Adoption of global best practices in sanitation and human waste management, which are culturally sensitive, requires extensive consultations and social awareness building. The project originally planned to use a composting facility ran by the Action Contre le Faim Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, which was unexpectedly closed down. This required a minor change in scope, which was swiftly approved and provided implementation support by ADB. But while the recycling and composting of human feces to its ultimate sale as fertilizers has been a proven sound practice in developed countries, initiatives along this line have failed in several projects in Mongolia because of (i) cultural traditions and public opposition, (ii) lack of legal basis, (iii) insufficient enforcement of sanitation standards, and (iv) lack of consensus to support the composting plants’ final products. Through extensive consultations and by developing awareness of the benefits from the international best practice, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the project executing agency, gained progress in promoting the social acceptance and sustainability of the composting plant.
Managing Soil Pollution in Ger Areas through Improved On-site Sanitation Project