Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Submitted Successfully!
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic. For video creation, please contact our Academic Video Service.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 handwiki Camila Xu -- 3663 2022-10-18 01:40:19

Video Upload Options

We provide professional Academic Video Service to translate complex research into visually appealing presentations. Would you like to try it?
No, upload directly Yes
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
HandWiki. Reuse of Excreta. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/29814 (accessed on 25 September 2026).
HandWiki. Reuse of Excreta. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/29814. Accessed September 25, 2026.
HandWiki. "Reuse of Excreta" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/29814 (accessed September 25, 2026).
HandWiki. (2022, October 18). Reuse of Excreta. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/29814
HandWiki. "Reuse of Excreta." Encyclopedia. Web. 18 October, 2022.
Reuse of Excreta
Edit
The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Biology:Reuse_of_excreta

Reuse of excreta refers to the safe, beneficial use of animal or human excreta, i.e. feces and urine. Such beneficial use involves mainly the nutrient, organic matter and energy contained in human excreta, rather than the water content (as is the case for wastewater reuse). Reuse of human excreta can involve using it as a soil conditioner or fertilizer in agriculture, gardening, aquaculture, or horticultural activities. Excreta can also be used as a fuel source or as a building material. Human excreta contains resources that can be recovered: plant-available nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium as well as micronutrients such as sulphur and organic matter. These resources which are contained in human excreta or in domestic wastewater (sewage) have traditionally been used in agriculture in many countries. They are still being used in agriculture to this day, but the practice is often carried out in an unregulated and unsafe manner in developing countries. The WHO Guidelines from 2006 have set up a framework how this reuse can be done safely by following a "multiple barrier approach". There are several "excreta-derived fertilizers" which vary in their properties and fertilizing characteristics: urine, dried feces, composted feces, faecal sludge (septage), sewage, sewage sludge, and animal manure. However, reuse of animal and human excreta can cause health risk and environmental problems because of pathogen, pharmaceutical residues and nitrate pollution. Reuse of human excreta is the final step of the sanitation chain which starts with collection of human excreta (by use of toilets) and continues with transport and treatment all the way to either disposal or reuse.

faecal sludge environmental problems pharmaceutical residues

References

  1. WHO (2006). WHO Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater - Volume IV: Excreta and greywater use in agriculture. World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1004
  2. Andersson, K., Rosemarin, A., Lamizana, B., Kvarnström, E., McConville, J., Seidu, R., Dickin, S. and Trimmer, C. (2016). Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability: from Waste Disposal to Resource Recovery. Nairobi and Stockholm: United Nations Environment Programme and Stockholm Environment Institute. ISBN:978-92-807-3488-1 http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2636
  3. Andriessen, Nienke; Ward, Barbara J.; Strande, Linda (2019). "To char or not to char? Review of technologies to produce solid fuels for resource recovery from faecal sludge" (in en). Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 9 (2): 210–224. doi:10.2166/washdev.2019.184. ISSN 2043-9083. https://iwaponline.com/washdev/article/9/2/210/66755/To-char-or-not-to-char-Review-of-technologies-to. 
  4. Joensson, H., Richert Stintzing, A., Vinneras, B., Salomon, E. (2004). Guidelines on the Use of Urine and Faeces in Crop Production. Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/187
  5. Richert, A., Gensch, R., Jönsson, H., Stenström, T., Dagerskog, L. (2010). Practical guidance on the use of urine in crop production. Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Sweden http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/757
  6. Niwagaba, C. B. (2009). Treatment technologies for human faeces and urine. PhD thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/703
  7. Rieck, C., von Münch, E., Hoffmann, H. (2012). Technology review of urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) - Overview on design, management, maintenance and costs. Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Eschborn, Germany http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/874
  8. Harder, Robin; Wielemaker, Rosanne; Larsen, Tove A.; Zeeman, Grietje; Öberg, Gunilla (2019-04-18). "Recycling nutrients contained in human excreta to agriculture: Pathways, processes, and products". Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 49 (8): 695–743. doi:10.1080/10643389.2018.1558889. ISSN 1064-3389.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F10643389.2018.1558889
  9. Kratz, S. (2004) Uran in Düngemitteln (in German). Uran-Umwelt-Unbehagen: Statusseminar am 14. Oktober 2004, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Landwirtschaft (FAL), Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde, Germany. https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142857/http://gevleugeldewoorden.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Uran-Tag-download-5.pdf
  10. J. B. Sartain (2011). "Food for turf: Slow-release nitrogen". Grounds Maintenance for Golf and Green Industries Professionals (Blog Post). http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_food_turf_slowrelease/. 
