Bio-Toilets: How the US Air Force will use Waste for Power

It’s known that untreated or poorly treated sewage can contaminate water sources with harmful pathogens and pollutants, leading to reduced water quality and potential health risks.

In a breakthrough for sustainable defence infrastructure, Israeli cleantech company HomeBiogas has signed its first contract with the United States Air Force. 

The agreement will see the deployment of 20 Bio-Toilet systems to a remote Pacific Island Air Force base, demonstrating the technology’s effectiveness in extreme, off-grid environments.

Clean energy from human waste

The HomeBiogas Bio-Toilet is a waste-to-energy innovation, addressing a critical need for sustainable sanitation at isolated military sites that lack conventional sewage systems. 

Many installations currently rely on metal tanks to collect human waste, which is later burned, releasing harmful emissions and posing health risks to personnel.

HomeBiogas’ system offers a transformative, eco-friendly alternative.

Waste is flushed using a foot pump into a biodigester, where anaerobic bacteria break it down, producing biogas suitable for cooking or heating. 

The process not only manages waste safely, but also generates clean energy.

“While navigating the bureaucratic process took time, this contract represents a meaningful win, not just for HomeBiogas, but for the US Air Force, the future of waste management and the environment,” says Oshik Efrati, CEO of HomeBiogas. 

“It validates our mission and opens the door to broader collaboration. Our systems are compact, rapidly deployable and turn waste into clean energy, making them ideal for remote military operations. 

“This is a major milestone in our growth and impact.”

Sustainable militant solutions

The Bio-Toilet’s core strengths make it ideal for remote locations by incorporating:

• Sustainability: Transforms waste into renewable energy
• Water efficiency: Uses up to 90% less water than standard toilets
• Rapid deployment: Compact and easy to install
• Off-grid functionality: Operates without power or sewer connections.

These advantages align with the growing focus among defence and humanitarian sectors on more sustainable logistics, resilience and environmental impact reduction.

HomeBiogas’ global impact

Beyond military applications, HomeBiogas technology has already made a significant impact globally. 

In El Salvador, more than 900 schools have adopted the Bio-Toilet system, replacing unsafe sanitation facilities and generating clean gas to cook student meals.

A collaboration with a Swiss NGO will soon bring HomeBiogas systems to rural communities in Ghana. 

This partnership also introduces a carbon credit scheme for Switzerland, highlighting the technology’s role in climate finance mechanisms.

By converting organic waste into clean energy, the company addresses climate and sanitation challenges while opening new avenues for economic development and emissions reductions.

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