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Realizing the Circular Economy for Sanitation: Assessing Enabling Conditions and Barriers to the Commercialization of Human Excreta Derived Fertilizer in Haiti and Kenya

Author

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  • Berta Moya

    (School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Ruben Sakrabani

    (School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Alison Parker

    (School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK)

Abstract

Efficient fecal sludge management solutions are especially challenging in densely populated urban informal settlements, where space is limited and land tenure uncertain. One solution is to collect and treat human excreta to produce soil conditioners for use in agriculture, through container-based sanitation, thus realizing the circular economy for sanitation. This study focused on container-based sanitation ventures that produce and sell fertilizers from human excreta. Stakeholder interviews showed that challenges faced by these ventures were similar: unclear regulations on the use of fertilizers derived from source-separated excreta, undeveloped markets for organic fertilizers, difficulties in securing secondary sources of organic matter for composting as well as complex transport and distribution logistics. The findings of this study emphasized the need for clear policies with respect to human excreta derived fertilizer, as well as institutional involvement in order to incentivize the sale and use of human excreta derived fertilizer locally to ensure that sustainable and safely managed sanitation systems are available in urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Berta Moya & Ruben Sakrabani & Alison Parker, 2019. "Realizing the Circular Economy for Sanitation: Assessing Enabling Conditions and Barriers to the Commercialization of Human Excreta Derived Fertilizer in Haiti and Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:11:p:3154-:d:237237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel A. Salas & Paulina Criollo & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Pradhan, Surendra K. & Cofie, Olufunke & Nikiema, Josiane & Heinonen-Tanski, H., 2019. "Fecal sludge derived products as fertilizer for lettuce cultivation in urban agriculture," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-11(24):71.
    3. Valette, Héloïse & Colon, Marine, 2024. "Institutional change for the development of urban sanitation in the Global South: A social science review," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Daniel Ddiba & Kim Andersson & Arno Rosemarin & Helfrid Schulte-Herbrüggen & Sarah Dickin, 2022. "The circular economy potential of urban organic waste streams in low- and middle-income countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 1116-1144, January.
    5. Surendra K Pradhan & Olufunke Cofie & Josiane Nikiema & Helvi Heinonen-Tanski, 2019. "Fecal Sludge Derived Products as Fertilizer for Lettuce Cultivation in Urban Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Camilo Venegas & Andrea C. Sánchez-Alfonso & Fidson-Juarismy Vesga & Alison Martín & Crispín Celis-Zambrano & Mauricio González Mendez, 2022. "Identification and Evaluation of Determining Factors and Actors in the Management and Use of Biosolids through Prospective Analysis (MicMac and Mactor) and Social Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-24, June.
    7. Andrew Emmanuel Okem & Alfred Oduor Odindo, 2020. "Indigenous Knowledge and Acceptability of Treated Effluent in Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-12, November.
    8. Héloïse Valette & Marine Colon, 2024. "Institutional change for the development of urban sanitation in the Global South: A social science review," Post-Print hal-04561473, HAL.
    9. Luca Adami & Marco Schiavon, 2021. "From Circular Economy to Circular Ecology: A Review on the Solution of Environmental Problems through Circular Waste Management Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    10. Adrian Mallory & Rochelle Holm & Alison Parker, 2020. "A Review of the Financial Value of Faecal Sludge Reuse in Low-Income Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-13, October.

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