Container-based sanitation (CBS) – in which wastes are captured in sealable containers that are then transported to treatment facilities – is an alternative sanitation option in urban areas where on-site sanitation and sewerage are infeasible. This paper presents the results of a pilot household CBS service in Cap Haitien, Haiti. We quantify the excreta generated weekly in a dense urban slum,(1) the proportion safely removed via container-based public and household toilets, and the costs associated with these systems. The CBS service yielded an approximately 3.5-fold decrease in the unmanaged share of faeces produced, and nearly eliminated the reported use of open defecation and “flying toilets” among service recipients. The costs of this pilot small-scale service were higher than those of large-scale waterborne sewerage, but economies of scale have the potential to reduce CBS costs over time. The paper concludes with a discussion of planning and policy implications of incorporating CBS into the menu of sanitation options for rapidly growing cities.

Household-level container-based sanitation (CBS) services may help address the persistent challenge of providing effective, affordable sanitation services for which low-income urban households are willing to pay. Little is known, however, about user perceptions of and demand for household CBS services. This study presents the results of a pilot CBS service programme in Cap Haitien, Haiti. One hundred and eighteen households were randomly selected to receive toilets and a twice-weekly collection service. After three months, changes in these households’ satisfaction with their sanitation situation, along with feelings of pride, modernity and personal safety, were compared to 248 households in two comparison cohorts. Following the service pilot, 71 per cent of participating households opted to continue with the container-based sanitation service as paying subscribers. The results from this study suggest that, in the context of urban Haiti, household CBS systems have the potential to satisfy many residents’ desire for safe, convenient and modern sanitation services.

Advancing nutrient recovery from idea to implementation requires reporting practices that facilitate comparison among diverse nutrient removal and recovery (NRR) technologies and enhance the translation of academic research to practice. We reviewed 157 technologies that treat nitrogen-and/or phosphorusladen wastewater across several underlying mechanisms, stages of development, and scales of operation. We outline a systematic reporting and analysis framework to characterize NRR technologies using quantitative performance metrics (i.e., removal and recovery efficiency, removal and recovery rate, energy consumption, cost, greenhouse gas emissions, effluent concentration) and qualitative attributes (e.g., technology readiness level). Comparing peerreviewed literature with practitioner needs reveals limited reporting of energy consumption and cost, indicating misalignment between research and practice. By synthesizing literature and practitioner input on anticipated benefits, barriers to adoption, and knowledge gaps, we identify opportunities for expanding benefits achieved by NRR technologies and aligning research with critical barriers. We propose a research agenda addressing the most reported gaps (e.g., underlying process mechanisms, scale-up) and emphasizing rigorous investigations of systems-level impacts and product-market fit. Results from this study will facilitate interdisciplinary research on NRR technologies, guide technology development by academics and practitioners, and accelerate implementation for resource-efficient nutrient management fit for 21 st century challenges.

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