We came across this innovative little piece of appropriate
technology developed by Beaverton Rotary during our research
prior to the consultancy trip this March which is has been used
successfully in other developing nations to start
microenterprises: The device uses a car tire jack to compress
locally available organic waste material (such as rice or coffee
husks, shredded paper, dried grass or leaves, etc) into a high-
density, slower-and-cleaner-burning fuel briquettes. This could
be adapted to Mongolian conditions, although adjustments would
need to be made: - Briquettes can only be made during warmer
months, when rivers are flowing and the briquettes can dry out.
- Water squeezed from the press during the manufacturing process
should be caught and used on crops, as this water will contain
'pulp' organic matter that will break down and help build soils.
- Suitable organic matter needs to be found: paper waste is
plentiful in urban areas, and once trees and/or crop systems are
established, the plants may dr