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Global MDG Challenge

2.5 billion with no sanitation
1.75 billion to be served by 2015

450 million new installations by 2015

15,000 installations per hour to 2015

 

 

Guidelines on Agricultural Reuse of Human Excreta 

Properly sanitized human excreta can be used as an effective fertilizer and soil conditioner. The concept of using human excreta in agriculture is called "closing the loop", and is a fundamental aspect of ecological sanitation. By collecting the nutrients found in urine and faeces through ecological sanitation and returning them to the environment through agricultural use, an environmentally beneficial and holistic cycle is created. Ecosan stresses the link between people, soil and food production, and attempts to de-link sanitation from the water cycle. 

Human urine and faeces contain valuable nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Urine possesses the majority of nutrients, as compared to faeces, containing approximately 80% of the nitrogen, 55% of the phosphorus and 60% of the potassium found in human excreta and available for reuse. 

Although a few diseases can be transmitted through unsanitized urine, it is a relatively safe fertilizer product, especially when compared to unsanitized faeces. Faeces do not always contain pathogens or parasites, but pose a high risk if they are not sanitized properly. 

The EcoSanRes Programme, in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), is developing guidelines for the agricultural use of urine and faeces.  The guidelines aim to educate ecological sanitation users about how to handle the urine and faeces in a safe and beneficial manner and thus promote the use of human excreta in agriculture. 

The use of human excreta as a fertilizer is beneficial from environmental, economic and social perspectives. Increasing crop yields through the use of sanitized urine and faeces is cost effective (requiring only an investment in the ecosan toilet and secondary treatment system), and greater crop yields increase nutrition in the household and help to alleviate poverty. In addition, use of human excreta in agriculture aids in gender development, especially in households headed by women since these are often the poorest, by creating a possible source of income and improved nutrition. 

The guidelines are developed by gathering information from previously conducted experiments and comparing human excreta (as a fertilizer) to commercially produced chemical fertilizers. The guideline will be adapted to various climates and crops. 

Contact Dr. Björn Vinnerås ( ) or Håkan Jönsson ( ) for more information

 

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© 2009 EcoSanRes, Stockholm Environment Institute (sei-international.org)
Last modified: 14-jul-2011