Human waste, also known as
human excreta, is a
waste type usually used to refer to byproducts of
digestion, such as
feces and
urine. There are many different ways in which human waste can be collected, treated and disposed or reused, depending on the
sanitation system that is in place, e.g. starting with the type of
toilet that is being used. The situation differs vastly across the world, with many people in developing countries having to resort to
open defecation for lack of other options where the human waste is deposited in the environment, while others can use flush toilets where the human waste is mixed with water, transported and treated in
sewage treatment plants. Children's excreta can be disposed of in
diapers in
municipal solid waste but on a worldwide scale it is also often dumped into the environment, leading to
public health risks.