  11. Diacono, Mariangela; Montemurro, Francesco (2010). "Long-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility. A review". Agronomy for Sustainable Development 30 (2): 401–422. doi:10.1051/agro/2009040. ISSN 1774-0746. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00886539/file/hal-00886539.pdf. 
  12. Soil Association (2010). A rock and a hard place - Peak phosphorus and the threat to our food security. Soil Association, Bristol, UK http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1143
  13. Rose, C; Parker, A; Jefferson, B; Cartmell, E (2015). "The Characterization of Feces and Urine: A Review of the Literature to Inform Advanced Treatment Technology". Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 45 (17): 1827–1879. doi:10.1080/10643389.2014.1000761. PMID 26246784.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4500995
  14. Kirchmann, H.; Pettersson, S. (1995). "Human urine - Chemical composition and fertilizer use efficiency". Fertilizer Research 40 (2): 149–154. doi:10.1007/bf00750100. ISSN 0167-1731.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fbf00750100
  15. Morgan, Peter (2004). "10. The Usefulness of urine". An Ecological Approach to Sanitation in Africa: A Compilation of Experiences (CD release ed.). Aquamor, Harare, Zimbabwe. http://www.ecosanres.org/PM_Report.htm. Retrieved 6 December 2011. 
  16. Steinfeld, Carol (2004). Liquid Gold: The Lore and Logic of Using Urine to Grow Plants. Ecowaters Books. ISBN 978-0-9666783-1-4. http://www.liquidgoldbook.com/. 
  17. "Urine Separation – Closing the Nitrogen Cycle". Stockholm Water Company. 2001. http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/JOHANSSON%202000%20Urine%20Separation%20-%20Closing%20the%20Nutrient%20Cycle_0.pdf. 
  18. Pradhan, Surendra K; Nerg, Anne-Marja; Sjöblom, Annalena; Holopainen, Jarmo K; Heinonen-Tanski, Helvi (2007). "Use of Human Urine Fertilizer in Cultivation of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)––Impacts on Chemical, Microbial, and Flavor Quality". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55 (21): 8657–63. doi:10.1021/jf0717891. PMID 17894454.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1021%2Fjf0717891
  19. Winker, M. (2009). Pharmaceutical Residues in Urine and Potential Risks related to Usage as Fertiliser in Agriculture. http://doku.b.tu-harburg.de/volltexte/2009/557/pdf/PhD_Thesis_Winker.pdf. 
  20. Maurer, M; Schwegler, P; Larsen, T. A (2003). "Nutrients in urine: Energetic aspects of removal and recovery". Water Science and Technology 48 (1): 37–46. doi:10.2166/wst.2003.0011. PMID 12926619. https://semanticscholar.org/paper/b2b61639f7344fc3e14d292088661d8586cbeb15. 
  21. Ganrot, Zsofia (2005). Ph.D. Thesis: Urine processing for efficient nutrient recovery and reuse in agriculture. Goteborg, Sweden: Goteborg University. p. 170. http://www.melica.se/pdf/PhD_thesis_Zsofia_Ganrot.pdf. 
  22. Mara Grunbaum Human urine is shown to be an effective agricultural fertilizer, Scientific American, July 2010. Retrieved on 2011-12-07. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=human-urine-is-an-effective-fertilizer
  23. von Muench, E., Spuhler, D., Surridge, T., Ekane, N., Andersson, K., Fidan, E. G., Rosemarin, A. (2013). Sustainable Sanitation Alliance members take a closer look at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s sanitation grants. Sustainable Sanitation Practice (SSP) Journal, Issue 17, EcoSan Club, Austria http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2126
  24. Andersson, Elina (2015). "Turning waste into value: Using human urine to enrich soils for sustainable food production in Uganda". Journal of Cleaner Production 96: 290–8. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.01.070.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jclepro.2014.01.070
  25. J.O. Drangert, Urine separation systems http://www2.gtz.de/Dokumente/oe44/ecosan/en-fighting-urine-blindness-1998.pdf
  26. Berger, W. (2011). Technology review of composting toilets - Basic overview of composting toilets (with or without urine diversion). Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Eschborn, Germany http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/878
  27. Strande, Linda; Ronteltap, Mariska; Brdjanovic, Damir, eds (2013). Faecal sludge management: systems approach for implementation and operation. IWA Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78040-472-1. http://www.sandec.ch/fsm_book. 
