Container-based sanitation
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Container-based sanitation (CBS) (or cartridge-based sanitation) refers to a sanitation system where human excreta is collected in sealable, removable containers (also called cartridges) that are transported to treatment facilities. Container-based sanitation is usually provided as a service involving provision of certain types of portable toilets, or dry toilets, and collection of excreta at a cost borne by the users.
Its main application is for situations where alternative options that rely either on a sewerage system or on a hole in the ground (pit latrine) are not feasible. One example are informal settlements in cities of developing countries.
The underlying principles of a CBS system can bring to mind related, but quite different models of excreta management such as composting toilets or bucket toilets. The latter are sometimes emptied in an unsafe manner referred to in India as "manual scavenging". The CBS system does share with a bucket toilet the feature of manual collection of excreta in a relatively small container. However, the CBS system incorporates measures to isolate excreta from human contact throughout the sanitation chain (i.e. containment, emptying, transportation, treatment and disposal/reuse).
The CBS system has received a lot of opposition and criticism due to its resemblance to other unsafe and banned systems like manual scavenging. The CBS model is still in its early stages and is yet to gain official recognition in many regions as a safe alternative to sewers and other on-site sanitation systems.
Background
The world's population is urbanising at a pace that outstrips existing infrastructure and municipal capabilities, making society's ability to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) increasingly challenging.[1] There is a need for an alternative sanitation option where on-site sanitation and sewerage are not feasible.[2] Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) refers to a system where excreta is collected in sealable, removable cartridges that are transported to treatment facilities.[2][3] Container-based sanitation is usually provided as a service involving provision of certain types of portable toilets, and collection of excreta at a cost borne by the users. Examples of organizations that provide this service are Loowatt in Madagascar, Clean Team in Ghana, X-Runner in Peru, and SOIL in Haiti.[4]
CBS as a model is a viable solution to address issues of urbanization and improved sanitation (especially considering SDG 6). The different operators of CBS systems have developed their own approaches and business models that currently have differing levels of scale. However, with suitable development, support and functioning partnerships, CBS can be used to provide low-income urban populations with safe collection, transport and treatment of excrement at a lower cost than installing and maintaining sewers.[1]
Description of components
A CBS system includes a toilet (usually portable) with a removable container which is routinely exchanged for an empty container when it is full. The toilet design, which usually incorporates the use of chemicals and a biodegradable plastic film, eliminates human contact with faeces and reduces odor and insects. All infrastructure associated with a CBS system is typically situated above ground, thereby reducing both construction costs and vulnerability to flooding. Excreta-filled containers are sealed and transported to a designated disposal or composting site. Water needs are limited to the amount required for anal cleansing and hand washing.[5]
CBS system is typically waterless and in most cases (with the exception of Loowatt), a urine-diverting dry toilet is used, since they are simple and the volume containing the potentially infectious feces is kept small and manageable. The urine is drained into the soil or used as plant fertilizer with less need for treatment. One of the main advantages of CBS is that treatment of feces is carefully performed at a central location and its effectiveness can be easily monitored.
Costs and funding
Typically, a CBS system would represent a substantially lower initial investment (usually a deposit equivalent to the monthly service fee) compared to the cost of construction of a latrine or pour flush toilet.[2] For example, the Clean Team in Ghana provides the service of collecting the waste at a cost equivalent to about 9 USD a month for up to five users with no capital expenditure on purchasing the toilet.[6]
However, the systems often still need subsidizing, as do other sanitation systems, too. In the case of SOIL in Haiti, the costs were reported in 2016 as follows: Monthly cost of the service for a household is approximately 20 USD (including toilet provision, transport and waste treatment). The customers pay a 4-5 USD monthly service fee. SOIL has an income from compost sales per household of about 1.60 USD per month. This means SOIL is currently able to cover an estimated 30% of the overall costs of the sanitation service, including toilet provision, transport and waste treatment.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b Shepard, Jon (2017). The world can’t wait for sewers; Advancing container-based sanitation businesses as a viable answer to the global sanitation crisis (PDF).
- ^ a b c Tilmans, Sebastien; Russel, Kory; Sklar, Rachel; Page, Leah; Kramer, Sasha; Davis, Jennifer (2015-04-13). "Container-based sanitation: assessing costs and effectiveness of excreta management in Cap Haitien, Haiti". Environment and Urbanization. 27 (1): 89–104. doi:10.1177/0956247815572746. PMC 4461065. PMID 26097288.
- ^ Shaw, R. (2014). A Collection of Contemporary Toilet Designs. . EOOS and WEDC, Loughborough University, UK. p. 40. ISBN 978 1 84380 155 9.
- ^ a b C. Remington, M. Cherrak, N. Preneta, S. Kramer, B. Mesa (2016) A social business model for the provision of household ecological sanitation services in urban Haiti, 39th WEDC International Conference, Kumasi, Ghana, 2016
- ^ Russel, Kory; Tilmans, Sebastien; Kramer, Sasha; Sklar, Rachel; Tillias, Daniel; Davis, Jennifer (2015-08-28). "User perceptions of and willingness to pay for household container-based sanitation services: experience from Cap Haitien, Haiti". Environment and Urbanization. 27 (2): 525–540. doi:10.1177/0956247815596522. PMC 4645720. PMID 26640322.
- ^ "cleanteamtoilets". cleanteamtoilets. Retrieved 2017-03-29.