Evergreen Students Solicit Support for Composting Toilet Project

My name is Jillian Simpson and I am a sophomore at The Evergreen State College in the Ecological Agriculture program. This quarter we are studying composting systems. Two other students and I (Stephanie Techner, a junior, and Christine Burgess, a graduating senior) are working on an independent project to install a composting toilet.

Although students have tried to install a composting toilet for many years on campus, this is the first time it has been approved across the board. In the past, students have only been granted the right to install a composting toilet as a demonstration or educational toilet, and the public would not have access to it. Our project has been approved to install the composting toilet in the community garden.

The community garden is an area of the 24-acre organic farm that is designated for use by community members and students to grow their own food, and there is currently no toilet facility available nearby. The composting toilet system that is allowed by law is expensive and we currently are short on funds.

Our system is being purchased from National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), who has agreed to discount the toilet by $598.00. The Thurston County Health Department has a rebate offer once the toilet is installed, for $350.00. This leaves us with a minimum cost of $1046.00 for the toilet system.

We have designed a permanent structure to house the composting toilet system in which, according to permitting, must be constructed of new, rather than recycled materials. We designed the structure to find the lowest cost option while still allowing for expansion and portability, to meet the needs of future generations. The school has donated solar panels and minimal funds for building materials. The structure will be constructed by students in the Practices of Sustainable Agriculture program who will be educated about proper building techniques. We have requested and received donations and are holding a fundraiser for the remaining costs of the building materials.

The purpose of this communication is in request of your financial assistance, or your assistance with informing others who can assist us financially. The installation of this composting toilet will benefit you directly by providing you with assurance that students and community members will be educated about ecological methods of managing their waste. It will also assure that community garden attendees will have composting toilet facilities nearby.

We are really addressing a major problem: More often we are educated about natural foods and then we avoid our waste by flushing it away. Inside our structure will be educational material pertaining to topics such as: ecological and human health risks associated with using the conventional human waste system, and information and directions for home composting toilet options.

We planned on having the project completed by the end of the quarter, which is June 9th 2006. Because of the brevity of our timeline, our lack of funds, and the importance of this project, we are requesting for your consideration in assisting us. The total amount of funds we are lacking is $1046.00.

Contributions would be tax deductible if desired.

If you can assist, please contact either myself, Jillian Simpson, at (360) 292-0231, or our academic advisor, Dr. Steven Scheuerell, at (360) 866-6000 ext. 6063.

Thank you again, for taking the time to review our request.

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