The Other W.C. in WCS

©WCS/J.Maher

Thanks to the contributions of so many visitors, the garden grows, microorganisms get their daily fill, and many, many gallons of water are saved each year on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo. In recognition of its environmentally friendly facilities, the Zoo’s eco-toilet was selected as “Environmental Project of the Year” by both Greenbuildings NYC and The New York Construction News.

Less than 3 percent of our planet’s water is fresh water, of which humans can access only a small portion. The Zoo’s eco-toilets neatly conserve this precious resource through an innovative flush mechanism. Instead of the nearly two gallons of water spent with each flush of a conventional toilet, these facilities accomplish the task with only three ounces of water and a cascade of biocompatible foam.

Also conserved is the waste itself. Instead of entering the sewer system, visitors’ “liquid assets” are flushed into a composting tank below the building. Red worms, fungi, and other organisms at the bottom of the food chain eat through the compost tank habitat, transforming its contents into fertilizer. Meanwhile, excess water from the sinks irrigates the gray water garden just outside, where the plants will naturally filter it.

Other green features recognized by the awards include extensive skylighting that reduces electricity use and the structure itself. Designed by the architecture firm Edelman Sultan Knox Wood, the 2,200-square-foot building was constructed with eco-friendly materials and sited to minimize impacts on existing trees and landscapes.

In addition to recycling resources, the Eco-Restroom serves as an educational exhibit. Cartoon animals from the children’s book The Truth about Poop adorn the stalls and walls of the lavatory. The graphics praise “the power of poop” and offer conservation tips for visitors to use at home, such as a recipe for a homemade drain cleaner that won’t harm wildlife.

The restroom, which opened on Earth Day 2007, is located at the Bronx River Parkway entrance. Sixty percent of the Bronx Zoo’s two million visitors enter and exit through this gate each year—adding up to one very big relief.

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