  28. Otoo, Miriam; Drechsel, Pay (2018). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon, UK: Routledge - Earthscan. http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/publications/other-publication-types/books-monographs/iwmi-jointly-published/resource-recovery-from-waste/. 
  29. Drechsel, P., Scott, C. A., Raschid-Sally, L., Redwood, M., Bahri, A. (eds.) (2010). Wastewater irrigation and health : assessing and mitigating risk in low-income countries (London : Earthscan. ed.). London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-795-3. http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1782. 
  30. "The firms turning poo into profit". BBC News Business Section. 16 November 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-37981485. 
  31. "Ostara Nutrient Management Solutions". Ostara, Vancouver, Canada. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150219161148/http://www.ostara.com/nutrient-management-solutions/pearl-process. Retrieved 19 February 2015. 
  32. von Münch, E., Winker, M. (2011). Technology review of urine diversion components - Overview on urine diversion components such as waterless urinals, urine diversion toilets, urine storage and reuse systems. Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/875
  33. Callisto, Marcos; Molozzi, Joseline; Barbosa, José Lucena Etham (2014). "Eutrophication of Lakes". Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control. pp. 55–71. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7814-6_5. ISBN 978-94-007-7813-9.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2F978-94-007-7814-6_5
  34. Jackson, Louise E; Burger, Martin; Cavagnaro, Timothy R (2008). "Roots, Nitrogen Transformations, and Ecosystem Services". Annual Review of Plant Biology 59: 341–63. doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.59.032607.092932. PMID 18444903. https://semanticscholar.org/paper/1b50c5358e1ae5dcbcd3916ba64417fef5c781ce. 
  35. "Preventing Pollution Problems from Lawn and Garden Fertilizers". Extension.umn.edu. 9 January 2009. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG2923.html. Retrieved 25 August 2010. 
  36. Bijay-Singh; Yadvinder-Singh; Sekhon, G.S (1995). "Fertilizer-N use efficiency and nitrate pollution of groundwater in developing countries". Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 20 (3–4): 167–84. doi:10.1016/0169-7722(95)00067-4. Bibcode: 1995JCHyd..20..167S.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2F0169-7722%2895%2900067-4
  37. "NOFA Interstate Council: The Natural Farmer. Ecologically Sound Nitrogen Management. Mark Schonbeck". Nofa.org. 25 February 2004. Archived from the original on 24 March 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040324090920/http://www.nofa.org/tnf/nitrogen.php. Retrieved 25 August 2010. 
  38. Knobeloch, Lynda; Salna, Barbara; Hogan, Adam; Postle, Jeffrey; Anderson, Henry (2000). "Blue Babies and Nitrate-Contaminated Well Water". Environmental Health Perspectives 108 (7): 675–8. doi:10.1289/ehp.00108675. PMID 10903623.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1638204
  39. Diener, Stefan; Semiyaga, Swaib; Niwagaba, Charles B; Muspratt, Ashley Murray; Gning, Jean Birane; Mbéguéré, Mbaye; Ennin, Joseph Effah; Zurbrugg, Christian et al. (2014). "A value proposition: Resource recovery from faecal sludge—Can it be the driver for improved sanitation?". Resources, Conservation and Recycling 88: 32–8. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.04.005. https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/eawag/islandora/object/eawag%3A9063/datastream/PDF/view. 
  40. Kuntke, P; Sleutels, T.H.J.A; Saakes, M; Buisman, C.J.N (2014). "Hydrogen production and ammonium recovery from urine by a Microbial Electrolysis Cell". International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 39 (10): 4771–8. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.10.089.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ijhydene.2013.10.089
  41. Kim, Jungwon; Choi, Won Joon K; Choi, Jina; Hoffmann, Michael R; Park, Hyunwoong (2013). "Electrolysis of urea and urine for solar hydrogen". Catalysis Today 199: 2–7. doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2012.02.009. https://authors.library.caltech.edu/36173/7/mmc1.doc. 
  42. Mohammed, M; Egyir, I.S; Donkor, A.K; Amoah, P; Nyarko, S; Boateng, K.K; Ziwu, C (2017). "Feasibility study for biogas integration into waste treatment plants in Ghana". Egyptian Journal of Petroleum 26 (3): 695–703. doi:10.1016/j.ejpe.2016.10.004.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ejpe.2016.10.004
  43. Roubík, Hynek; Mazancová, Jana; Banout, Jan; Verner, Vladimír (2016). "Addressing problems at small-scale biogas plants: A case study from central Vietnam". Journal of Cleaner Production 112: 2784–92. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.114.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jclepro.2015.09.114
  44. Roubík, Hynek; Mazancová, Jana; Phung, Le Dinh; Banout, Jan (2018). "Current approach to manure management for small-scale Southeast Asian farmers - Using Vietnamese biogas and non-biogas farms as an example". Renewable Energy 115: 362–70. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.08.068. 1 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.renene.2017.08.068
  45. "Sludge treatment and disposal - efficient & safe | Endress+Hauser" (in en). https://www.endress.com/en/industry-expertise/water-&-wastewater/Sludge-treatment-and-disposal. 
