Guidelines on Handling Urine and Faeces 

The fundamental principle behind ecological sanitation is the idea of “closing the loop”, which, in short, means returning the valuable nutrients found in human excreta to the environment by using the sanitized excreta as agricultural fertilizer. Although some ecological sanitation users may not have the space or desire to grow crops, they still need knowledge about disposing of sanitized excreta safely. 

What is known unmistakably about the safe handling of human excreta is that pathogens (disease-causing bacteria) are most effectively removed when urine and faeces are separated at the source, meaning the urine is collected in a different container than the faeces by using a urine diverting system. Whether the intended use of the excreta is for agriculture or disposal, there are benefits to collecting urine and faeces separately: reduced volume, reduced odour and reduced moisture. Different types of urine diversion systems are available to fit a variety of latrines, climates and cultures. 

Factors such as moisture and humidity, pH level, temperature and time effect the rate of pathogen die-off in human excreta, mainly faeces, which contributes a greater number of pathogens and poses a larger health risk than urine does. About half of faecal material is composed of bacteria, while urine is normally sterile. 

The EcoSanRes Programme, in conjunction with the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI), is currently working on definitive guidelines for safe handling of urine and faeces. The objective of the guidelines is to document current best-practices in managing human excreta. Safe handling of excreta becomes important when closing the loop in an ecological sanitation system, as the urine and faeces are collected for agricultural use. Ecosan stresses the linkage between people and soil and attempts to de-link sanitation from the water cycle. 

The guidelines will be the first documents of their kind, and will be based on existing literature and scientific research through experimentation and pilot project study. The guidelines and accompanying fact sheets will be adapted to suit the needs of ecological sanitation users in differing climatic and cultural conditions.