Bill Gates is a man most often associated with technological innovations, computing software, and a fairly sizeable bank account, so the most recent purchase made by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation came as a bit of a surprise. In August, the foundation announced that it had purchased 50 gallons of synthetic faeces. That’s right: the founder of Microsoft just invested in fake poo.
Why the need for so much (or any) fake poo? It turns out the soybean-based product (eerily-similar-looking to the real thing) was needed to test prototypes of sanitary, energy- and water-minimal toilets during the foundation’s ‘Reinvent the Toilet’ Fair, 14-15 August. Second only to the real thing, the fake poo was used in demonstrations of each exhibitor’s commode.
The Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, launched last year with roughly US$3.2 million (£2 million) in grants from the Gates Foundation (see Worldwide section in Resource 61), aims to build a high-tech toilet that can bring effective sanitation to the poorest regions – and that’s the sort of potty talk we can fully endorse.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.