A Review of Zero-Waste Sanitation Systems for Sustainable Rural Waste Management
Author : Nayan Patil and Dr. Abhijeet Patil
Abstract :
Rural sanitation remains a critical challenge in developing countries, particularly in India, where open defecation, inadequate wastewater treatment, and improper fecal sludge disposal continue to pose severe risks to public health and environmental sustainability. Despite multiple government initiatives, sanitation infrastructure in rural regions often remains underutilized due to cultural practices, lack of awareness, financial constraints, and technological limitations. This review paper examines the evolution, principles, and performance of zero-waste sanitation systems as a sustainable solution for rural waste management. Emphasis is placed on fecal sludge management (FSM), low-water toilet technologies, urine–feces separation systems, composting toilets, biogas-based sanitation, and sensor-enabled automated toilets. The paper synthesizes existing literature to highlight environmental, social, and agricultural benefits of converting human waste into valuable resources such as organic fertilizer and biogas. Challenges related to system adoption, operation, maintenance, social acceptance, and policy integration are critically analyzed. The review concludes that zero-waste sanitation systems, when combined with community participation, behavioral change strategies, and institutional support, offer a viable pathway toward sustainable rural sanitation and a circular economy-based waste management framework.
Keywords :
Zero-waste sanitation; Rural sanitation; Fecal sludge management; Sustainable waste management; Organic fertilizer; Circular economy.
