A series of very innovative toilet projects have been submitted to compete in a competition started by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation is looking for ways to improve situation for the 2.5 billion people around the world, who do not have access to modern and hygienic sanitation. The foundation had set some guidelines for the projects to enter the competition.

The toilets must operate without the need for running water, electricity or a septic system, it should not discharge pollutants, possibility capture energy ad other resources and should operate at a cost of 5 cents per day.

Researchers from around the world have submitted their innovative designs for the next toilet to the foundations. Some uses microwave energy to transform human waste into electricity while another aims to capture urine and use it to flush. The foundation said that it will release funds for some projects to implement some of the projects.

According the United Nations, the diseases caused by unhygienic sanitation result in about half the hospitalizations in the developing world. Scientists believe that these diseases can be prevented by proper sanitation combined with clean drinking water and improved hygiene conditions for people. The foundation expects to field test its first prototypes within the next three years.