  46. "Sewage yields more gold than top mines". Reuters. 2009-01-30. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gold-sewage-odd-idUSTRE50T56120090130. 
  47. "Feces to fortune: US sewage may contain billions in precious metals" (in en-EN). https://www.rt.com/usa/243377-mining-sewage-precious-metals-studies/. 
  48. Paranipe, Nitin (19 September 2017). "The rise of the sanitation economy: how business can help solve a global crisis". https://news.trust.org/item/20170919145350-bovq7. 
  49. Introducing the Sanitation Economy. Toilet Board Coalition. 2017. http://www.toiletboard.org/media/30-Sanitation_Economy_Final.pdf. 
  50. Christine Dell'Amore, "Human Waste to Revive Haitian Farmland?", The National Geographic, October 26, 2011 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/10/111026-haiti-waste-poop-fertilizer-farms-soil-science-environment/
  51. Jonathan Hera, "Haiti Non-Profit Plumbs Solutions to World's Unmet Sanitation Needs", "The Globe and the Mail", November 14, 2014 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/going-global/exam-question-inspires-award-winning-entrepreneur-to-launch-social-business-in-haiti/article21555235/
  52. Kramer, S., Preneta, N., Kilbride, A. (2013). Two papers from SOIL presented at the 36th WEDC International Conference, Nakuru, Kenya, 2013. SOIL, Haiti http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1862
  53. Erica Lloyd, "Safety First: The New and Improved SOIL Lab", "SOIL blog", February 2, 2014 https://www.oursoil.org/safety-first-the-new-and-improved-soil-lab/
  54. SEI (2009). Sanitation policies and regulatory frameworks for reuse of nutrients in wastewater, human excreta and greywater - Proceedings from SEI/EcoSanRes2 Workshop in Sweden. Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1265
  55. Elisabeth Kvarnström, Linus Dagerskog, Anna Norström and Mats Johansson (2012) Nutrient reuse as a solution multiplier (SIANI policy brief 1.1), A policy brief by the SIANI Agriculture-Sanitation Expert Group, Sweden http://www.siani.se/resources/report/nutrient-reuse-solution-multiplier
  56. Moya, Berta; Parker, Alison; Sakrabani, Ruben (2019). "Challenges to the use of fertilisers derived from human excreta: The case of vegetable exports from Kenya to Europe and influence of certification systems" (in en). Food Policy 85: 72–78. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.05.001.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.foodpol.2019.05.001
  57. Håkan Jönsson (1 October 2001). "Urine Separation — Swedish Experiences". EcoEng Newsletter 1. http://www.iees.ch/EcoEng011/EcoEng011_F1.html. 
  58. EPA 832-F-99-066, September 1999. "Water Efficiency Technology Fact Sheet Composting Toilets". Office of Water. http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owm/upload/2005_07_14_comp.pdf. Retrieved 3 January 2015. 
  59. "Title 40 - Protection of Environment Chapter I - Environmental Protection Agency, Subchapter 0 - Sewage sludge Part 503 - Standards for the use or disposal of sewage sludge". U.S. Government Publishing Office. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr503_main_02.tpl. Retrieved 3 January 2015. 
More
©Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons-Attribution ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Others
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
HandWiki
View Times: 2.0K
Entry Collection: HandWiki
Revision: 1 time (View History)
Update Date: 18 Oct 2022
Table of Contents
    Notice
    You are not a member of the advisory board for this topic. If you want to update advisory board member profile, please contact office@encyclopedia.pub.
    OK
    Confirm
    Only members of the Encyclopedia advisory board for this topic are allowed to note entries. Would you like to become an advisory board member of the Encyclopedia?
    Yes
    No
    ${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
    Submit
    Cancel
    There is no comment~
    ${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
    Submit
    Cancel
    ${ selectedItem.replyTextCharacter }/${ selectedItem.replyMaxCharacter }
    Submit
    Cancel
    Confirm
    Are you sure to Delete?
    Yes No
    Academic Video Service
    Feedback