RTI International has won a $1.3 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a waterless toilet that doesn’t require sewers or electricity.
The toilet would be for use in developing nations to improve public health.
RTI will partner with Duke University, Colorado State University, NASA’s Ames Research Center and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to develop the prototype.
The grant is the second round of the Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.
RTI’s goal is to create a stand-alone unit with three main functions: disinfect liquid waste, dry and burn solid waste and convert the resulting energy into stored electricity.
Mary Cornatzer has worked at The News & Observer for more than 25 years, covering the local music industry, state movie industry and travel. She has been the paper's Business editor since 2000. Contact Mary at 919-829-4755 or