Ecological sanitation systems have been the object of research, development and promotion in a number of countries during the 1990s. They are now increasingly used on a wider scale, particularly in China, where the return of human and animal excreta to cropland has been practised for thousands of years. If ecological sanitation could be adopted on a large scale, it would protect our groundwater, streams, lakes and the sea from faecal contamination. Less water would be consumed as no flushing is required. This will reduce soil deterioration and improve the quality of crops.
Ecological sanitation based on biogas technology can turn human and animal excreta into energy.
Ecological sanitation systems, if properly managed and maintained, do not smell or produce flies or other insects. The toilets can be installed inside homes, even on upper floors. Ecological sanitation systems are cost effective. They require neither excavation, nor any water and pipe networks and there is no need for treatment plants. The aims of the conference are to explore possibilities and limitations of ecological sanitation, to demonstrate how the concept can be applied in rural as well as urban environments, and to serve as a link between researchers, practitioners, and municipal authorities.