Urban faecal sludge management
The problem
In Bangladesh there is almost universal access to a basic toilet but this has created the challenge of dealising safely with the contents of millions of pit latrines and septic tanks. Much of this waste was dumped in local rivers, creating significant health hazards.
We have been working in partnership with the local authority in Faridpur to organise the safe disposal of faecal sludge. Improving the working conditions of the pit emptiers has been an important feature. Respect, dignity and inclusiveness were the key to developing a sustainable model along with ensuring stakeholder engagement and leadership.
What we’re doing to help
Objective: Extending sludge management systems in Bangladesh
Upscaling Faridpur city best practices to other cities of Bangladesh
Locations: Faridpur, Rajbari, Magura, Laksham and Meherpur
Number of beneficiaries: 400,000 population
Project date: September 2017 - September 2020
Partners: Municipalities of the selected cities
Principal funders: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Funding: $2.2 million
Following the successful implementation of Faecal Sludge Management in Faridpur, Practical Action is extending this work to other cities in Bangladesh. The objective is to dramatically increase the proportion of human waste disposed of safely and improve public health.
The project is:
- Undertaking research and development for sludge emptying and transportation equipment and commercialization with the private sector.
- Forming sweeper led business cooperatives in alliance with municipalities for service delivery
- Developing inclusive business models for dignifying pit-emptiers
- Developing a social mobilisation campaigns for citizens
Look how far your money can go
“Because of of the vacutag truck, we don’t stink anymore. We are all a bit better because of the truck.”
Idris Mollah, Faridpur, Bangladesh
FSM English Brochure (14 X 9 inch)
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FSM innovation Tackling the Second-Generation Sanitation Challenge at Scale: Business Solutions for Inclusive Faecal Sludge Mana
Globally, Bangladesh stands out as a country that has made remarkable progress in eliminating the scourge of open defecation. However, this success has created a ‘second-generation’ sanitation challenge of how to deal safely with the faecal sludge collected from pit latrines and septic tanks.
As on-site sanitation solutions develop, the question of sustainable and inclusive faecal sludge management (FSM) business models is now at the heart of the challenge in Bangladesh.
Practical solution to faecal sludge management
Practical Action Bangladesh has been supporting the effort towards establishing a comprehensive city-wide Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) service to the urban population of Faridpur through an advanced and systemic approach by the municipal authority for ensuring an environmentally safe and financially sustainable private sector-led replicable model for developing country.
,Practical Action Bangladesh has been supporting the effort towards establishing a comprehensive city-wide Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) service to the urban population of Faridpur through an advanced and systemic approach by the municipal authority for ensuring an environmentally safe and financially sustainable private sector-led replicable model for developing country.
Situation Analysis and Business Model Development of FSM in Faridpur Municipality
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