Sanitation and the circular economy
One of the things we love at Gather is welcoming work experience students to join us for one-to-two weeks. Roshan Gulati worked with us for two weeks, supporting our geospatial team as we map households in Antananarivo, Madagascar. We invited Roshan to research a sanitation topic. Here is his blog post on sanitation and the circular economy
Forty percent of the global population is affected by water scarcity. With the problem set to continue, we need to think about how the circular economy could help increase access to sustainable sanitation for all despite a decreased lack of water.
There are three key features to consider when discussing the circular economy:
1. Recycling waste
2. Recovering energy
3. Reducing the need to store waste
Forty percent of the global population is affected by water scarcity. With the problem set to continue, we need to think about how the circular economy could help increase access to sustainable sanitation for all despite a decreased lack of water.
There are three key features to consider when discussing the circular economy:
1. Recycling waste
2. Recovering energy
3. Reducing the need to store waste
Loowatt — based in Antananarivo, Madagascar — is a great example of how to embrace a circular economy approach. Loowatt’s waterless toilet addresses the water scarcity while also providing a dignified form of sanitation. This is particularly important as 22.73% of the urban population in Antananarivo’s still has to practice open defecation (a practice that contributes to two million global deaths a year). The Loowatt toilet also uses the human waste to produce biogas — a renewable, carbon neutral source of energy — which can be used for local electricity generation. We are really excited to partner with Loowatt in Madagascar!
SOIL — based in Haiti — is another organisation that has embraced the circular economy in a fantastic way. 99% of human waste goes untreated in Haiti. Last year, SOIL transformed 510 tons of human waste from toilets that are used by 6,5000 people into agricultural grade compost. High quality fertiliser is important because soil in Haiti is particularly vulnerable to erosion from wind and win as more than 60% of the land has a slope gradient exceeding 20%. Turning human waste into fertiliser not only produces a solution but it also prevents unsafe dumping of waste which can lead to cholera.
Another example of the circular economy is the creation of the Integrated Waste Management Facility in Singapore. The goal is to negate the need for landfill and create renewable, carbon neutral energy for the majority of the population. Cities and nations across the world are exploring similar concepts as the need for circular economy solutions becomes greater.
The circular economy should be at the forefront of policymaker’s minds irrespective of the ‘developed status’ of their city of country.
Circular economy solutions could help end the sanitation crisis, reduce water waste, recycle human waste and create valuable products for agriculture and industry.— based in Antananarivo, Madagascar — is a great example of how to embrace a circular economy approach. Loowatt’s waterless toilet addresses the water scarcity while also providing a dignified form of sanitation. This is particularly important as 22.73% of the urban population in Antananarivo’s still has to practice open defecation (a practice that contributes to two million global deaths a year). The Loowatt toilet also uses the human waste to produce biogas — a renewable, carbon neutral source of energy — which can be used for local electricity generation. We are really excited to partner with Loowatt in Madagascar!
