Exploiting the co-benefits of ecological sanitation

Constructing the ecological sanitation: a review on technology and methods

“…Compared with conventional systems, Eco-San could reduce the contribution to ecosystem quality damage by more than 60%. However, Eco-San may lead to higher damages on resources and human health and higher impact on climate change; Haq and Cambridge (2012) thought that conventional sanitation systems had high capital, operational and maintenance costs. However, agricultural use of human excreta from Eco-San systems provided a strong financial incentive as it reduced expenditure on waste management and chemical fertilizers; Thibodeau et al (2014) compared the environmental performances of ecological sanitation systems based on black water source-separation (BWS) and conventional sanitation system (CSS) in terms of environmental damage.…”

“…It is known as the resources-oriented sanitation and based on ecosystem approaches, the closure of material flow cycles, a novel trend of pollution treatment (from sewage disposal to resources reclamation), and a re-conceptualization of sanitation (from a 'drop-flush-forget' mode to environment protection at sources by means of 'drop and reuse' mode) (Haq and Cambridge, 2012;Langergraber and Muellegger, 2005). The Eco-San aims to meet socio-economic requirements, prevent pollution of surface and ground water, sanitize urine and feces, recover nutrient for food production, and save water, energy and resources in a given local context.…”

Phosphorus resources, their depletion and conservation, a review

“…Thus, in redesign, for which there are many options (e.g. Schouw et al, 2003;Van Voorthuizen et al, 2005;Winker et al, 2009;Cordell et al, 2011a;Etter et al, 2011;BradfordHartke et al, 2012;Haq and Cambridge, 2012;Hill and Baldwin, 2012;Katukiza et al, 2012;Verbyla et al, 2013), minimization of infection risk is an important issue (Hill and Baldwin, 2012;Verbyla et al, 2013). Source separation may help in reducing infection risk.…”

“…Source separation may help in reducing infection risk. Microbial characteristics of human urine tend to be such that its reuse in agriculture is relatively safe (Haq and Cambridge, 2012;Katukiza et al, 2012). Low cost struvite P precipitation from sourceseparated urine and drying of the struvite precipitate at elevated temperature (e.g.…”

Using the Receptivity model to uncover ‘urine blindness’: perceptions on the re-use of urine

“…The use of 15 animal waste as composter and fertiliser has long been common practice among 16 populations in developed and developing countries (Mariwah & Drangert 2011), however, 17 the recycling of human waste (both urine and faeces) is still stigmatised in the 18 contemporary societies (Drangert 1998). 19 The value of human waste in increasing agricultural yield and preventing 1 environmental pollution has long been recognised (Haq & Cambridge 2012). Human urine 2 contains most nutrients such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) on a ratio 3 of 11:1:2, which can be used as a fertiliser and each year an average adult disposes of 0.36 4…”