the siren and chase the elephants away. Often, this method is done in combination with communal guarding, which benefits the Orang Asli as their smallholdings are usually near their homes.