Potty Talk

After wildfires made rebuilding too expensive, a Santa Cruz group championed waterless, container-based toilets. Their successful pilot proves this adaptable sanitation solution can work for disaster recovery, homeless encampments, and beyond, offering a safe alternative where traditional sewers and septic systems aren't feasible.

Ocean Sewage Alliance is proud to welcome eight new partners in 2025! This diverse cohort—spanning AI monitoring, circular sanitation, community mobilization, and workforce development—dramatically expands our collective ability to tackle ocean sewage pollution. We are thrilled to unite these innovators, whose expertise will accelerate our mission for a cleaner, healthier ocean for all.

On the canals of Xochimilco, the remnants of the Aztec chinampas reveal a lost model of urban sustainability. Tenochtitlan, a dazzling, waste-free city, once recycled all its organic material to feed these fertile farms — a lesson in circular ecology for cities today.

Over 30 years ago, Joe Jenkins needed a better title for his book on composting human poop. He coined the term “humanure,” self-published The Humanure Handbook, and sparked a global movement promoting simple, affordable, and ecological compost toilets.