By Claire Grisaffi, MICE CEng
In many rapidly growing cities around the world, on-site sanitation is the norm—not the exception. With sewer networks often out of reach, safe faecal sludge (FS) emptying and transport (E&T) services are the first and most critical line of defence for public and environmental health. But too often, these services operate in the shadows—informal, unsafe, and under-regulated—polluting waterways and putting vulnerable communities at risk.
The compliance challenge
Even though FS E&T services are essential, they’re typically provided by a mix of formal and informal operators who:
- Work with low capacity and limited training
- Navigate narrow or inaccessible urban spaces
- Service poorly constructed septic tanks or pit latrines
Regulations exist in over 65% of countries, but they’re often fragmented, partial, or poorly enforced. Most importantly, they’re not designed with the provider in mind. That is, they don’t consider the human factors behind why providers choose to comply—or not.
What drives (non)compliance?
A recent study applied a business compliance model to FS E&T services to better understand what influences compliance. Here’s what it found:
- Trust deficit: A lack of mutual trust between regulators and service providers undermines cooperation. When providers fear punishment more than they value partnership, voluntary compliance becomes unlikely.
- Perception of the job: There’s still a deep stigma attached to sanitation work. The association with waste leads to low social status, weak sector visibility, and limited investment—keeping both the workers and the work in the margins.
- Cost of compliance: For many small providers, meeting regulatory requirements is too expensive or operationally difficult. When compliance means losing income, the incentive to follow the rules disappears.
- Weak enabling environment: Without institutional support, training opportunities, or policy clarity, even well-intentioned providers struggle to improve.
What can be done?
To build lasting compliance, we must rethink regulation—not as enforcement, but as enablement. Here’s how:
- Invest in relationships: Regulators should engage service providers as partners, not just rule-breakers. Building trust can reduce the need for punitive enforcement and foster a more collaborative regulatory culture.
- Tackle stigma: Public awareness campaigns and storytelling can elevate the role of sanitation workers and the services they provide. Let’s reframe FS E&T as vital urban infrastructure work—worthy of respect and investment.
- Support providers: Practical support—like training, clear guidelines, and reducing compliance costs—can go a long way. Simplifying rules and offering incentives can help shift providers toward professionalization.
- Use behavioural insights: Stigma and disgust are powerful emotional barriers. Behavioural science can help us craft communications and nudges that promote pride, purpose, and safe practices in the sector.
Why this matters
In 81 countries, faecal sludge management is the primary sanitation solution for urban populations. The future of sanitation doesn’t just depend on pipes and pits—it depends on people.
If we want safer, healthier cities, we need regulatory approaches that look beyond penalties and understand the everyday realities of service providers.