One of the bigger health issues in the world is lack of water sanitation. We’re going to talk about poop. If you’re reading this then you probably have access to a sewer system that safely removes the waste from your home but in many places around the world, the people lack this which leads to illness. Bill Gates hopes that a new take on the toilet can change that.

Unlike our current potties, this one won’t need water or sewer hook ups. Instead it takes human waste, treats it with chemicals and turns it into fertilizer. The waste from the toilet could be used for other things but most importantly, it won’t be contributing to poor health outcomes.

Currently the toilet is being tested but Gates is hopeful that it will soon be ready to mass produce and help fight against poor sanitation and the public health crisis that go along with it. There are different types, some don’t require any sort of electricity, others run on solar power. The hope is that these will one day be a widely available, sustainable option.

There are few things I love talking about more than toilets. pic.twitter.com/rQdY3ZiIpC

— Bill Gates (@BillGates) November 5, 2018