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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
14:34
Biocontained Carcass Composting for Control of Infectious Disease Outbreak in Livestock
Published on: May 6, 2010
Bench-scale composting of source-separated human faeces for sanitation
C Niwagaba1, M Nalubega, B Vinnerås
1Department of Civil Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. cbniwagaba@yahoo.co.uk
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|August 12, 2008
Summary
Composting human faeces with food waste, using insulated reactors and regular turning, effectively sanitizes faecal matter. This method significantly reduces pathogens like E. coli and Enterococcus spp. in compost for agricultural reuse.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Waste Management
Background:
- Urine-diverting toilets enable nutrient recycling by separating urine and faeces.
- Faecal sanitation is crucial before agricultural application to eliminate enteric pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate composting human faeces with food waste as a sanitation method.
- To determine optimal conditions for pathogen reduction in compost.
Main Methods:
- Three 78-L compost reactors with faeces-to-food waste (F:FW) ratios of 1:0, 3:1, and 1:1 were monitored for 20 days.
- Insulation (25-mm styrofoam) and twice-weekly turning were employed to maintain sanitizing temperatures (≥50°C).
- Pathogen reduction (E. coli, Enterococcus spp.) was quantified.
Main Results:
- Insulated reactors with turning achieved sanitizing temperatures for 8 days (F:FW=1:1) and 4 days (F:FW=3:1).
- Significant pathogen reduction (>3 log(10) E. coli, >4 log(10) Enterococcus spp.) occurred in F:FW=1:1 and F:FW=3:1 composts.
- The F:FW=1:0 compost failed to reach sanitizing temperatures and showed increased pathogen counts.
Conclusions:
- Composting faeces with food waste in insulated, turned reactors is an effective sanitation method.
- The F:FW=1:1 ratio demonstrated successful pathogen reduction for safe agricultural reuse.
- Findings offer practical insights for designing family-size compost units in Uganda.
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