BANANA TREE CIRCLE
The Banana Circle is a solution that integrates natural processes to treat and reuse waste, contributing to soil health and environmental sustainability. The system consists of a concave infiltration trench with a cylindrical shape, initially filled with a layer of gravel. Several layers of branches, leaves and natural debris are added to this layer, where facultative and anaerobic microorganisms act, responsible for stabilizing the organic matter. After this stage, the system has an artificial soil bed, intended for the treatment and final disposal of sewage. In this bed, the infiltration and evapotranspiration of the liquid part of the sewage occurs, the reuse of residual organic matter and the promotion of groundwater recharge. In some cases, this technique can be called a Fertility Center.
PROBLEM SOLVED
The lack of basic sanitation infrastructure was identified by the Traditional Communities Forum (FCT) as one of the main vulnerabilities that need to be strategically addressed to promote health, quality of life and contribute to the permanence of traditional communities in their territories. Practically all of these communities face significant deficiencies in terms of the Water Treatment System, making it extremely important to adopt sustainable solutions.
SOLUTION ADOPTED
The Banana Circle is a social technology used to treat used household water, such as that from sinks, washing machines and showers, known as grey water. To build the Banana Circle, a trench with a minimum size of 4m² must be dug, which will be filled with trunks, branches, stones and construction debris. Straw (grass, leaves, etc.) is used at the top of the trench, forming a curved mound above the edge of the excavated surface. The grey water is connected to the Banana Circle through a 100mm sewage pipe. It is important to leave a border of at least 30cm at the edges of the excavated trench to prevent the water from overflowing.
Although it is called Banana Circle, it is possible to plant other species, such as papaya, taro and ornamental plants such as papyrus, heliconia and marsh lily. This social technology can also be called a Fertility Center. Banana trees and/or other species that will feed on the gray water discharged into the system, using the nutrients stored there, should be planted around the excavated diameter, within the minimum protective border.
The Banana Circle is one of the best examples of gray water treatment to close the water cycle, transforming pollutant waste into nutrients for the plants in the system. The training of local agents and builders aims to effectively involve multipliers who can build ecological sanitation systems in the region, raising ecological awareness and identifying the need for new forms of care in the territory.
RESULT ACHIEVED
The installation of the Banana Circles has had a significant impact on tourism in Praia do Sono, becoming part of the community's Community-Based Tourism itinerary. These modules have become important points of visitation, where community members themselves explain the process of how they operate and the history of the community's struggle and resistance.
In addition, the indirect benefits are notable, with the replication of the Banana Circle technology in other locations, both through public and private initiatives. Examples of this include the implementation in a kiosk and in a guesthouse on Jabaquara beach, in Paraty, as well as a project under development for a restaurant in Trindade. Notably, a family that owns a campsite on Praia do Sono itself, already aware of the benefits, built a similar system, hiring a qualified builder.
These initiatives demonstrate how the adoption of sustainable technologies can generate a multiplier effect, promoting ecological practices and strengthening the local economy through tourism and environmental awareness.