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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Eco-Waste, Water Plans Aid Kenya's Poor

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(Newser) – Sewage and sunlight are offering unexpected aid to the poor of Kenyan slums, the AP reports. Public toilets are recycling waste into gas, while sunlight disinfects water and reduces cases of waterborne illness. Adapted from a plan in Tanzania, the project was funded by international donors to help people struggling with high coal and food prices.

The bio-latrines cost pennies to use and have helped a school for orphans hire two new teachers. The coins also pay for other gas projects—34 are currently in progress around Kenya—and incidents of people tossing out waste in plastic bags are down. "You know fuel is expensive, that's why we came up with the idea of generating energy from human waste," one outreach worker said.

A vendor transport bananas in a wheel barrow at a market, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.
A vendor transport bananas in a wheel barrow at a market, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.   (Associated Press)
Children play near a peace graffiti in Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. ge.
Children play near a peace graffiti in Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. ge.   (Associated Press)
A Kibera slum resident and her baby are seen to at a medical camp set up in Nairobi's Kibera slum, Kenya, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008.
A Kibera slum resident and her baby are seen to at a medical camp set up in Nairobi's Kibera slum, Kenya, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Children leave school after attending morning lessons at the Olympic School in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Monday Jan. 14, 2008.
Children leave school after attending morning lessons at the Olympic School in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Monday Jan. 14, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Children play next to burning rubbish in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.
Children play next to burning rubbish in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Kenyan's buy vegetables at a market, in the Kibera slum in Nairobi Tuesday, Jan.1, 2008.
Kenyan's buy vegetables at a market, in the Kibera slum in Nairobi Tuesday, Jan.1, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Children peer through a crack in the wall from inside their classroom at the Olympic School in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Monday Jan. 14, 2008.
Children peer through a crack in the wall from inside their classroom at the Olympic School in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Monday Jan. 14, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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