The sustainable community cooker not only improves the environment by disposing of trash, it also provides a stove top and oven for cooking, heats water for showers, and creates jobs and income for the community. The cooker, set to be purchased early summer of 2012, will soon fuel an income generating bakery that will be constructed during the summer of 2012.
When a community has no waste management system, no running water or electricity and living on less than one dollar a day, a stove that runs on trash can make a life changing difference.
- The community collects garbage to run the stove instead of throwing it in the streets.
- Income is generated: collectors are paid, individuals pay to use it, and staff is paid to operate the cooker.
- The garbage dries on 3 racks for 2-3 days. All glass, rubber, plastics, etc. are sorted to sell & recycle, and organic matter is used in a compost.
- Drip System with used oil and water is added to raise the temperature to 800º, making the trash 99% combustible, creating little emissions.
- Residual water is collected for bathing and garden irrigation.
- By burning garbage that will fuel bakery operations, the cooker will save trees from being cut down for firewood.
- When fully operational, the cooker will consume half a ton of waste every day.
The cooker will be purchased in early summer 2012 and then construction of the accompanying bakery will begin. Whole Planet Foundation will be sending 3 teams of volunteers to Kenya in 2012 to help construct the bakery and provide training for staff.
- The Community Cooker in Kibera
- Kibera Community Cooker
- Smart is when you convert trash into heat for cooking
- Community Cooker
