Towards a recycling society: ecological sanitation - closing the loop to food security

A recycling society must switch from linear solutions to circular approache s, protecting ecosystems and harmonising with natural systems. Ecological s anitation, an alternative to conventional approaches, considers excreta a r esource. Excreta are rendered safe at the source prior to reuse. The ecosys tem approach helps restore soil fertility, and ultimately enhances food sec urity, it is a system requiring little or no water; thus it conserves and p rotects fresh and marine water sources, enhances biodiversity, and it may c onfer mutiple benefits in urban settings. It can generate jobs, be financia lly more affordable than conventional approaches, improve local ecology, cr eate decentralised economies. and contribute toward improved health and nut rition of people. Ecological sanitation closes water and nutrient loops, re ducing reliance on external inputs and reducing output of wastes from the s ystem.